On Saturday, the farm had a break from the typical quiet winter weekends. Over 70 teachers, administrators, farmers, parents, and other community members showed up at Camp Burgess to participate in the first-ever Cape & Islands Farm-to-School Network meeting and conference, which was sponsored by Island Grown Schools.

Many of the meeting’s participants braved the cold to check out Burgess Farm, meet the animals, and ask questions about our programs. They also got the chance to enjoy super-local produce from the farm: we donated eggs and salad greens to the lunch spread, which also included local butternut squash, local yogurt, and chickens raised on Nantucket. Participants at the conference discussed school gardens, farm field trips, financial support of farm-to-school programs, farm- and garden-based curriculum design, and cafeteria connections in addition to networking with like-minded folks who are committed to bringing fresh, local food to school cafeterias. All of us here at Camp were delighted to host such an exciting meeting!

Read the Martha’s Vineyard Times article about the conference here.