Farm to Table to Library

Photo courtesy of Hartford Dot Com http://www.hartford.com/the-kitchen-at-hartford-public-library/

Efforts to reduce the distance between where food is grown and where it is eaten can benefit everyone. There are campaigns across the nation about buying local and increasing accessibility to fresh produce to people in urban and poverty stricken areas.

How can libraries play a part?

One great example is the Kitchen café at the Hartford (CT) Public Library! Take a look at an article from the blog The Connecticut Table, A New Farm-to-Table Café for All, Kitchen at Hartford Public Library.

The library-restaurant community partnership not only sells breakfast, lunch, snack, and drink options, but it also doubles as a jobs training & placement program and provides cooking classes.

You can find more information about Kitchen through its Facebook page and website. Go for a visit online or stop in if you're on the east coast to see 'farm to table' in action at a library!

We're hoping this provides inspiration for Indiana libraries. It is possible to make food a successful part of your outreach for your library!

For more Indiana-based farm to table/farm to fork, or field to plate/field to fork partnerships, take a look at efforts across the state:

Walhill Farm in Batesville, IN
The Farmhouse at Fair Oaks Farms
Rocky River in Granger, IN
Farm to Fork Market at Normandy Farms, Indianapolis
State House Market and Hoosier Harvest Market, Indianapolis
Various sites in Indianapolis
Michiana area sites
Seeds and Greens in New Albany, IN
Farm to Fork restaurants in the South Shore area, along Lake Michigan
Valley Kitchen in Valparaiso, IN