The Mississippi Farm to School Network connects farmers with schools to bring Mississippi-grown products into school cafeterias. Statewide, the team advocates for local farmers and schools, believing that purchasing locally grown, locally sourced food benefits everyone.
“We are a non-profit organization with a small team of four,” shared MaryJo Wilson, communication lead with the Mississippi Farm to School Network. “At the heart of our work is a deep commitment to strengthening Mississippi’s local agriculture economy and reconnecting communities with the power of locally grown food. So our team believes that food is more than just nourishment.”
The Mississippi Farm to School Network collaborates with schools and early childhood centers throughout the state to teach students how to grow their gardens, recognizing that when a child helps grow something, they are more likely to eat it.
“Across the state, we work with schools to help students grow their school gardens,” shared Wilson. “And we’ve seen it time and time again. When a child helps grow something, they become more curious, more engaged, and are more likely to try it. It’s a simple concept with a lasting impact.”
Recently, the Mississippi Farm to School Network received funding for 369 raised garden beds to distribute throughout the state. Two hundred raised beds have been given to 70 schools and early childcare centers serving 6,500 students across Mississippi. When raised beds are delivered, teachers and administrators also receive a $150 gift card for needed garden supplies, as well as dozens of garden kits with resources to help bring garden lessons to life.
There are still 169 raised garden beds ready to donate, with dozens of schools waiting to dig in. The holdup is the money needed for the gift cards. The Mississippi Farm to School Network is hosting a fundraiser to support the delivery of the next round of school gardens, aiming to expand the number of school gardens across the state in time for fall planting.
“The $150 gift is necessary,” shared Wilson. “This allows the school or center to have money to buy dirt, plants, watering cans/hoses, or other equipment needed to manage a, hopefully, thriving garden.”
School gardens are a significant component of the Mississippi Farm to School Network’s overall mission, but it’s more than that.
“Our mission goes beyond school gardens,” explained Wilson. “We’re invested in local leadership, and we lift voices within the community. To us, the most meaningful change occurs when it’s led by those who are rooted in place. So our goal is to build a movement grounded in community empowerment, equity, and shared commitment to a healthier future for all Mississippians, especially Mississippians’ youth.”
If you’d like to help get the next round of raised beds distributed to schools across Mississippi, you can visit the Mississippi Farm to School Network’s social media outlets.
“The students are ready. The garden beds are ready. We need your help filling them,” shared Wilson. “Please don’t wait, help us bring school gardens to life for even more kids across Mississippi. Every gift, big or small, helps fill a bed, plant a seed, and inspire a child to grow!”
