• Initial meetings between Jim Churchill, Marty Fujita and Steve Fields to discuss a farm to school program for Ojai. Based on experience of Jim Churchill who helped establish the second Farm-to-School program in
California, in Venura Unified School District.
• Group meets with Ojai Unified School District Superintendent Van Riley and receives approval to start a
farm to school program for OUSD.

2003

Spring
• Planning begins for Farm to School Salad Bar launch at pilot school, Topa Topa Elementary, for Fall
• First steering committee meeting
• Program name, Food for Thought, and graphic identity established.
• First grant from Homeland Foundation supporting farm-to-school activities at Topa Topa Elementary.

Fall / Winter
• First Salad Bar launched at Topa Topa to overwhelming response
• Grant from UC Hansen Trust to support farm field trips and garden component.
• Grant received from Crown Family Foundation for general support.

2004

Winter / Spring
• Marty Fujita becomes program coordinator.
• Rollout of Food for Thought program at Meiners Oaks and Miramonte Elementary schools.
• Rollout of Nibbles / Picadas, Food For Thought English/Spanish newsletter, distributed to all OUSD parents.

Spring / Summer
• Grant received from Annenberg Foundation for general support.
• First fundraising event :
“Dinner and a Movie” featuring Tony Shalhoub, star of television show, “Monk”. Event sells out.
• First farm field trips for 4th graders to McGrath Organic Family Farms in Oxnard.
• Steve Fields and Marty Fujita become co-leaders.
• Planning for rollout of other components to all remaining OUSD schools.

Fall / Winter
• Grant received from California Endowment Fund to support nutrition education component.
• Grant received from Marisla Foundation and Crown Family Foundation for general support.

2005

Winter / Spring
• Part-time Volunteer Coordinator hired.
• Grant received from UC Hansen Trust to support garden-based learning component.
• Edible Communities and Nathan Larremendy Gallery hold fundraiser to benefit Food for Thought.
• Trash reduction info sheet handed out to all students on Earth Day.
• Salad bar, garden, nutrition education components running smoothly at all elementary schools.
• 4th grade field trips to Fairview Gardens in Goleta.
• Matilija Junior High School Salad Bar soft launch.

Summer
• Second fundraising event :
“Locally Grown”, featuring Jack Johnson, the Malloy Brothers and Ted Lennon held at Libbey Bowl. Event sells out.
• Premiere of “Locally Grown” DVD, directed and underwritten by Ron Phillips
• Manhattan Beach Unified School District garden-based learning curriculum called, “Growing Great” adopted and modified for Ojai growing conditions.

Fall / Winter
• Initiation of garden curriculum for K, 1st and 5th grades.
• New garden beds developed for Miramonte and Meiners Oaks elementary schools.
• Worm bin program rolled out for 2nd graders at all elementary schools as part of solid waste reduction program.
• California Endowment grant, funds Hispanic community outreach nutrition education program.
• Nutrition education classes begun for Matilija Junior High School students.
• Editorial appears in Mothering magazine about Food for Thought program
• Grant received from Crown Family Foundation and Johnson Family Foundation for general support.

2006

Winter / Spring
• Food For Thought Ojai becomes a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Board of Directors founded.
• Issues arise regarding working with local distributor who can regularly deliver locally grown and sourced produce for salad bars.
• FFT board members assist OUSD to develop Federally-mandated district-wide wellness policy.
• Part-time garden coordinator hired.
• First farming methods tour for Matilija Junior High School GATE class and Nordhoff High School Field Studies class to McGrath Family Farms and Terry Farms, comparing and contrasting organic and conventional farming methods. • Fourth grade farm field trips to Underwood Family Farms in Somis.

Summer
• Board officers elected.

Fall / Winter
• Standing committees formed : Executive, Program, Fundraising/Development, PR/Marketing.
• Matilija JHS salad bar relaunches for Thursdays only. Added marketing efforts including PA announcements,
taste-testings, and 7th grade science class presentations on whole vs processed foods. Participation increases from 7 students to over 80!
• Cooking club launched at Matilija JHS.
• Food For Thought featured as a model school in Slow Food USA Farm to School handbook.
• Grant received from Johnson Family Foundation for general support.