A Victoria high school hopes to grow students' knowledge of gardening – along with crops themselves – with its first-ever "learning school farm."
The learning farm is a 5,000 square foot garden plot situated on the school grounds. School officials say the garden will allow students to grow food for their school, as well as the community.
The garden will be implemented into the school in various ways. The food grown will be used in their weekly salad bar, and could eventually be worked into the school’s curriculum as well.
“If we can have that relevance and hands on experience it just makes the learning so much more engaging. It’s a tremendous opportunity here,” said Greg Kitchen, associate superintendent for the Greater Victoria School District.
The learning farm is a partnership between the school and Mason Street City Farm. The City Farm will oversee the operation of the learning farm and provide the resources and materials that are needed.
Jesse Brown, Coordinator for Mason Street City Farm, said the project is exciting as he’s noticed a growing interest in the youth.
“A lot of these students already know what to do,” said Brown. “They just need a place to play and a place to grow.”
The learning farm started out as garden club four years ago. When Eden Murray, a grade 12 student, was in grade nine she bribed other students to join her in
the garden with free food. Now, seeing how the club has evolved, Murray says her heart is full of “gratitude.”
“I dreamed of it, but I didn’t necessarily expect it to be a reality to the extent that it is,” she said.
Farm to School BC, a program administered by the Public Health Association of BC., called it an important step to furthering the agriculture industry.
“The purpose of this is to get students engaged in the farm, really building their food literacy and trying to build our next generation of farmers,” said Aaren Topley, Community Coordinator for Farm to School BC.
The project is hoped to grow not only at Victoria High, but spread to other schools across the province.
