| Miami Valley Institute of Food & Spirits |
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FARM TO TABLE
Covid required us to be flexible and adapt to change. Farm to Table is no exception. Metro Parks had a hiring freeze which left Possum Creek severely understaffed. Possum Creek suspended their summer programs and could not guarantee support in the Fall. Therefore, Farm to Table events at Soouthdale and DECA Middle, along with Possum Creek, Dorothy Lane Market had to change. Bern Schwieterman, MVIFS member, shared a project at Oakview Elementary, Kettering. The first grade teachers, principal and custodian were all on board for raised gardens with vegetables/herbs focusing on healthy nutrition. The 1st graders filled the beds with dirt and planted before the end of school. Families and MVIFS members will maintain the gardens over the summer. In the fall, they will harvest and dine on their rewards. This project follows 1st grade standards. MVIFS has financed the start up. We know members will assist in this project – the teachers, along with Bern, will help us along the way. Thanks to our board for visiting Oakview and supporting this new project.
Co-chair,Jeanne Evans
Shown below are updates for each year of our 'new' Farm to Table initiative at Oakview Elementary.
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Farm to Table - June 2026 Update Oakview Garden Club students were very busy in the days before school ended. They prepared the garden, planted vegetables and herbs plus made a walking path through the garden. They decorated the blocks with colorful pictures and thoughts about what the garden meant to them. The students and their families have signed up for weekly maintenance. There will be special events at the beginning of the year where they will enjoy the bounties of their work. Thanks to MVIFS for their support.
Farm to Table*** January , '26
FARM TO TABLE SPRING 2026 As the key element of our charitable Farm to Table (F2T) educational mission, MVIFS continues to support the Garden Club Program at Oakview Elementary and, at the request of Kettering Schools, we are expanding our support to include a similar program at Indian Riffle Elementary. Our contributions consist of both financial and volunteer assistance. We coordinate closely with Carly Maguire, STEAM Innovation and Technology Leader for Kettering Schools, as well as the schools’ teachers and principals to synchronize and maximize the benefits of MVIFS’s F2T program. As a result of the kind and thoughtful monetary contributions from the friends and family of John Cloppert, along with MVIFS funds, our 2026 financial support to Kettering Schools’ Garden Club Programs has reached an all-time high. All MVIFS members should feel justifiable pride in what their organization is doing to benefit the schools of Dayton and its surrounding communities. While Indian Riffle is just getting started, Oakview has a well-established Garden Club Program. For those interested in observing or volunteering, the next garden club meeting at Oakview will be on April 15th and May 6th from 2:30-3:00 pm. They will be doing garden clean-up and preparing for new planting at these sessions, weather permitting. Kettering School District has tightened up the rules on visitors and volunteers at their schools, so if you want to attend, contact Jeanne Evans about the procedures. Check out some of our pictures in the slide show below... Oakview Elementary Garden Project May 9th, Oakview's first graders rotated through 3 stations: enjoying a salad grown in the Tower, weeding the garden areas in preparation for vegetable planting and spreading a covering around the beds. The students were actively involved in all activities. (the salad was enjoyed by all, with or without the dressing) The teachers have successfully integrated instruction and activities all year long to support healthy nutrition. The students will celebrate these experiences by planting the vegetables the last week of school. Families have signed up for weekly maintenance throughout the summer. MVIFS can be very proud of Oakview teachers and students who have supported Farm to Table. |
Oakview Elementary Garden Project - April 2023 Update
by Liz Betz & Jeanne Evans
It may feel like spring will never arrive but when it does the 2nd graders will be ready. The after school garden club started weeding the garden and planted seeds to start plants indoors to transplant when weather permits.
Mid-April 2023 Update from Bern Schwieterman, STEAM Integration Coach for Kettering Schools..
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"Everything went very well last week at Oakview. Two MVIFS volunteers helped the students. They were amazing!
We are planning to plant the gardens with the plants we are growing from seed on May 6. We are going to have the students prepare the soil prior to that on nice days. It is hard to schedule the days when weather is such a factor! We will start building the outdoor classroom deck when we receive approval from the building and grounds supervisor.
