Farm to early childhood (FTEC) offers benefits that parallel the priorities of the early childhood education community including emphasis on experiential learning opportunities, family and community engagement, and life-long health and wellness for children, families, and caregivers.
Comprehensive FTEC initiatives enhance the quality of early childhood education programs by meeting multiple learning and programmatic standards. FTEC engages families and communities, supports comprehensive child development, advances racial and social equity, and helps develop the next generation of responsible food consumers contributing to sustainable, equitable and just local food systems.
Looking for farm to early childhood resources for your program?
Look through our library and filter by age group. We have early childhood specific tools for educators and curriculum, nutrition and cooking, finding and purchasing local food, CACFP participation, gardening with children, and more.
Farm to early childhood encompasses a wide range of programs and activities. The goals are to:
- encourage young children to enjoy eating fresh healthy foods while their preferences are still forming
- encourage children, families, and staff to develop healthy life choices by offering hands on educational experiences with nutritious food, cooking, gardening, and exposure to local farms and foods systems
- foster community resiliency and improve access to healthy food at home and in the community by building relationships with local farms and food system partners
- support early childhood quality programming initiatives through alignment with licensing regulations, learning standards, early educator professional development, and QRIS systems like STARS
- advance social and racial equity.
Get Connected
Interested in learning more about how we’re advancing farm to early childhood in Vermont? Connect with the Farm to Early Childhood Action Team to join a meeting or start a conversation
Stories to Inspire Your Work
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Three New Videos for Connecting Early Learners to Food Systems
June 2023 – Three videos highlighting activities that explore outdoor, place-based learning; cooking with kids; and extending young children’s knowledge of agriculture and the food they eat.
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Sharing with the Very Hungry Caterpillar
September 2023 – Early childhood center Growing With Wonder is using child-led, play-based learning experiences to engage with food in a meaningful and responsible way.
Read more
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The Farm to School Connection: Laura Butler & Blue Heron Farm
November 8, 2022, This Farm Feeds Vermont Kids – Home-based childcare program owner Laura Butler and Blue Heron Farmer and Owner Christine Bourque are bringing farm-fresh food to kids and broadening tastebuds.