by Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle

A group of Grade 5 students at Osoyoos Elementary School has been making presentations to local councils and service groups in a bid to raise funds for a school learning garden.

Five student leaders, representing the school’s Grade 5 class presented their project proposal to the Rotary Club of Osoyoos on May 6, duly impressing their audience.

Jasmeen, Alexa, Micah, Maye and Tatum detailed the plan to create a garden consisting of 10 raised planter boxes for the purpose of growing vegetables and other Indigenous plants. 

Two of these are teaching boxes where collaborative learning can take place. The boxes will also be wheelchair accessible. 

In their presentation, the students highlighted five key aspects of the garden including education, healthy food, environment, social, sensory.

“There is nothing like pulling a carrot out for the first time or biting a juicy tomato to get excited about healthy eating and cooking,” said one student.  “It will help us connect with nature and keep us active and make healthy eating choices.”

“Gardens also provide a place to rest, healing and meditation which leads to improved mental health and wellness,” said another.

The garden will also bring teachers, students and community members together, they said. 

In concluding their presentation, the students gave their ‘ask’ – $1,000 for tools, seeds, on going supplies and learning tools. The school is also looking for donations of compost/soil. 

Teacher Ryan Miller said the boxes will have ownership by different grades and classes from K to 7.

The garden is an ideal hands-on teaching tool and is especially convenient being just out the back door of the school. 

Miller also highlighted that the garden is an example of place-based education in which students are immersed in the local area, embracing heritage, culture, landscapes and experiences. 

The idea is to take students out to have real-life experiences that are authentic which can then be brought back and used with the existing curriculum. 

“It’s also about reaching out to the community because there is a wealth of experience here of people with varied backgrounds and experience. 

“So, place-based is as much about going out and having those experiences as it’s also about inviting people in,” Miller added.

At the time of the presentation, the planter boxes were already under construction, donated by local company McLean Construction.

With the Rotary members clearly impressed by the student’s presentation, Osoyoos Rotary president Bruce Hobin said: “I’m sure Rotary will find a way to be involved in some capacity whether it be monetarily or our own sweat equity.”

When asked who will look after the garden during the summer break in July and August, school principal David Foster said members of staff and the PAC Committee who have volunteered will set up a schedule to share the duties.

Rotary members were also curious about what would become of the food that was grown, to which Miller replied: “We’re going to eat it!”

“It’s a big part of it, trying different foods and vegetables, being exposed to it and part of the teaching experience around health education and making choices about what we are putting in our bodies.” 

Any excess will provide an opportunity to provide a community service by donating to the local food bank, Miller added.