Westwood Early Childhood Center, West Metro

The Westwood Early Childhood Center does all sorts of great Farm to Early Care activities! Each classroom has its own garden space; the kids and teachers generally choose what they want to plant and they are responsible for planting, watering, caring for the plants, etc. They then do taste tests with that produce. The center also utilizes a local CSA.

Their kitchen specialist and dietitian, Ann, uses the garden and CSA as a basis for a food experience with each classroom. She sends out a monthly “Food for Thought” newsletter with photos and an overview of what the kids learned that month.

These pictures show an activity in one of the toddler classrooms: they  read the book “Growing Vegetable Soup” and got to plant their own seeds in a Ziploc bag with a damp paper towel.

Thank you to Providers Choice for sending this great example, and for their support of Farm to Early Care at sites throughout Minnesota!