8:30 – Doors Open

9:00 – Opening Remarks

9:15-10:30 – “How Farm to ECE Supports the Nervous System” Deb Moses, Honey Creek Healing

10:30-10:45 – Break

10:45-11:30 – “The Hunger Task Force: Kane Street Gardens” Shelly Fortner, The Hunger Task Force of La Crosse 

11:30AM-12:00PM Lunch

12:00-12:45 – “Nature’s Impact on Children’s Learning” Stephanie Hanna, The Nature Place

12:45-1:00 Break

1:00-1:45 – “The Nutritional Power of Microgreens” Tiffany Cade, Deep Rooted Farm

1:45-3:00 – “Advancing Equity & Engaging Families with Farm to ECE” Hawthorn McCracken, National Farm to School Network

3:00-3:30 Closing, Surveys, and Door Prize Drawings

“How Farm to ECE Supports the Nervous System” – Deb Moses

Nervous system health is important for physical, mental, emotional, and relational health. It just so happens that Farm to ECE practices and activities enhance all the things we need for a regulated nervous system. From connection with nature and the senses, to nutrition that calms us, to learning about how we belong to a community food network, to finding a sense of safety in the garden and sharing a meal, Farm to ECE touches on it all. This presentation will not only connect these dots, but early care educators will also learn a few basic nervous system regulating tools that they can use during their busy days. In addition, educators will gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the children in their care in what helps each unique person find safety and support in their body and their surroundings. 

“The Hunger Task Force: Kane Street Gardens” – Shelly Fortner

The Executive Director of The Hunger Task Force, Shelly Fortner,  will join us in discussing the impact of the organization and the resources available for local child care providers. In 1996, The Hunger Task Force was created after the La Crosse County Health Department conducted a survey that determined significant gaps in food availability for families in the community.  Since its inception, their mission has been to harvest community resources to alleviate hunger. This can be seen through initiatives like the Kane Street Community Garden, Food Recovery Program, and the Senior Stockbox Program that have served over 120 meal sites, food pantries, youth programs, and outreach sites throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. In 2023 The Hunger Task Force’s efforts resulted in over 1,500,000 pounds of The Emergency Food Assistance Program, 300,000 pounds of Fresh Produce Boxes, and 2,500,000 pounds of recovered food being distributed to these programs. 

“Nature’s Impact on Children’s Learning” – Stephanie Hanna

Nature teaches even the very young. We will discuss the importance of getting out in nature by learning some activities and about my favorite resources.

“The Nutritional Power of Microgreens” – Tiffany Cade

Tiffany is a passionate and experienced microgreen grower dedicated to fresh, local, nutrient-dense produce. Inspired by a passion for healthy eating, she uses organic growing practices to cultivate a wide variety of microgreens, including a mild mix, spicy mix, radish mix, sunflower shoots and pea shoots. She is on a mission to educate the community about the nutritional power of microgreens, and to make healthy, flavorful food accessible to our community. She will be joining us to discuss all things microgreens and will demonstrate how to grow and harvest microgreens and shoots and how to incorporate them into your everyday meals.  

“Advancing Equity & Engaging Families with Farm to ECE”  – Hawthorn McCracken

From a young age, narratives around food and health impact how we see ourselves and our family culture. Early childhood education programs sit at a pivotal position in our social fabric. The education and nutrition of our youngest learners are powerful tools with which we can begin addressing social inequity and create more resilient communities. This workshop will explore how the farm to ECE principles of gardening with children, preparing local foods, and nutrition education can guide providers in creating welcoming, supportive learning environments for children and families from diverse walks of life. 

Deb Moses, Honey Creek Healing

With a background in ecology and horticulture, Deb Moses has a passion for Nature, health, community, and healing, and Farm to ECE touches on all of these. Deb worked as a Farm to ECE Specialist in Colorado for 3 years and at Rooted, in Wisconsin, for 7 years. She enjoyed both teaching and learning from early care educators all things cooking, gardening, and experiential learning with young children. She has been a long-time gardener and farmer including operating Cliffbrake Farm in central Sauk County, Wisconsin. Deb offered CSA shares and sold at markets as well as at a local child care center. Mental and physical health challenges caused her to end her vegetable farming business but opened a new door to learning about nervous system health and trauma healing to help herself and others. She now runs Honey Creek Healing and helps people through on-line sessions and hosts events on her farm around music, community, and connecting people to the healing power of Nature. 

Shelly Fortner, The Hunger Task Force

Shelly Fortner is the Executive Director of  The Hunger Task Force, a non-profit organization that includes the Kane Street Community Garden and the Senior Stockbox Program.

Stephanie Hanna, The Nature Place 

Stephanie is passionate about working for The Nature Place because of their goal to bring nature opportunities to everyone. As an educator with over 30 years of experience, she believes education is the key to connecting people to nature. Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan. She worked as an elementary and middle school teacher in Canada before moving to the Driftless Area. She loves to learn and teach others. She enjoys walking and hiking with Astro, her precocious poodle, yoga, cycling, reading, and being outdoors as much as possible. Stephanie is also an avid film fan and loves to live vicariously through the outdoor adventures of her favorite famous biologists as they film some fantastic interactions with nature’s creatures. 

Tiffany Cade, Deep Rooted 

Tiffany Cade is the owner of Deep Rooted a Certified Organic Farm located in Westby. Deep Rooted grows a wide variety of Certified Organic produce and specalizes in growing tomatoes, microgreens and cut flowers. The farm also has a spring garden center and grows a diverse selection of annual, perennial bedding plants and certified organic vegetable and herb seedlings. Tiffany also offers a wide variety of on farm workshops and events throughout the year.  

Hawthorn McCracken, National Farm to School Network

Hawthorn has been with NFSN since July 2024. They have worked in farm to school/ECE since 2017 through Rooted, AmeriCorps, and other WI nonprofits. With a background in community education and sustainable horticulture, Hawthorn is passionate about building stronger food systems and helping everyone (re)connect to traditional food culture and the land. They are especially interested in native plants, community engagement, and creating unique, locally-responsive solutions for gardens and procurement.