Exploring November’s National Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Observances: A Guide for Parents and Educators

As the holiday season begins in November, there’s no shortage of opportunities for parents and educators to encourage children to explore agriculture, food, and the environment. This month is packed with National Month, Week, and Day observances that focus on various aspects of our food system and natural world. These themes present a wonderful chance to help kids understand where their food comes from and how agriculture impacts their daily lives.

Here are some notable November observances, along with fun activities and learning ideas to help children experience and explore agriculture.

National Peanut Butter Lovers Month

Peanut butter is more than a popular snack—it’s a product that connects kids to agriculture, food processing, and nutrition. November is the perfect time to explore the peanut industry and its importance to our food system.

Activities:

1. Peanut Farm Exploration: Learn how peanuts are grown, harvested, and processed. Kids can map peanut-growing regions in the U.S., such as Georgia and Alabama.
2. Nutrition Lesson: Teach kids about the nutritional value of peanuts and how they contribute to a balanced diet.
3. Homemade Peanut Butter: Make homemade peanut butter and discuss food processing and what goes into the food we eat.

National Sweet Potato Awareness Month

Sweet potatoes are a nutritious crop with a rich agricultural background. Use November to explore the life of a sweet potato, from planting to the dinner table.

Activities:

1. Plant a Sweet Potato: Start an indoor sweet potato sprout project, tracking its growth and discussing its needs to thrive.
2. Compare Crops: Study the differences between sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, looking at their growing conditions, nutrition, and uses.
3. Cooking with Sweet Potatoes: Get creative in the kitchen with sweet potato dishes, teaching kids about the journey from farm to table.

National Spinach and Squash Month

November is also the time to highlight nutrient-packed vegetables like spinach and squash. These crops are staples in many fall recipes and offer an opportunity to teach kids about seasonal produce and healthy eating.

Activities:

1. Spinach Growing Project: Spinach can grow in cool weather, making it a great crop for fall planting. Start a small garden or sprout spinach indoors, tracking its growth.
2. Squash Variety Exploration: Squash comes in many varieties, from butternut to acorn. Teach kids to identify different types of squash and research how each variety is grown and harvested.
3. Healthy Recipe Challenge: Challenge kids to find or create a recipe using spinach or squash, focusing on nutritious ingredients and seasonal produce.

National Carbon Awareness Week (First Week of November)

Climate change is a pressing issue, and National Carbon Awareness Week offers an opportunity to teach kids about their carbon footprint and how agricultural practices affect the environment.

Activities:

1. Calculate Carbon Footprints: Use online tools to help kids calculate their own carbon footprint, discussing how everyday choices impact the environment.
2. Tree Planting: Engage in planting trees to help absorb carbon dioxide, and explain how agriculture plays a role in environmental sustainability.
3. Farm-to-Table Discussion: Explore how food production contributes to carbon emissions, looking at transportation, packaging, and farming methods.

National Farm-City Week (Begins the Friday before Thanksgiving)

National Farm-City Week emphasizes the vital connections between rural farmers and urban consumers. It’s an excellent opportunity to bridge the gap between farm and city life.

Activities:

1. Virtual Farm Tours: Take a virtual tour of a local farm to show kids where their food comes from and how it is produced.
2. City vs. Farm Life: Lead a discussion on the differences and similarities between city life and farm life, focusing on the role agriculture plays in urban areas.
3. Food Supply Chain Exploration: Create a map showing how food travels from farms to urban centers, helping kids understand the journey their food takes.

National Apple Cider Day (November 18)

Apple cider is a quintessential fall beverage, and National Apple Cider Day provides an opportunity to explore apple farming and production.

Activities:

1. Visit an Apple Orchard: Take a trip to a local orchard or join a virtual tour to learn how apples are grown and harvested.
2. Make Apple Cider: Get hands-on by making your own apple cider at home and learning about the steps from farm to table.
3. Explore Apple Varieties: Research the different types of apples grown in the U.S. and around the world, discussing how agricultural conditions affect their growth.

National Eat a Cranberry Day (November 23)

Cranberries are a key ingredient in many Thanksgiving dishes and have a unique agricultural story. November 23rd is National Eat a Cranberry Day, making it the perfect time to explore cranberry farming.

Activities:

1. Learn About Cranberry Bogs: Cranberries are grown in bogs, which makes their farming process distinct. Teach kids about the harvesting process, and if possible, watch a video on cranberry bogs.
2. Cranberry Recipe Creation: Incorporate cranberries into a fun cooking activity, whether it’s cranberry sauce, bread, or snacks. Discuss how cranberries go from bog to table.
3. Nutritional Benefits of Cranberries: Research the health benefits of cranberries and how they contribute to a balanced diet.

National Gratitude Month

While National Gratitude Month doesn’t directly focus on agriculture, it offers an opportunity to appreciate the farmers, producers, and workers who make our food system possible.

Activities:

1. Write Thank You Letters: Encourage kids to write letters or create cards thanking local farmers for their hard work in providing food for the community.
2. Start a Gratitude Garden: Begin a small garden project, teaching kids to care for plants while appreciating the time and effort that goes into growing food.
3. Nature Walk & Reflection: Take a nature walk and encourage kids to observe the land, plants, and animals that play a role in the food system. Discuss why it’s important to care for our environment.

Conclusion: Learning Through November’s Agriculture Observances

November’s national observances offer many exciting ways to engage children in learning about agriculture, food, and the environment. From the journey of peanuts and sweet potatoes to the unique process of cranberry farming, these themes provide valuable lessons about where our food comes from and how agriculture impacts our lives.

By incorporating these activities into your daily routine, you can inspire curiosity, promote healthy eating, and foster an appreciation for the hard work that goes into producing the food we enjoy. Let these observances help you teach children about the world of agriculture and create lifelong connections to our food systems.