From seed to plate at East Wiltshire Intermediate School

Students in the foods and nutrition class at East Wiltshire Intermediate in Cornwall aren’t just learning how to cook; they’re learning where their food comes from.

As part of the provincial curriculum and through the school's garden project, students are developing a deeper connection to food and the environment around them, by planting, harvesting, and preparing a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs in a garden in the school's backyard.

The project has been growing since 2022, providing many students with the chance to step outside the traditional classroom setting and engage with food production from seed to plate.

Sarah McIntosh is the Foods and Nutrition teacher in the Life Skills Program and one of three staff members who share the leadership responsibilities of the garden.

“Whether students are planting seeds in the spring, harvesting squash in the fall, or just taking the time to observe the evolving cycles of the garden, it creates a lot of curiosity in them,” she said.

“It’s been great for giving students ideas and experiences with hands-on cooking, creating, and tasting. It gives them a broader perspective on flavours, and what can be done locally as well.”

In the foods class, as part of the provincial curriculum, McIntosh teaches students how to make recipes that feature fresh veggies and herbs, such as bruschetta, zucchini egg muffins, pickled beans, breakfast burritos, and warming soups in the fall.

For Grade 8 student Ryan Rix, one of the highlights has been harvesting ingredients that later become part of their meals in class.

"I like working in the garden," he said. "My favourite part is probably just coming outside to pick veggies for the food we make."

One of his favourite meals included fresh parsley, green onions, and chives from the garden.

The project has helped students develop practical gardening skills, like learning how to tell when vegetables are ready to be harvested.

"The skills I've learned are knowing the right time to pick the veggies in the garden," he said. "It teaches you if they are good to eat yet or not."

For Grade 8 student Cole Rix, working in the garden has given him a new appreciation for the time and effort involved in growing food.

"It takes a lot of time for them to grow," he said. "You just have to use a lot of water and then wait."

Rix says the garden has encouraged him to eat healthier food and try new things.

"I tried peppers from the garden this year and I've never tried them before, and they actually tasted pretty good," he said.

The impact of the garden extends far beyond the harvest. It serves as an outdoor classroom for science lessons, offers hands-on learning opportunities for students in the resource area, and provides meaningful garden-based activities for students receiving behavioral support.

McIntosh hopes other Island schools will be encouraged to start gardens in their school communities.

 "We hope to increase community involvement to create meaningful relationships with our nearby neighbours and to help manage the needs of the garden over summer break," she said.

For students like Ryan, the garden has changed the way he thinks about food and fresh ingredients.

 "The fresher it is, it really tastes better, rather than buying something, it tastes a lot better just growing it yourself."

The East Wiltshire Intermediate School garden project was made possible by the province’s Outdoor Learning Grant, which is offered to K-12 educators in Prince Edward Island. The grant empowers educators to create hands-on outdoor learning experiences that enrich the curriculum and foster environmental stewardship.