The ecology school “ food for thought & rdquo; (FFT) program will educate local school children (grades 4-8), their classroom teachers and parents, and the community on food issues related to…

The Ferry Beach Ecology School was awarded a $133,333 Environmental Education Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency Region 1 to deliver its "Food for Thought" program. The two-year project will educate 805 students from 13 partner schools in southern Maine and northern New England on sustainable agriculture, healthy food systems, and responsible land and water conservation. Fifty percent of participating schools qualify as low-income under Title I. Through residential and day-long learning experiences, students in grades 4-8 will learn how to reduce food waste, use composting and cover crops, and implement integrated pest management. The goal is for students to incorporate these techniques into their lives. The grant-funded program aligns with the Environmental Education Grants Program's objective to design and demonstrate practices related to environmental education and teacher training using grant funds.

The ecology school “ food for thought & rdquo; (FFT) program will educate local school children (grades 4-8), their classroom teachers and parents, and the community on food issues related to conservation and sustainability. Following 20 years of success, the FFT program will educate 805 students from 13 partner schools over the two year project period beginning in june 2021. 50% of participating schools are classified as low-income based on the U.S. Department of education & rsquo; s title i program. FFT is a new england-focused environmental education program that increases students & rsquo; awareness of agricultural environmental issues including, among other issues, how to manage food waste; composting in order to reduce landfill volume; using cover crops to prevent topsoil erosion; and using an integrated pest management system that reduces pesticide runoff into rivers and streams, thus keeping water systems clean and fresh. The students participating in FFT will learn the connections between food, people, and the environment through residential attendance or day long learning experiences. With FFT, a goal is for elementary and middle school students from southern maine and northern new england to incorporate sustainable agriculture techniques, healthy food systems, and responsible conservation into their lives.