Picking garden in school grounds gets pupils excited about (edible) greenery

Involvement, ownership and enjoyment are the three core values of primary school De Wouter in America. The creation of the picking garden next to the school makes these values even more tangible for the pupils. The teachers work on different themes throughout the school year. Whenever there is a theme that relates to something growing in the picking garden, the lesson is linked to it. The school has also organised various activities around the picking garden. What do these activities involve?

Green Fingers Group

Susan van Boxsel is the headteacher of the primary school and closely involved with the picking garden. Susan: “One of the activities around the picking garden is that we set up what we called a ‘Green Fingers Group’. All pupils from years 4 to 8 who enjoyed working in the garden could sign up. They were then allowed to help create the garden and think about which plant species should be included. In addition, a lesson about harvesting in year 6 was linked to the garden. Although the raspberries and strawberries were so popular with the pupils that, in the end, there was not much left to harvest. Fortunately, the Jerusalem artichokes could be harvested successfully. All the children who wanted to were allowed to take some of this harvest home. Pupils from the ‘Green Fingers Group’ had come up with a recipe for it.”

Lekker naar Buiten contribution

To create the picking garden, the school applied for the Lekker naar Buiten! contribution. Among other things, this was used to make a sign showing which plants grow in the garden. In addition, what is known as a ‘reference book’ was created, explaining what grows in the garden and what can be done with it. The pupils from year 6 were allowed to help with this book and provide the recipes and ways of processing the plants and fruits. The school also used the contribution to purchase gardening tools and kitchen utensils.

Future plans

The picking garden generates a great deal of enthusiasm among both the pupils and the teachers. Susan: “The pupils showed a very high level of involvement during all the activities. In the future, the plan is to make applesauce from the apples in the garden. The pupils can then sell this applesauce. Because the pupils have a voice that is listened to, their involvement, sense of ownership and, above all, enjoyment are further encouraged.”

Source: Jong Leren Eten.