Farm to Early Care & Education (ECE)

“Cultivating healthy habits for our littlest eaters”
– National Farm to School Network

What is “Farm to ECE”?

Farm to Early Care and Education (farm to ECE) promotes child health and well-being and increased access to healthy foods through a collection of strategies that are centered in experiential learning and family and community engagement. The three key strategies of farm to ECE are:

  • Local procurement
  • Gardening
  • Food, nutrition, and agriculture education

Collectively, these strategies can ensure that children of all identities and backgrounds can access and learn about local, nutritious food while supporting the development of a strong, community-based local food system. Farm to ECE strategies extend to all types of ECE settings including early learning centers, family home programs, preschools, Tribal programs, Head Start/Early Head Start, and programs in K-12 school districts.

Explore the pages below to learn more about farm to ECE in Washington and for additional resources:

Connect Through our Community of Practice

To learn and share farm to ECE related ideas, resources, questions, and best practices with network members across Washington State, join the farm to ECE Community of Practice.


Connect with Farmers

Discover the regional hub directory to find, connect and collaborate with farmers and organizations involved in farm to ECE in your area.

Questions or comments? Please contact us here: waf2snetwork@gmail.com
Visit the Department of Health’s Nourished & Active in Early Learning page here and the National Farm to School Network here.

E-mail waf2snetwork@gmail.com
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