School Garden Support Team
The Amherst School Garden Support Team (SGST) is a group of parents/guardians and other community members who share interest in supporting the School Garden Program and who are willing and able to help in a variety of ways over the seasons. SGST volunteer opportunities may include tidying garden beds at the end of a growing season, writing a letter of support to local & regional leaders, assisting with harvest days, doing summer garden care, helping with cafeteria taste tests, and more.
If you are interested in joining the School Garden Support Team, please complete this form. We will then place you on our SGST email list. We plan to email the group once every month or two with updates about ways you can support the school gardens.
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El Equipo de Apoyo al Huerto Escolar de Amherst (SGST) es un grupo de padres / tutores y otros miembros de la comunidad que comparten interés en apoyar el Programa del Huerto Escolar y que están dispuestos y pueden ayudar en una variedad de formas a lo largo de las estaciones. Las oportunidades de voluntariado de SGST pueden incluir ordenar las camas del huertos al final de la temporada de cultivo, escribir una carta de apoyo a los líderes locales y regionales, ayudar con los días de cosecha, cuidar el huerto de verano, ayudar con las pruebas de sabor de la cafetería y más.
Si está interesado en unirse al Equipo de Apoyo del Huerto Escolar, complete este formulario. Luego lo colocaremos en nuestra lista de correo electrónico SGST. Planeamos enviar un correo electrónico al grupo una vez al mes o dos con actualizaciones sobre las formas en que puede apoyar los huertos escolares.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Note: You do not need to be an SGST member to participate in these activities
January 2022 Volunteer Opportunities
(1) Voice your support for continued Farm to School funding. The Massachusetts Food for Massachusetts Kids Coalition recently announced that the new COVID Recovery Appropriations bill included funding for a Farm to School Grant Program in the amount of $1million. In order to permanently establish a Farm to School Grant Program here in Massachusetts, they are asking that folks submit testimony in support of a permanent grant program, and also contact their legislators to ask them to co-sponsor the Farm to School Grant Bill.
SUBMIT TESTIMONY: A legislative hearing for the Farm to School Grant Bill (S.349 and H.686) has been scheduled for January 4, 2022. If passed, the bill would establish a grant program for public schools and early education sites to start up or expand farm to school activities. You can help make this legislative hearing a success by sharing your story of what farm to school looks like in your community through written testimony! Download sample testimony here. Email your personal testimony to: Jason.Lewis@masenate.gov & Alice.Peisch@mahouse.gov. Please “cc” info@massfarmtoschool.org to let us know you’ve sent in your testimony!
CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR SUPPORT OR TO SAY THANKS: Contact your Representative and Senator today and ask them to co-sponsor "An Act to Establish Farm to School Grants" (S.349 and H.686). You can check to see if your Senator or Representative has already signed on to be co-sponsors here (as of 12/21/12 I do not see Domb or Comerford listed). If/when they become a co-sponsor we encourage you to reach out and say thanks! If your legislator is not on this list, click here to send a pre-drafted email asking your legislators to co-sponsor the bill. We encourage you to customize your email to share your own story and why you believe more farm to school activity will be good for students, for farmers, and for communities. Click here for more information about the Farm to School Grant Program legislation or download the fact sheet here.
(2) Tell your friends about the School Garden Support Team! We welcome new members and can use additional support. You can share this document with others. It includes info about the SGST and a link to the sign up form.
November 2021 Volunteer Opportunities
(1) Join us for the School Garden Volunteer Day on Saturday, November 20th. Click here to learn more or sign up.
(2) Voice your support for increased Farm to School funding. A bill has been introduced in the Massachusetts House and Senate that would fund a $1 million grant program to help more schools provide students with healthy, locally grown foods in school meals and support new markets for local farmers. We are optimistic about this bill's potential to improve student access to garden-based learning across the state. Click here to learn more and to find a quick and easy email template you can use to express your support to your elected officials.
(3) Tell your friends about the School Garden Support Team! We welcome new members and can use additional support. You can share this document with others. It includes info about the SGST and a link to the sign up form.