Case study: primary school
The allotment is cared for using agroecological principles, focused on building soil health and developing closed loop systems including rainwater catchment, composting, seed saving, and recycling.
At this school, our sessions teach each year group (EYFS to KS2) for 45 minutes throughout the school day, this ensures that every child within the school has access to gardening throughout the year. Our curriculum begins with EYFS exploring the garden and learning how to use garden tools. Older children develop permaculture designs, and teamwork activities, including building structures in the allotment.
The children select crops they would like to grow throughout the academic year, and are able to follow their chosen fruits and vegetables from seed to harvest. Harvests are shared with staff and pupils, or served in the canteen; a fantastic potato harvest meant the kitchen could prepare school grown chips.
We act as an Eco School lead, and help the elected Eco Committee members to develop sustainability targets and goals for the school, in order to achieve their annual Green Flag award. In 2023, they achieved a Green Flag with Merit, and in 2024 have achieved a Distinction.
All of this work is funded by the school, who have allocated an annual budget for the school allotment and activities; predominately the funding of our weekly teaching role. We have also written funding applications for the school allotment and environmental activities, including a successful bid for £6000.
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Edible Classrooms is a project o f Honeybee Farmacy CIC, a Community Interest Company registered in England & Wales, Company no. 11688215. Registered office: Sneinton Market Unit 6, Suite 59, Gedling Street, Nottingham, NG1 1DS.