If you’re going to grow it, you have to eat it.
That’s just one of the philosophies of Susanne Bohmert’s Grade 2 class at Hawthorne Elementary, which hosted its fourth annual Potato Harvest Celebration last week to celebrate a season of growing.
The “potato picnic” held in the school garden showcased freshly harvested potatoes as well as a variety of tasty toppings.
There was also freshly baked scones, muffins and jam – all enhanced with herbs and fruit from the garden – served up on fine china, fancy table lines and unique centerpieces under pop-up tents.
Older students, alumni of the school garden program, and parent volunteers were on hand to serve, while the younger students, dressed to impress, waited eagerly at their picnic tables for their turn to sample the fruits of their labour.
“We were part of the B.C. Agriculture program ‘Spuds in Tubs’ and parents suggested that we have a bigger celebration, so that’s how this celebration evolved,” said Bohmert. “For the students they can see something from ground to the formal sitting and setting. My class is called the garden class. We’ve planted the potatoes, garlic and sunflowers.”
Bohmert has now involved the whole school in the garden, coming in on her days off to instruct other classes on how the garden works and to help students learn about planting, growing and tending to the harvest.
“We are starting to build a real community sense out here,” she said. “I had the Grade 1 class all plant potatoes and then in September all the Grade 2s go and harvest a potato as well as many classes as we can get through. Usually we have about 1,000 potatoes.”
She said the project continues to be well received by not only the students, but the community that surrounds the Ladner school.
“There is a real group of students that come through the garden, look at it, care for it and really want to be a part of the garden club,” she said. “Our students are making a connection of eating kale right off the bush, eating lettuce right off the bush – it’s the whole farm-to-table experience. It’s calming and really satisfying for the students. The school is proud that this garden is here for everyone to enjoy.”
