All Alabama Farm to Early Care and Education Coalition programs are empowered to successfully source healthy local foods, build gardens, and offer food and agriculture activities that enrich the quality of early learning experiences for children and support the Alabama food economy.
With support from the CDC-funded Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Technical Assistance Program, led by Nemours Children’s Health, in partnership with the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, Alabama Healthy Kids, Healthy Future hosted the first Alabama Farm to ECE Summit.
With April being National Garden Month, there is no better time to get children outside, let them explore, and show them where food really comes from. Not a store, but the ground, through care, patience, and purpose.
On Monday, March 30, 2026, Boots on the Farm had the pleasure of visiting Greene County Head Start, where we worked alongside Pre K students, ages 4, to plant raised bed gardens as part of our Farm to ECE efforts.
The Alabama Farm to Early Care and Education Coalition enriches early learning experiences by fostering the implementation of gardens, food education, and farm education activities. The Coalition also works to provide access to healthy foods by supporting local economies and purchasing locally.
The Coalition focuses providing opportunities that consider populations with varying socioeconomic statuses, abilities, and backgrounds.
Coalition members engage different sectors throughout the state to work together to address barriers faced by child care providers in Alabama.
The Farm to ECE Coalition seeks input and guidance from the individuals and groups directly affected by their work.
By utilizing a strengths-based approach, the Coalition keeps the needs and assets of community members a priority when making recommendations and thinking through solutions.
Members of the Coalition will strive to be transparent and communicate clearly about their work with the populations and communities they impact.
The Alabama Farm to Early Care and Education Coalition core values are a vital component of the Coalition’s work. By rooting their work in these core values, the Coalition strives to bring education and resources to every table in the child care field.
