In 2020, the FEEDJeffco Map began connecting Farm to School projects to the greater community. The map wasn’t just a bunch of location dots, but more of a “table of contents” for the “book-of-work” people were doing across Port Townsend, Chimacum, and Quilcene school systems. It supports the planting, growing, cooking, sharing of food and the creation of new businesses around our local food web. The FEEDJeffco map is free to the public for at-a-glance information, where to go for more information, and maybe how to help a school’s project with dollars or time.

While the FEEDJeffco Map is local and evolving, it is already part of a Global Greenmap network. Its platform, Greenmaps.org, has a legacy spanning 65 countries, 700+ maps containing over 40,000 mapped locations. Founder, Wendy Brawer, has been directing GreenMap since 1995 as a way to capture and show what a sustainable or Green city looked like and how to interact with it. She gathered a team, developed software, and created the unique Icon system which makes the platform engaging and useful. In those decades she has transitioned it through endless tech upgrades into what is now an open source and free, global platform.

Why GreenMaps was selected for the FEEDJeffco map software:

Many examples of how other global communities have used the map online and in print, which we can use for ideas in our schools or communities.
The 200+ icons are available in English, French, Spanish, and Romanian.
The map is functional across computer Mac/PC platforms, tablets, and phones.
Each location Pop-Up box has space for text, links, photos, and sounds.
Complete content is also available on a full page format.
It’s FREE!

How is it being used today.

Just about the time that the 2020 map was ready for students, Covid-19 happened putting its teachable moments on hold. Until school is back in full session, the map is being used in other, interesting ways:

As a data-holding place for journalists needing to see the local food network and learn quickly whom to contact for more information.
As a way to show how businesses, organizations, parents, and schools can work with one another.
As a knowledge base for ongoing projects. For example the Blue Heron Middle School’s Orchard tree/fruit production database is on a website anyone can tap.
To help communities understand the relationship between Food Banks*, Food Bank Gardens**, School Gardens, and Food Pantries. For example the Port Townsend High School garden is for education and production during the school year, but during summer it transitions into a Food Bank Garden site.

How it will be used next year.

As a way for students to connect with other “growers” whether they are in school or on a farm.
To showcase school garden projects and accomplishments.
A source of topics for teachers to use for main stream classes such as math, English, science, and vocational applications.

Are you involved with the area Farm to School programs? Is there a farm, business, or organization that needs to be included on the map? Would you like to become a mapmaker for your school? Please contact FEEDJeffco@gmail.com with your request and a phone number/email where you can be reached.

*FYI: Our local Food Banks are a separate non-profit from the Food Bank Farm and Gardens which supply produce to the Food Banks.