Jessica Dean of Jessica’s Daycare in Monticello, NY is a participant, ambassador, and advocate of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). As part of her work with the initiative, she understands the value of providing children with healthy and well-balanced meals on a daily basis. In her early childhood program, Jessica works with her children to grow various herbs, vegetables and fruits, which she uses to prepare colorful and nutritious meals.
QUALITYstarsNY interviewed Jessica about her gardening practices
Can you share some background on what gardening looks like for your program?
In my program, gardening extends through all seasons. We have a hydroponic herb garden indoors during the cold season. We also seed save and start seedlings indoors in late winter. Outdoors, we use a combination of raised beds, patio pots, trees, shrubs and perennials such as mint, chives, rhubarb and more to create a food forest on the property. The children are taught to identify these plants, as well as care for them and harvest the crops.
We currently have apples, grapes, blackberries, blueberries, rhubarb, tomatoes, onions, garlic, several types of peppers, cucumbers, squash, lettuce, and a variety of herbs. We plan to add raspberries next season.
Why were you interested in incorporating gardening into your meal planning?
This is a funny story. We have a large, very old (80-100 years) apple tree on the property. We were discussing apples one day and I asked the children where apples come from. Most answered “Walmart” while we had just been looking at the emerging apples on the tree shortly before. I decided that day that it was important to reconnect children to our food supply.
How do you align your gardening practices with serving meals that meet CACFP guidelines?
We grow crops that can be incorporated into meals that follow the CACFP guidelines. We also take part in the Community Supported Agriculture, a crop share, at the Center for Discovery. This agency provided biodynamic farmed crops. They also employ many of their developmentally disabled residents and students creating a sense of purpose and autonomy for these individuals.
Do you engage your children in gardening activities? If so, how?
Yes, we do. The children help in the planning of and care of seeds/seedlings by transplanting, weeding and watering plants, trees, and shrubs as well as harvesting, preparing, cooking and canning the yield.
What advice would you give to programs that are interested in getting started with gardening?
Start small. One project at a time. Herb pots on a windowsill, a few containers of plants. I also offer coaching/mentoring as a CACFP Ambassador through Hunger Solutions New York.
Learn More About CACFP
CACFP is a federally funded program that provides reimbursement for serving healthy meals and snacks to eligible children. Visit the Hunger Solutions New York website for numerous resources and answers to questions you may have about meal planning, reimbursements, maximizing participation, and general information about CACFP.
