Why not get planning now for next years crop?
Here is what children and teachers at a primary school in Accrington achieved last year with limited space but lots of enthusiasm
Now might be the time to start planning a growing area for your school in time for next years planting and harvesting? Children from Woodnook Primary School in Accrington, Lancashire planned an idea for a vegetable allotment as part of a National Competition. Situated is on the edge of the town centre the school is in an area where most families do not have space to grow their own vegetables. The school is surrounded by tarmac playgrounds and with a few flower boxes to add colour and plant life. The children are from a multi-cultural mix of white, Pakistani and Bengali backgrounds.
We asked Ann Reading the Y3 teacher why it was important to carry out this project in her school and how did it link to curriculum issues?
“Three years ago we planned an idea for a vegetable allotment as part of a National Competition. The idea was to develop a green growing area for all the children in the school to use. This was a design and technology project with maths and ICT playing a part as well. The children had to learn to work with each other, co-operate and make decisions; skills that are essential for life. The children’s design came in the top 30 in the country, but they were disappointed that their garden would not be built.”
How did you set up the growing area? (Who helped, any funding, in school or after school?)
“The previous headteacher decided that the children had put so much effort into the design that with the Governors approval the garden should be built and all the school should set to work growing vegetables. The class then set about writing to local businesses to help equip the garden with tools, seeds and plants. We were very grateful to many businesses including Barclays Bank who not only donated equipment but the staff came to the school to help plant some of the beds. The generosity of people were second to none and the Round Table and Accrington Lions helped when our first green house blew down.”
What kinds of things did you grow and why did you choose these particular things?
“The small gardening club decides on the crops the classes will grow and in the spring everyone gets to work, in fact the site is proving to be a little too small at times. The crops we have grown very successfully are potatoes, radishes, lettuces, tomatoes, courgettes, peas, beans, carrots, leeks and we also have a fruit bed with strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, gooseberries and rhubarb as well as two small apple trees.”
How did the children use the produce?
“The children enjoy going into the garden and picking or harvesting the foods and eating them straight away (after a quick wash of course). At other times the vegetables are taken into class and prepared and eaten there.
Much of the seasonal produce is eaten by the children as well as being used in the school kitchen for lunch time meals. Our friendly neighbourhood gardener looks after the site at weekends and in the holidays, harvesting the produce and giving it to the families and neighbours who live near the school.”
Have you repeated the project?
“The allotment is used every year and we are now trying to sustain the growing period throughout the winter months. This is sometimes difficult due to the inclement weather but our 3rd greenhouse is exceptionally sturdy and can withstand the winds that blow around the area.
This brilliant resource continues to be used by all of the children with great enthusiasm. During and since the Year of Food and Farming the children enjoy the way they can work in the garden - putting in tiny seeds and with care and attention and of course lots of love their seeds grow into something that can be eaten.”
Active Kids Get Cooking December 2009