School Allotment project - update

[petemason]

Apologies for not answering everybody who was so kind in giving advice in my previous post. A mixture of being busy at home and at work has kept me away from A4A for a while.
Anyway, what spare time I've had has been spent over at the school preparing the ground and getting people interested in the project. I've done a lot more since I took this photo so I'll take the camera to school tomorrow if I remember.



The big news is that the children are active in raising money for the project. The school council has donated the money to build a fence around it, the 'Friends of School' paid for the hire of the rotavator and this week is 'Health Week'.
Tomorrow is a non-uniform day and if the children bring in 50p, they can dress as their favourite vegetables or fruit instead of wearing uniform and the money raised goes into the garden fund.
I've built some raised beds and I'm filling them with a good covering of well rotted manure (my camping trailer is never going to smell the same again!)
I've started collecting cardboard to cover it all with and we've been promised a free shed, water butt and composter!
I'll keep you posted.

[petemason]

[manicscousers]

doing well there, look forward to seeing the veggies 'n' stuff next year  :D

[kitten]

Wow it sounds like you've done really well so far!  :o  Just wanted to wish you best of luck with this project, it sounds really fun & very worthwhile. I'll keep my eyes open for your updates! kitten x

[cornykev]

:D Looks really great keep up the good work. :D :D :D

[saddad]

Well done that man.... look forward to the new improved pictures..
:)

[lorna]

Pete. