Decatur Farm to School (DF2S) is a Wylde Center program that works to improve nutrition, knowledge of where food comes from, hands-on outdoor education, environmental awareness, and appetite for fresh fruits and veggies by leading efforts in the classrooms, cafeterias, communities, and gardens of the City Schools of Decatur. The DF2S committee is led by parents, teachers, community members, Wylde staff members and has been active since 2010.
Open Positions: Decatur Farm to School Committee
Joining the Decatur Farm to School (DF2S) Committee is a great way to get involved with the work of getting our students outside in their school garden and making the connection to what they are learning in the classroom and eating in the cafeteria and at home.
The DF2S Committee is currently seeking new members for the remainder of the 2023-2024 School Year including: School Garden Liaison's to represent each school in the district, social media manager, treasurer, and volunteer coordinator.
Decatur Farm to School Grant Program
The Decatur Farm to School Committee invites you to apply for a Decatur Farm to School Grant! Who can apply? Teachers, Administrators, PTA members, or parent volunteers within City Schools of Decatur.
Wylde Center’s Decatur Farm to School Grant Program was initiated to support the City Schools of Decatur (CSD) in their efforts to provide farm to school experiences to their faculty and students. Up to three $500 grants will be awarded to CSD per school year. Each school may only receive one grant per academic year. Funds may be used for garden support, field trips, teaching experiences, and/or materials, as related to farm to school education.
Grant applications for the 2023-2024 school year are now open. Your application must be received no later than September 15, 2023.
The Decatur Farm to School Committee select up to three grant recipients by September 30, 2023. All applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision. If selected, the school is obligated to use the funds and complete the objectives by the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Leftover funds are will be returned back to DF2S. Decatur Farm to School requests that, upon completion of funded task(s), grantees provide a written summary, with photographs and additional documentation, as needed. Written summaries and/or any additional documentation, such as photos, may be included in a future DF2S school newsletter.
Decatur Farm to School High School Internships: Returning Summer 2024
Internship grantees will work with local farmers, chefs, restaurant managers, and market managers as they learn what it takes to grow, sell, procure, and prepare fresh produce and local foods. In addition to training in Farm to School concepts, grantees will work at two locations during the summer to gain exposure to both the agricultural and consumer sides of Farm to Table.
Internship hosts in the past have included Farm Burger, Leon’s Full Service, Love is Love Farm, Global Growers Network, Community Farmers Markets, and the Wylde Center.