Growing for the Future Resource Launched for Primary Schools

Published: 10/05/2017, 3:47pm
An initiative encouraging primary school children to grow fruit and vegetables and explore where food comes from while promoting healthy eating has been launched today at the Balmoral Show

Growing for the Future An initiative encouraging primary school children to grow fruit and vegetables and explore where food comes from while promoting healthy eating has been launched today at the Balmoral Show.

Working in partnership CCEA and Tourism Northern Ireland have developed the online educational resource – Growing for the Future – where Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers can:

  • Access curriculum-linked resource sheets to help pupils explore where food comes from, learn how to grow their own food at school or at home, understand sustainability and promote healthy eating.
  • Find tips on how to create your own compost bin using recycled food waste and other household materials.
  • Find practical guidance on how to sow, plant, prune and harvest fruits and vegetables.
  • Download the Design your own Garden Planner, which will give you an overview of when is best to plant and harvest your favourite fruits and vegetables.
  • View a collection of video clips from local gardening expert Jilly Dougan, covering many practical gardening activities, including pruning trees, sowing seeds, and chitting and planting potatoes.
  • Learn how to create a bug hotel.
  • Make use of recipes that include seasonal fruits and vegetables you have grown.
  • Discover ideas about how to encourage children to engage with the outdoors in the summer months by tending to their own gardens and looking out for bees.

CCEA Director of Education Strategy commented:

"CCEA is pleased to support this Year of Food and Drink legacy initiative. As well as giving young people more opportunities to learn about food, Growing for the Future will support and further develop other important learning areas such as literacy, numeracy, science, entrepreneurship, employability, hygiene and the environment, which are embedded in the Northern Ireland curriculum."

All primary schools will be receiving a starter pack at the end of May 2017 this will be dispatched from CCEA and will include a bag of compost and seeds to get you started on your planting journey – teachers look out for your pack arriving soon!

Pictured are Richard Hanna from CCEA, Carolyn Boyd, Industry Development Manager for Tourism NI and Edible Gardner Jilly Dougan with Josh Niblock and Aoife Dawson from Tonagh Primary School in Lisburn
Pictured are Richard Hanna from CCEA, Carolyn Boyd, Industry Development Manager for Tourism NI and Edible Gardner Jilly Dougan with Josh Niblock and Aoife Dawson from Tonagh Primary School in Lisburn.

Pictured are Richard Hanna of CCEA and Tourism NI Chairman, Terence Brannigan with Archie Laird and Tia Stevenson from Tonagh Primary School in Lisburn
Pictured are Richard Hanna of CCEA and Tourism NI Chairman, Terence Brannigan with Archie Laird and Tia Stevenson from Tonagh Primary School in Lisburn.

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