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Grow it. Hunt it. Find it. That’s the theme as the Vermont Department of Libraries and Rooted in Vermont, the Vermont Farm to Plate Network’s grassroots campaign celebrating how all Vermonters enjoy local food, partner up to bring “Exploring Food in Your Backyard” events across the state from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6. Local libraries will be hosting community discussions, hands-on activities, and kid-centric events that feature and discuss local food activities that Vermonters have been doing for generations such as hunting and fishing, gardening, and foraging

The Health Care's Climate Footprint report establishes the first-ever global estimate of health care’s climate footprint, identifies key sources of health care emissions, and makes a series of recommendations to align global health goals with global climate goals. Health care’s climate footprint is equivalent to 4.4% of global net emissions. The lion’s share of emissions – 71% are primarily derived from the health care supply chain through the production, transport, and disposal of goods and services, such as food and agricultural products. Part of decarbonizing the health care supply chain is leveraging health care’s purchasing power toward sustainably and locally grown food and plant-centered meals.


To further distill the report and the findings as they relate to the food sector:
This report is an important first step in an ongoing process to fully understand the channels of GHG impact from the health care sector. The current analysis does not yet provide enough detail to articulate the contribution of food procurement by the health sector. We have great interest in doing so but will need to conduct a structural path analysis which will require an additional scope of research which we hope to be able to undertake in 2020.

The report notes that 9% of health care emissions can be attributed to agriculture, however this includes food as well as other agricultural products such as cotton for hospital gowns and other materials. The report also notes that 11% attributable to 'other manufactured products and 3% attributable to 'other primary industries' both of which have a component attributable to food production that which we have yet to parse out. A future analysis will further assess this segment to be able to attribute the portion associated with food related products.

We are excited about this report and this important first step in getting towards quantifying the impact and opportunity of shifting food procurement in the global health care system to contribute to our collective climate goals.

In late August, Food Connects hosted a Trauma and Nutrition training for 31 Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) wellness leaders, including school nurses, counselors, behavior specialists, and food service directors. This training, funded by a grant from the Thompson Trust, educated wellness leaders on the connection between trauma and nutrition with the expectation that participants bring the information back to their school communities.

If you visit the Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School cafeteria this fall, you might notice a new back to school style.

Applications are now open for NOFA Vermont Farm Beginnings®, a yearlong program for aspiring and beginning farmers that is designed to help participants launch or grow their farm business.

Food Connects is partnering with the New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities NH, to bring local produce to food pantries throughout New Hampshire.

At the Crossroads: Our Food and Farm Culture and Economy

A new grant will allow Conservation Districts to develop additional water quality projects throughout the state of Vermont

Road to Success: My Favorite Things Food Truck

Jeffersonville food entrepreneur Lea Ann Macrery has never lacked for drive. Now, thanks to financing from the Vermont Community Loan Fund, her new business, My Favorite Things Food Truck, is ready to hit the road.

Participants in this day-long workshop will receive a Compost Operator Certificate, which meets the requirements of ANR for small, medium, and large compost facility site operators.