Early Childcare and Education

Bringing the farm to school movement to
our youngest kids.

The farm to early care and education (ECE) movement aims to increase access to healthy, locally-grown foods, gardening opportunities and food-based activities in preschools, child care centers, family child care homes, and Head Start/Early Head Start programs. The goals of our farm to ECE program are to:

Promote health and wellness
Expand fresh and local food access
Offer hands-on experiential learning for young children
Encourage family engagement
Provide additional economic opportunities for farmers
Build community connections

At Mississippi Farm to School Network, our team works to help ECE programs get their farm to ECE programs off the ground and create connections between ECE leaders and local farmers. Our team is here to answer any questions you may have. For more information, please contact Edy Dingus Edy@mississippifarmtoschool.org.

Getting Started with Farm to Early Care and Education

Are you interested in launching farm to early care and education practices? This guide from the National Farm to School Network offers steps for getting started.

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Using The Creative Curriculum® for Infants, Toddlers & Twos to Support Farm-to-ECE Models

This guides explores how teachers can use The Creative Curriculum® for Infants, Toddlers, & Twos as a foundation to embed farm to ECE learning opportunities into their existing practices.

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What is Farm to ECE?

What is farm to early care and education, and why should you participate? View this infographic for more information.

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Using The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool to Support Farm-to-ECE Models

This guide explores how teachers can use The Creative Curriculum® for Preschool as a foundation to embed farm to ECE learning opportunities into their existing practices.

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Virtual Farm Tour at Galloway Family Farm in Ocean Springs, MS

Take your little scholars on a virtual field trip to Galloway Family Farm & Education Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi! This ready-to-use virtual farm tour helps students explore local agriculture, food, and farming traditions with 3rd Generation Farmer Tracy Galloway.

Watch Full Farm Tour

Resources for Early Childcare and Education

Resources

Farm Fresh ECE Menus

To support your Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) efforts, the Mississippi Farm to School Network has created a few weeks of free Farm Fresh Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Menus, approved by both the Mississippi Department of Health and CACFP.

Edible Native Plant Lists: Mississippi and Northeast U.S.

Discover edible native plants in your region—Mississippi and the Northeast U.S.

Why Participate in Farm to ECE?

What is farm to early care and education and why should your childcare program participate? What are the benefits and what will it take to get your program going? View this infographic for more information.

Spring & Summer Planting Dates

Farm-to-Preschool: Getting Started With Local Foods Purchasing

Farm-to-preschool programs take many forms. These tips from Ecotrust will help get you started.

Local Procurement for Child Care Centers

Getting Started with Farm to Early Care and Education

This fact sheet from the National Farm to School Network offers steps for instituting farm to early care and education practices in early care and education settings.

4 Steps to Cultivating a School Garden Program

A school garden can have many benefits on the students. The children can learn the importance of eating healthy food as well as supporting local growers. This resource provides a 4 step process to beginning a school garden program.

A Guide to Using The Creative Curriculum® for Preschools to Support Farm-to-ECE Models

This guides explores how teachers can use The Creative Curriculum® for preschoolers as a foundation to embed farm to ECE learning opportunities into their existing practices.

A Guide to Using The Creative Curriculum® for Infants, Toddlers & Twos to Support Farm-to-ECE Models

This guides explores how teachers can use The Creative Curriculum® for Toddlers, & Twos as a foundation to embed farm to ECE learning opportunities into their existing practices.