Revisiting Heage Primary School
Our first visit to Heage Primary School in the summer term showed the children preparing their growing area and planting vegetables. Now we can go back to see how they have progressed from sowing and growing to harvesting, cooking and eating.
We asked Diane Hunt, the School Business manger what had happened since the last report.
Before the summer holidays the children harvested potatoes, lettuce, radish and courgettes and we had a stall at the school summer bazaar in July. Children made carrot and courgette muffins and healthy oat biscuits to sell on the stall and parents took away the recipes to try at home. We made a healthy profit that will go towards sustaining the project next year!
Harvesting courgettes in early September
How are the children using the produce this term?
We have harvested yet more courgettes, onions, beans and beetroot and sold some to staff and parents. The remaining produce is being used by our Yum-Yum Club that meets each Tuesday after-school (we have 14 pupils attending and a long waiting list!). Parents join the session towards the end to sample the food and pick up the recipes. Children are being taught about safe ways to prepare fruit and vegetables, using the produce in different products and also about the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet.
Who does the preparation and cooking with the children?
Mrs Hunt, Mrs Yates and a very supportive group of teaching assistants.
What did the children think about eating the foods they had planted and harvested?
They were often surprised at how things had grown, where they had grown (one child commented on potatoes being under the ground), what they looked like, how they could use them, what they could make using them. They were also great at trying and enjoying products they had made.
Chopping courgettes for soup
What did the children say about what they had made with the produce?
‘I don’t like courgettes’ (and then the same child) ‘ mmmm these (courgette) muffins are really nice’
‘all of these things that we are eating have come from the garden, apart from the noodles’
Sampling the soup
Will you repeat/develop the project next year?
Certainly! The cooking club will continue now through the autumn, winter and spring term. The Allotment Club will start up again early spring to get the ground prepared and seeds sown.
A core group of dedicated gardeners will hopefully nurture the allotment over the winter planting raspberry canes, blackcurrant, gooseberry bushes and rhubarb as we wish to expand our fruit production next summer. It has been a steep learning curve this year and we have had many successes but also a few “not so goods” from which we can learn for next year.
From the schools perspective what positive aspects have come out of the project?
- the children thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience (evaluations)
- it provided great learning about healthy eating for children and families and links across the curriculum
- great links with parents (volunteers for allotment and tasting at the end of sessions)
- great community links from neighbouring allotments, the summer fair and other schools in the project
- teaching staff are using the allotment and produce to support lessons and teaching in the school.
What happens next?
The pumpkins are still growing and we hope to make good use of them for Halloween! Hopefully next year the allotment will be even bigger and better and more children will be involved.
Active Kids Get Cooking October 2009