Cream of the Crop

July 2009

1. 2009 California AITC Conference
Oct. 23-24, 2009, Rohnert Park, CA, Sonoma County
Are you ready to be hands-on inspired? The CFAITC Conference this October will provide a bumper crop of resources, activities and opportunities that will spark your imagination and nourish your motivation for teaching with agriculture. Register today!
Do you have something to share? Fill out a proposal to exhibit, provide a Make 'n' Take activity, lead a roundtable discussion, or host a table at the "Taste of California" Luncheon. Proposals are due Aug. 1, 2009. Workshops and tours will be announced later this month.

2. CFAITC and Social Media
Did you know that you can interact with California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom through social media portals like Facebook and Twitter? Become a fan at www.facebook.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/cfaitc.
What other methods do you use to communicate electronically? Let us know how you would like to hear from CFAITC.

3. CFBF Photo Contest - Budding Artists
The Budding Artists category for the California Farm Bureau Federation Photo Contest produced such quality results that it has returned for a second year. Children ages 13 and younger, who are children of Farm Bureau members, are invited to capture their appreciation of agriculture on film (or digital media card). First place receives $250, second place receives $100, and ten entrants will receive a copy of the Imagine this... Stories Inspired by Agriculture 2008 book, featuring stories written about agriculture by California students.
To view last year's winners, visit www.cfaitc.org/photocontest.
For more information, and an entry form, visit www.cfbf.com.

4. California Agricultural Resource Directory 2008-2009
The newly updated directory from California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now available. Download in its entirety, or by section, online at www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics.

5. Life Lab: School Garden Sustainability Summit, and Workshops
Santa Cruz, CA

Discovering the Garden in Early Childhood Education - August 28, 2009 ($150): Spend a day looking at the garden through the eyes of a pre-school student.
Plant It, Grow It, Eat It: Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education - Sept 17, 2009 ($150): Make the connection from seed to table in this fun and delicious one-day workshop.
The Growing Classroom: An Introduction to Garden-Based Learning - October 8-9, 2009 ($300): This two-day workshop is for those interested in supplementing their existing science program with garden-based learning.

6. Web Sites Worth Visiting

UCCE California Gardening cagardenweb.ucdavis.edu: Developed by the UC Statewide Master Gardener Program, this Web site answers questions like "How do I mow my lawn properly" and "How do I fertilize my home vegetable garden?"
People's Garden www.usda.gov/peoplesgarden: The People's Garden is designed to provide a sampling of USDA's efforts throughout the world as well as teach others how to nurture, maintain and protect a healthy landscape.
Forestry Careers www.calforestjobs.org: The scholarship page of the Forest Foundation's career Web site provides a list of opportunities available to those pursuing the forestry and environmental fields.