Pupils in the Young Farmer program at Oliver Elementary School are now selling their produce with pride.
Grade 6 student Nathan Millward loves growing vegetables, but don’t ask him to be a farmer.
“Because it’s so hard. It sounds and looks easy, but it’s hard,” the boy said last Wednesday night while selling his produce (for $3 a bag) at Oliver Elementary School.
Nathan is part of the “Young Farmer” project, a new program stemming from the Farm-to-School Salad Bar initiative.
Earlier this year students in Grade 3-7 were given the opportunity to apply for a budget (up to $75) to plant and maintain their own garden, with the intent of harvesting and selling the vegetables this fall.
On September 16 the students proudly sold their produce during “Meet the Teacher.” They will also set up a booth at the Hester Creek Garlic Festival on October 3.
One student previously sold 40 pounds of garlic at the festival in one hour. That student learned that selling local food was profitable, hence the Young Farmer program.
Nathan, with the help of his sister Emma, chose to grow beets and multi-coloured carrots.
“At first I didn’t like beets, but after a while, now we love them. I like the texture,” Nathan said.
Emma, in Grade 4, said she likes the experience of growing her own food.
When asked what he learned most about the project, Nathan quickly replied, “I learned the hardship of being a farmer.”
He explained that sometimes you put a lot of money and effort into growing a crop, only to find out that it didn’t work as planned.
Nathan said he started out with five varieties of beets, but he suspects the heat and ash this summer “stunted” their growth.
All of the young farmers impressed everyone that evening with their “green thumbs.” The proof was in the taste!
By Lyonel Doherty
