From the garden to the table—and back to the soil.
Illustrations express our food and garden philosophy; they are not photographs of the property or a daily menu.
Our principles, in everyday life
01
Nourish with care.
Choose ingredients thoughtfully. Make time for satisfying food and a welcoming table.
02
Let children take part.
Stir, plant, water, notice. Small contributions help children feel connected to what they eat.
03
Give back to the earth.
Use what we need with gratitude, reduce waste, and care for the soil that grows our food.
The ingredients matter
A kitchen with clear standards.
We read the label, not just the promise on the front. The same standards guide what we make and what we buy.
Simple ingredients. Food made with care.
01
No enriched grains
We leave out enriched flour and grain products, including breads, pasta, and cereals made with them. We choose whole grains and unenriched alternatives.
Why we choose this Enriched flour is refined grain with vitamins added back, including synthetic folic acid. Folate metabolism is not identical in everyone: a meta-analysis found that people with the common MTHFR 677TT genotype had lower folate status and a smaller short-term serum-folate response to folic acid supplementation. Reviews also document that unmetabolized folic acid can appear in circulation after fortified foods or supplements, while its long-term health significance is still being studied. We prefer whole or unenriched grains as a simple, consistent food standard.[1, 6–7]
02
Non-GMO ingredients
Our ingredient standard includes non-GMO grains and other ingredients. Organic and non-GMO labeling, ingredient lists, and supplier information guide our purchases.
Why we choose this It gives families who prefer ingredients made without genetic engineering a clear, consistent sourcing standard.
03
No seed oils
We leave seed oils out of our cooking and check purchased foods, too. We use olive oil, avocado oil, butter, or coconut oil, with each child’s dietary needs in mind.
Why we choose this We like knowing exactly which fats go into a recipe and choosing them deliberately for the food we’re making.
04
No artificial colors or flavors
Fruit, vegetables, herbs, and simple recipes bring their own color and flavor. We check snacks and pantry ingredients for artificial colors and flavors.
Why we choose this Children can get to know the tastes, colors, and textures of the ingredients themselves.
These are our food choices—not a judgment of another family’s table or a treatment for a medical condition.
Well fed, through the day
A good breakfast. A hearty afternoon snack.
Food should fit the hours your child is with us. Choose a program to see how meals and snacks fit the day.
Familiar food, offered with variety. Food ideas shown—not a fixed menu.
Summer Club
Monday–Friday · 7:00 AM–6:30 PM
Morning
Breakfast to start the day
Morning care includes breakfast, with time to eat and settle in. Think oatmeal with fruit and yogurt, or eggs with whole-grain toast.
Midday
Lunch together
A satisfying meal with a variety of foods: for example, chicken or beans, vegetables, and whole grains.
Afternoon
A hearty afternoon snack
After lunch and before pickup, children have a substantial snack—such as bread with cheese or a bean spread, plus fruit or vegetables.
Water is available throughout the day, with additional food offered as needed during a long day of care.
School-year Kids Club
Food that fits your before- and after-school schedule
Before school
Breakfast before the school day
Children in before-school care are served breakfast, with time to eat and settle in before heading to school.
After school
A hearty snack after pickup
A filling afternoon snack welcomes children back from school and supports the rest of their afternoon with us.
Before + After includes both. Lunch is part of the school day, not the regular before- or after-school program.
Preschool & Pre-K
A shared snack during the three-hour class
During class
A nourishing snack together
A comfortable pause for familiar foods, conversation, and trying something new without pressure. Think fruit or vegetables paired with yogurt, cheese, or a whole-grain food.
Preschool snack does not replace breakfast or lunch at home. We share snack timing with families so it fits around their child’s meals.
Examples are meal ideas, not a complete daily menu. Portions, ingredients, and substitutions are chosen for children’s ages, nutrition needs, and agreed allergy plans. We share meal times before care begins so families can plan around breakfast and lunch.
Made with care. Chosen with intention.
Homemade at heart. Connected to where food grows.
Made in our kitchen
We make breads, meals, and snacks from simple ingredients. Homemade food gives us a direct say in what goes into the recipe. Purchased ingredients and foods follow the same standards.
Organic is our first choice
We choose organic as much as possible. Organic farming standards emphasize soil care, resource cycles, and biodiversity—values we want children to see in everyday life.[2]
Homegrown, in season
Herbs, peas, and seasonal harvests connect the garden to our food plans. Children can notice what is growing and help harvest appropriate produce with an adult.
Closer to the source
We seek out local produce and source meat from local farmers when available through inspected, approved suppliers. We value knowing the people and places behind our ingredients.
Not every item is organic, local, or homemade. Our ingredient standards stay consistent, and we welcome questions about a specific food or supplier.
A principle we practice
We care for what cares for us.
The garden is more than a place to pick a snack. It is a chance to see that food belongs to a living cycle—and that we have a part in caring for it.
We teach children to use what they need thoughtfully, give plants time to grow, and return suitable scraps to the soil. A seed, a small harvest, or a flower they helped plant can make that connection real.
Take thoughtfully. Give back. Help things grow.
An illustration of the cycle we want children to understand. Animal and compost areas are kept separate from meals and play.
01
Plant
Sow peas, flowers, herbs, or a little patch of vegetables.
02
Tend
Water thoughtfully, notice growth, and care for living things.
03
Harvest & enjoy
Pick with an adult, wash the harvest, and connect it to the table.
