PORT TOWNSEND — First lady Michelle Obama has taken note of a local school-based agricultural program and plans to send a letter of support that will be read at a fundraiser this week, according to the program’s director.
“This is really exciting,” said Candice Cosler, who teaches an active gardening class to 500 kids in three schools through the Jefferson County Farm to School Coalition.
“Her office contacted us on Friday and told us to expect the letter in time for the fundraiser.”
The Jefferson County Farm to School Coalition’s fundraising dinner will be 5 p.m. Sunday at Fort Worden Commons. Tickets are $125.
Cosler doesn’t know exactly how Obama heard of the program but said “she hears about things from a lot of places.”
This is the first fundraiser for the 4-year-old program, which operates on funding from schools and grants in order to establish small gardens that are maintained by students and used as a teaching facility.
“Our lessons are heavily science-based and are built around what is going on in the garden at the time,” Cosler said. “If a particular plant is in season, we talk about what it is and how it came to the area.”
Cosler has operated gardens at Grant Street Elementary School and Quilcene School for several years, and added a garden at Chimacum School in 2012.
The gardens operate between May and November, and are maintained by staff during summer months.
The items planted are harvested in the spring and fall, and include chard, lettuce, kale, carrots, potatoes, raspberries and herbs.
Cosler said that students are exposed to foods they may not have not eaten, and said they especially like chard and kale.
“We teach the kids about everything in the garden and it’s like a treasure hunt,” she said.
“They feel empowered if the are eating food they have grown, and become a lot more adventurous in their food choices learn about nutritional value of these foods and are then willing to taste them when they show up on the school lunch menu. “
Cosler said that some kids eat two meals a day at school, and the nutritional value of school meals has fallen due to budget cuts.
“It’s not the schools’ fault. It’s the way the system has evolved,” Cosler said.
“They only receive $1 per meal per student and have limited food storage space.”
Cosler hopes to raise about $20,000 at the benefit, an amount that represents about 20 percent of the program’s total budget.
The money will be used to support existing programs and expand to new ones such as a garden in Brinnon, she said.
The benefit dinner will feature locally grown and raised foods and drink and will be prepared by local chefs.
There is also an auction that includes a chance to bid for a one week stay in a condo in Cabo San Lucas and a week in Park City, Utah, among other items.
For more information — or to reserve a seat, become a sponsor or make a donation — see www.jcfarm2school.org, call 360-385-4313 or write coslercs@gmail.com.
Discover Pass requirements are waived for the event.
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
