The first stop was Al Amana school, De Clomp location in Zeist. There, children from Club Zeist and vegetable garden coach Bianca Kleijer proudly showed the visitors around their vegetable garden. Director Souad Hatrouf also joined them briefly and explained how valuable the vegetable garden lessons are for the children: “It is important that children learn about nature education in practice and see how food grows.”
The second location visited was De Wegwijzer in Zeist. Vegetable garden coach Thomas Heger showed that the school grows vegetables in raised garden beds. There were beds in front of the school and, not entirely coincidentally, some extra raised garden beds had been placed for the fries stand next to the schoolyard. Mini vegetable gardens had even been created on the two rain barrels. This showed us that you can also grow vegetables with limited space. Behind the school, the pupils had made little plots themselves, where, among other things, winter rye and borage could still be found.
The final school garden stop was De Rietakker in De Bilt. There, vegetable garden coach Daryo Verouden explained how he makes extensive use of stories combined with assignments during his lessons. Because the real harvest of school gardening is about experiencing and marvelling.
Certified vegetable garden coaches
The Jong Leren Eten website contains an overview of all certified vegetable garden coaches in Utrecht. The vegetable garden coaches were trained by Velt and IVN Natuureducatie. The vegetable garden coach pool was established in collaboration with the NME centres in the province of Utrecht. The vegetable garden coaches can be engaged for the following activities:
- Growing vegetables in the schoolyard.
- Providing guest lessons.
- Visiting the vegetable garden with the class.
The Lekker naar Buiten! contribution can be used to hire a vegetable garden coach. An overview of all teaching materials, manuals and vegetable garden packages can be found here.
Source: LinkedIn Jong Leren Eten Utrecht.