Are You Ready to Start Livin’ La Vida Okra During Farm to School Month?


October is Farm to School Month, and schools and early care centers statewide are celebrating all things okra. “Livin’ La Vida Okra” is a statewide celebration coordinated by Georgia Organics to help kids across Georgia get to know okra by growing, eating, and learning about it.

Okra is prominent in Southern food culture, but there are so many varieties around the globe. Okra is rooted in diversity, whether it is the dynamic ways it is incorporated in different cuisines or the various types of okra plants and fruits out there, which makes “Livin’ La Vida Okra” a great opportunity to expand our palate and immerse ourselves in other cultures and traditions.

To participate at your school, early care center, or in your community, sign up for an online toolkit. Participants will gain access to a robust online resource toolkit to help you plan and implement your activities. Resources include Georgia standards-based lessons for early care through 12th grade, educational activities, fact sheets and growing guidance, and a delicious and diverse array of okra recipes shared by fellow Georgia farm to school stakeholders.

The first 300 people to sign up will receive a free packet of seeds, washable tattoos, and a Georgia Planting and Harvest Calendar for school gardens.

While the spotlighted vegetable changes every year, you can use the lessons in classrooms or at your home for as long as you want.

Farm to school activities like planting seeds, taking care of plants, and observing their growth don’t rely on internet or device access and can be enjoyed with a minimum of materials. Nurturing vegetable plants to harvest teaches students a life skill of growing food, increases their likelihood of eating vegetables, and can strengthen the food sovereignty of their household and community. Best of all, these activities keep the mind and body engaged while stimulating the senses.

Share your “Livin’ La Vida Okra” pictures and activities on social media with #LivinLaVidaOkra. Each week during October, anyone who uses this hashtag will be entered to win a prize.

For more information on farm to school in Georgia, visit farmtoschool.georgiaorganics.org/livin-la-vida-okra.