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Partnership proves delicious for Southpointe students

Grade 7 and 8 students at Tsawwassen’s Southpointe Academy recently celebrated the fruits of their labour. Students brought in the new school year with a Harvest Celebration thanks to a community partnership with the Earthwise Society.
Garden
Students at Southpointe Academy in Tsawwassen are learning about food production and sustainability through a partnership program with Earthwise Society and Bria Communities.

Grade 7 and 8 students at Tsawwassen’s Southpointe Academy recently celebrated the fruits of their labour.

Students brought in the new school year with a Harvest Celebration thanks to a community partnership with the Earthwise Society.

For more than a year, Southpointe has linked up with Earthwise in a garden located behind the school. Earthwise provides the instructors and the students work in the garden once a week for almost two hours, getting hands-on experience in food production and sustainability.

“It’s a great partnership and opportunity for the students,” said Southpointe vice-principal Cori Kusel. “While the students are out there they learn about the importance of sustainability, the history of farming, the science of farming and they can take that knowledge back into the classroom for their other studies. One of our goals is to really work with our community, so this has been a nice partnership working with Earthwise.”

Likewise, Earthwise has seen the merits of the partnership.

“With having our farm site so close to the school we thought it was an easy partnership and the school has embraced it,” said Earthwise executive director Patricia Fleming. “One of the things people look forward to when they are growing food is eating and sharing it with others, so we wanted to wrap-up the year with a Harvest Festival, but with the school year finishing in June and the height of the harvest is in the fall, last year we worked with the students to have a harvest celebration as a welcome event for the new Grade 7 students where the last year, now Grade 8 students, would hand over the program, share their knowledge and also share their harvest.”

The partnership extends further into the community.

Earthwise teamed up with Bria Communities on a farm-to-table initiative and Chef Rodrigo Prado and his team have created dishes for the senior residents at The Waterford in Tsawwassen.

Prado has also shared his experiences with the students and worked with them in his kitchen to create dishes and pass on his love for food.

“We love the opportunity to be partners in the community and to collaborate with Earthwise and Southpointe is just awesome for us,” said Bria Communities marketing partner Janice Miller.

Fleming said the partnership is a fine example of what can be accomplished with cooperation.

“It’s great. The students learn about sustainability, sustainable food supplies and where food comes from, but pointing out the role of community non-profits like Earthwise is such a great addition for the students’ learning,” Fleming said.