Our new organic vegetable garden has now been built. The school purchased twenty four untreated oak sleepers and a workparty of parents and a local builder created 4 raised beds on the site of the old swimming pool. Although we were sad to see the swimming pool go it was beyond repair and has provided a nice sunny site for our new garden.
The beds are 8 feet by 4 feet and have been designed to enable children to reach the centre of the beds. There are wide paths for wheelchair access. The beds have been filled with local straw, leafmould made on site and compost from a local community compost scheme.
All our children will have the opportunity to sow and grow vegetables and flowers. This year we will be growing lots of different tomatoes, salads, beans, peas, artichokes, potatoes, garlic, onions and shallots as well as a wide range of herbs. In September we will be holding a harvest day to celebrate and eat our crops.
Many children do not have the opportunity to grow their own vegetables and may have limited knowledge of fresh fruit and veg. Children love to eat vegetables that they have grown themselves and will as a result be encouraged to eat things which may be unfamiliar to them. The garden will be strictly organic and reducing, reusing and recycling will be key. No precious peat will be used in our garden.
Our children are passionate about environmental issues and through the garden we will encourage the children to appreciate and care for their environment by saving water and other resources and composting waste. As a result the children will gain confidence, increased self esteem, get lots of fresh air and exercise, eat more healthily and gain knowledge about plants nutrition and their environment, and have a lot of fun.
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