You are all awesome!! Thank you so much for your help and support." ____________________________________________________________
**It's Beginning to Feel A Lot Like...Spring**. - **Farm to Table Update**
**March, 2023**
Oakview is getting ready for Spring! Their 1st Grade class planted seeds to grow 'starts' that will be used for their Spring planting. Two of our members, Charlie McKenzie and Warren Johnson, joined in to help them prepare for the spring planting.
Farm to Table - July 2022
by Jeanne Evans
Oakview first graders and their families are tending to their school garden this summer. The tomato plants are full of blooms as well as the peppers plants. Basil, oregano and thyme are thriving. The students are going to enjoy harvesting and dining on the fruits of their labor when they return in August. The outdoor boards secured on the fence will assist the teachers with instruction. Enjoy the pictures posted on Farm to Table. Our support of Oakview is so appreciated by all.
Farm to Table - October 2022
by Jeanne Evans
From Angie Beal at Oakview: The first graders harvested peppers and a few ripe tomatoes October 4 and the kids each took some home. They put some out in the lounge for staff as well. Oakview will be harvesting more that ripen in November and using those to make salsa or tomato sauce for dipping. The garden produced a bountiful amount of vegetables over the summer and early fall. November 1 they will be clearing the garden. Plans are underway for Spring, 2023.
Farm to Table - July 2022
by Jeanne Evans
Oakview first graders and their families are tending to their school garden this summer. The tomato plants are full of blooms as well as the peppers plants. Basil, oregano and thyme are thriving. The students are going to enjoy harvesting and dining on the fruits of their labor when they return in August. The outdoor boards secured on the fence will assist the teachers with instruction. Enjoy the pictures posted on Farm to Table. Our support of Oakview is so appreciated by all.
Farm to Table - Oakview
June 2022
Early Spring, first graders at Oakview planted a variety of lettuce seeds in their classroom Tower Garden. They got to watch and study how light and water nourished the seeds. May 13 the first graders enjoyed harvesting the lettuces for their salad party. There were some students who said “I don’t like lettuce”, but discovered that the salad was delicious. This exposure to new foods supports one of the many goals of Farm to Table.
Farm to Table - Oakview Project
May 2022
Mid-May Update from Jeanne Evans, Liz Betz and Bern Schwieterman, STEAM Integration Coach for Kettering Schools..
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May 16th Oakview first graders planted the vegetables that they started by seed earlier in the Spring. They discussed correct planting such as: how close together, how deep and how to water them. Each child had a clipboard where they drew a picture of the raised beds with the plants and answered some questions. The children showed great pride and enthusiasm the entire time. Families have signed up to water and weed throughout the summer. When school resumes, they will enjoy sampling the fruits of their labor. The teachers and students have found this garden to be a very valuable teaching experience exposing and encouraging healthy nutritional eating habits. In addition, they have used the garden in the following ways: as a habitat for our bird feeders, practiced mapping skills, observed the life cycle of a pumpkin and completed a science experiment with beans. The support from MVIFS has been invaluable
Oakview Garden Project Overview
June, 2021
The gardens at Oakview Elementary are the result of a collaboration between Kettering STEAM Education and MVIFS. The entire process of gardening, from planning and installation, to caring for- and harvesting, to distribution and finally table-top is a perfect fit for Steam-based learning.
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Education is an integrated approach to teaching that uses the Design Thinking process. STEAM focuses on real-world experiences and acquired knowledge to help enrich students’ learning environments.
The Kettering School District and in particular, Kettering STEAM, is grateful for MVIFS and its generous contribution of time, talent, and money.
Bern Schweiderman,
STEAM Integration Coach
Kettering City Schools
Donations to Oakview Garden Project
Items from the MVIFS locker have gone to a worthy location – Oakview Elementary. The tables, canopies and much more will be used for the Farm to Table program. Bern Schwieterman and principal, Aaron Smith were overwhelmed with our donations. The first graders will be using the items as they continue their nutritional education in planting, harvesting, cooking, and eating vegetables from the raised gardens.
**Reported by Jeanne Evans**