School Garden Project 2012

The first priority identified by the Valley Promotion Group was to build links with local schools by supporting their school gardens.  Most members of the group have been involved with school gardens in some way – as parents, governors, caretakers, teachers, or via other sustainable food and gardening initiatives.  We knew that the teachers responsible for these school gardens sometimes feel in need of advice or just some recognition and support.  Community Farm grower Andy Dibben has kindly agreed to give advice by phone or email, whilst each school also has at least one member of the group liaising with them on a regular basis to provide encouragement and support.

The project itself is about more than just growing – although this aspect is of course very important and The Community Farm ethos has been communicated by providing organic seeds together with hints and tips for planting and tending.  However, we also wanted to ensure that growing vegetables leads to the children enjoying eating them.  The record sheets provided therefore also ask the children to describe the taste, appearance and texture of what they have grown.

There are clear links with Key Stages 1 and 2 in science, as well as having relevance to the syllabus in maths and art.  But whilst learning about taste is part of the curriculum for school children in France and Italy, it is neglected here in formal learning.

The vegetables being grown this year are: Potatoes (Bambina, Orla and Coleen); Peas (Progress No 9, Kelvedon Wonder and Onward); Salad leaves (Oaking, Redlo, Marvel of Four Seasons and Brune D’Hiver).  We will be inviting the schools to the Community Farm Harvest Festival on 15^th September so that you can all see the results of their endeavours.

The schools involved are Chew Magna, Chew Stoke, Blagdon and Ubley Primary Schools and Bishop Sutton Primary school, after their recent visit to the Farm, have just joined in too!