The W.L. McLeod Farm to School harvesting has finished for the 2017 growing season. Over the past three weeks, roughly 70 students from Kindergarten to Grade 4 have been picking, pulling and digging fresh vegetables from the ground and greenhouse, which they planted last spring at the Vanderhoof Community Garden.
Vegetables the students grew this year included potatoes, carrots and tomatoes that are staple foods for the Farm to School hot lunch all year long. Students harvested brussel sprouts, lettuces and kale, swiss chard, squashes, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, peppers, herbs and a few stalks of corn. They also grew a healthy crop of cucumbers that were made into fridge pickles, which are adored by the students during lunch.
The elementary students also helped clean up their growing spaces by storing supplies and moving dead plants to the open gardens space to be cultivated back into the ground in the spring to help build the soil quality for growing again next year.
“The McLeod Farm to School program is incredibly appreciative of the support from the Vanderhoof Community Garden group and Nechako Valley Food Network, as well as all the parents and volunteers that helped maintain the garden while the students were out on summer holidays,” says Michelle Roberge. “Without this support, the program wouldn’t be what it is today. Now, the students get to enjoy their hard work by eating healthy school-grown vegetables for the winter.”
Snap a pic and win!
Register Oct F2S pics at www.farmtocafeteriacanada.ca and win $1,500 grant. The annual Farm to School Month Canada campaign is designed to engage students in activities to celebrate Farm to School in their communities.
Canadian preschools, schools and campuses that participate and register their activity are eligible for a draw to receive a grant to further their Farm to School work.