Farm To School Initiatives Coming To Weymouth

WEYMOUTH, MA — South Shore YMCA and Weymouth Public Schools have been awarded a $92,778 grant from to pursue Farm to School initiatives. The grant, distributed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, supports efforts such as increasing local foods served to children through child nutrition programs, and providing educational opportunities to teach children about food and agriculture.

Funding from the Farm to School grant can be used for training, planning, purchasing of equipment, creating school gardens, developing partnerships and implementing farm to school programs, school officials say.

The grant covers a period of one year. As part of the funding, South Shore YMCA will collaborate with Holly Hill Farms and Weymouth Public Schools food service provider, Chartwells, to pursue farm to school projects in Weymouth.

"Farm to schools is an excellent initiative that helps students learn about and appreciate local agriculture," said Superintendent Jennifer Curtis-Whipple. "I'd like to recognize Mary Ann Bryan of Weymouth Schools and John Galluzzo of the South Shore Young Men's Christian Association for engaging in and pursuing this collaborative opportunity. This is another great achievement to make Weymouth proud."

As part of the grant, Weymouth Career and Technical Education students will be building wooden planting beds at Weymouth High School to begin farming projects at the school. WeyCare students will also be working with Old Colony YMCA and Hilly Hill Farm on farming lessons and field trips to the farm.

According to school officials, the ultimate goal is to use fruits and vegetables grown by students in the process of food services at Weymouth Public Schools,