Grow Your Own Lunch Program

By the Erickson School Newspaper Committee Grow Your Own Lunch

 

For the last month, Mr. Falconer’s and Mrs. Wood’s Grade 6 students, have been attending classes at the local College of the Rockies Campus. They are part of a unique new program financially supported by the Columbia Basin Trust. The program is called Grow Your Own Lunch and its purpose is to connect children to their food source. The idea came out of a strategic planning session led by the Creston Valley Food Action Coalition. Students attend once a week one hour classes at the College of the Rockies Community Greenhouse. At the greenhouse sessions, students learn the basics of preparing soil, seeding, watering, fertilizing, pruning, weeding, propagating, harvesting, and preserving by drying. They learn about nutrition and healthy eating, and experience the satisfaction of seeing fellow students enjoy their produce. Students can take part in the spring plant sale, and attend the greenhouse, with parental supervision, at other hours (evenings, holidays and weekends) if they wish. The workshop activities are  being taught by two retired Alberta teachers, Len Parkin and Corinne Helleker. The program is also being graciously supported by a certified and experienced Agrologist, Delta Faye Cruikshank, who has implemented the children’s agriculture program at Fort Steele and who is currently conducting a wild plant program with the Yahk school children. The plants will be tended between sessions by our Community Greenhouse manger, Christine Munkerud, community volunteers, some of whom are seniors and some of whom are parents. There will be opportunity for intergenerational activities with the seniors from Swan Valley Lodge and the TAPS program, and opportunities for growing outside, in heated greenhouses, and in unheated cold frames