04
Return to the soil
Sort suitable scraps for compost; finished compost nourishes the next planting.[3]
↳ And the next growing cycle begins.
Less waste, without pressure
We offer manageable portions and more when children are hungry. Uneaten food is not a reason to insist on a clean plate. Adults help sort suitable fruit and vegetable scraps for compost; not every leftover belongs there.
Animals, with care and boundaries
Adults manage the chickens and may offer suitable food scraps as part of their feeding plan. Children observe only from outside the separate enclosure, where permitted. Young children do not handle poultry or their equipment.
Notice without disturbing
Whether watching an insect or a horse beyond a fence, we practice gentle observation. We leave animals their space, care for flowers, and learn that the outdoors is shared.
How we keep garden and animal learning separate from food
Adults handle compost management, poultry care, and cleaning. Chicken areas, equipment, and unfinished compost stay away from children’s eating and play areas. We wash hands after outdoor activities and before preparing or eating food.
Garden and animal activities must fit the children’s ages and the applicable health and site requirements. Poultry are not part of the preschool play space; CDC guidance advises against keeping live poultry in childcare facilities serving children under five. We confirm appropriate property arrangements before offering animal-related activities.[4]
A place at the table
Good food, without pressure.
Meals are a chance to sit together, share a conversation, and enjoy food. Children receive gentle encouragement to explore—not forced bites, clean-plate demands, or rewards for eating.
Time to eat, time to listen
We make room for conversation and let children respond to hunger and fullness.
Small, meaningful contributions
Wash produce, stir, set a place, or help assemble a snack—with an adult and a task that fits the child.
Your child’s needs come with them
We discuss allergies, sensitivities, and dietary plans before care begins. We do not promise an allergen-free kitchen.
The same care continues beyond food
What surrounds children matters, too.
Our food standards come from a broader principle: choose everyday inputs with intention and leave out what does not need to be there. That same approach carries into the care space—from fresh air and no added room fragrance to thoughtful cleaning and simple, durable materials.
On the tableRecognizable ingredients, prepared with care.→In the care spaceFresh air, no added fragrance, and practical materials.
In the care space
Thoughtful care, down to the details.
Here, wellness means more than what children eat. It also means fresh air, room to pause, and everyday products chosen with the same care we bring to the kitchen.
No added room fragrance
No scented plug-ins, air fresheners, scented candles, or fragrance diffusers. We choose fragrance-free everyday soaps, laundry products, and routine cleaners.
Clean, not just nice-smelling
We clean, sanitize, and disinfect as needed and as required, following product directions. Products are stored out of children’s reach. Simple choices never replace proper hygiene.[5]
Materials chosen with care
We favor durable, washable food-contact materials, including stainless steel and glass for preparation and storage, with age-appropriate serving dishes. We do not heat food in plastic.
Fresh air and room to recharge
Outdoor time follows weather and air quality. Indoors, children can choose a book, quiet play, or a comfortable pause, with caring adults nearby.
A closer look
What would you like to know?
Ask us about an ingredient, a routine, or something important to your family. You do not have to guess what we mean.
Summer Club includes breakfast, lunch, and a hearty afternoon snack, with water throughout the day and additional food as needed. Before-school Kids Club includes breakfast; after-school care includes a hearty snack. Preschool and Pre-K include a class snack, not a replacement for breakfast or lunch.
We prefer grains without an added enrichment blend, while including whole grains and a variety of foods. “Enriched” means certain vitamins and minerals have been added; it does not mean a food is automatically hard to digest. Unenriched is not the same as whole-grain, gluten-free, or more nutritious.
Our preference does not mean children should avoid vitamins or minerals. For questions about folate, supplements, or an individual dietary need, follow your child’s healthcare professional’s guidance.[6]
Which oils do you leave out?
Canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, grapeseed, and rice bran oil. We check purchased breads, crackers, dressings, and spreads as well as our recipes.
Olive oil, avocado oil, butter, and coconut oil are among our alternatives. We choose the fat to suit the recipe and check ingredients against each child’s agreed dietary needs.
Is everything organic, local, or homemade?
Organic is our first choice, homemade food is part of our routine, and seasonal garden harvests and local suppliers matter to us. Some foods and pantry staples are purchased, and not everything is organic or local. We can share ingredient and sourcing information for a specific meal.
Do you use microwaves?
No. We do not use microwaves to prepare or reheat children’s food. We use other suitable cooking methods and follow safe heating, cooling, and storage practices.
What about allergies and food safety?
We discuss your child’s needs before enrollment and review any written allergy or medical plan with the adults providing care. We consider substitutions and cross-contact precautions individually; our kitchen is not allergen-free.
We use appropriate food sources, pasteurized dairy, safe storage and cooking, and handwashing. Local and homegrown foods still need to meet the requirements for the program. Food is cut and served in age-appropriate ways.
Do children compost or feed the chickens?
Children can help identify suitable plant scraps for compost with an adult. Adults manage the compost and decide which scraps, if any, are appropriate for the chickens. Not all leftovers are suitable for either.
Young children do not handle poultry or poultry equipment. Any animal-related observation depends on age, health guidance, and approved property arrangements. Read about the garden cycle and boundaries →
Can you work with fragrance sensitivities?
Tell us what affects your child so we can review the products used in their care. We do not add room fragrance and choose fragrance-free everyday products. We cannot guarantee that no scent will ever enter a shared space on clothing or personal belongings.
Reach out to us about ingredients, everyday products, or how we can plan for your child. For personal medical details, we’ll arrange a private conversation.
