Michigan Farm to ECE Network

The Grow More Award aims to celebrate outstanding efforts by early care and education (ECE) providers, farmers, and food producers. The Michigan Farm to Early Care and Education Network accepts nominations by their peers to acknowledge their dedication to farm to ECE efforts. Farm to ECE in Michigan includes local food sourcing, nutrition education, and gardening for children ages 0-5 in early care and education settings. By building food into the foundation of early care education, children, families, early care and education providers, and farmers can all benefit, creating new opportunities for good food in Michigan.

Providers were nominated for the Grow More Awards in one or more of the following Categories: 

• Gardening: planting, growing, and harvesting of fruits, vegetables, and edible plants   
• Nutrition and Agricultural Education Activities: educational opportunities related to food, nutrition, and agriculture that help children learn about how food grows and where it comes from   
• Procurement: food purchasing or obtaining food grown or produced locally   

Meet the awardees:

Mimi’s House Family Childcare

Owned by Mary Turner 

Nominated for: Gardening, Nutrition and Agriculture Education  

Mimi's House Family Childcare is a Certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom where children spend most of their day outdoors exploring nature and the world around them. While participating in the Growing Healthy Eaters program, Mary Turner, owner of Mimi’s House, has expanded its garden so that children are not only tasting the fresh produce they are growing they are also including it in their menu and meals. They also utilize a CSA produce box where local produce from a local farmer is also incorporated into lessons, taste tests and meals. They try new things weekly and prepare it different ways while exploring the taste, texture, colors and whatever else may come up in their conversations about the food. 

Huntey’s Clubhouse 

Owned by Leanne Ablin 

Nominated for: Food Purchasing, Gardening, Nutrition and Agriculture Education 

Leanne Ablin exemplifies dedication and innovation in early childhood education by improving access to healthy and locally produced food for 600 low-income children daily. She collaborates with local farmers and food producers to ensure that meals are not only nutritious but also fresh and sustainably sourced. Leanne's efforts extend beyond providing food; she actively increases nutritional awareness among children and provides information for families around the benefits of proper childhood nutrition. These initiatives significantly enhance health outcomes by fostering a lifelong appreciation for healthy eating habits. Moreover, Leanne is committed to enriching children’s learning environments. She integrates nutrition education into the curriculum, creating interactive and diverse ECE settings that promote holistic development. Her innovative solutions, such as garden-based learning and culturally relevant meal plans, cater to the unique needs of the community, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive both physically and academically. 

Dawn’s Daycare

Owned by Dawn Edwards 

Nominated for: Gardening, Nutrition and Agriculture Education 

Dawn Edwards is committed to creating positive and engaging experiences for children that will ultimately build lifelong healthful habits - from planting their own seeds, to eating fresh and locally grown food, and observing animals on their farm (to name a few). Dawn has the kids plant their own patch of their garden each year and the kids help tend and care for their plants. They also have peach, apple, and plum trees that the children get to experience as a tasty snack right in their own backyard. Each year, Dawn keeps expanding and thinking of more ways to engage the children year-round. She recently successfully applied for a grant-funded greenhouse, so the children can begin planting their seeds earlier in the springtime and to provide a nurturing space that allows light and warmth in the dark cold season. Dawn also recently purchased a freeze dryer, so they can preserve more garden and fresh produce for snacks. Dawn respectfully explains the connection between animals and our food as well. She instills a sense of pride and wonder in the children she cares for. 

Reading Rainbow Early Childhood Development LLC 

Owned by Dorsea Walton-Mack 

Nominated for Nutrition and Agriculture Education 

As part of the Growing Healthy Eaters grant project, site owner Dorsea Walton-Mack installed edible learning gardens at the site, including the youth in each step of the process including starting seeds, planting, harvesting, and preparing the produce that was grown. In addition, Ms. Mack offered the children taste tests of seasonal foods purchased from the local farm market with funds from the grant. Ms. Mack partnered with Great Start to Quality to provide an infant/breastfeeding room. Because she wanted to put more emphasis on food preparation and trying new foods, she also applied for the mini-grant for food preparation equipment, and was awarded the funds from the Growing Healthy Eaters grant. She is also now implementing the "Grow It, Try It, Like It" curriculum for childcare providers and is always looking for ways to provide the parents more education and resources.  

Gretchen’s House  

Owned by Gretchen Preston 

Nominated for: Nutrition and Agriculture Education 

Gretchen's House Child Care Centers cares for children 0-5 and understands the importance of all children being in nature and participating in nature exploration. Their playgrounds are certified by Nature Explore and the children spend as much time as possible outdoors. Each of their centers have gardening as part of their curriculum. These gardens range from designated children’s gardens to raised beds scattered around the outdoor spaces. In the spring, children learn about gardening and become planners. They learn about plants that grow well in Michigan and help their teachers plot their gardens. Children are active participants in preparing the soil, planting, weeding and watering. They learn about the plants that they are working with as well as about bees, rain amounts and charting plant growth. As vegetables are ready to harvest, children pick, wash and eat their vegetables right on the playground. 

About the Michigan Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) Network 

The Michigan Farm to ECE Network collaborates so children ages birth to 5 can grow, choose, and eat nutritious local food in early care and education settings. 

Farm to ECE in Michigan includes local food sourcing, nutrition education, and gardening. Children, families, ECE providers, and farmers all benefit from farm to ECE. 

The Michigan Farm to ECE Network exists to: 

• improve access to nutrient dense food, 
• increase nutritional awareness and health outcomes, and
• support ECE providers as they work to improve children’s learning environments. 

Learn more at mifarmtoecenetwork.org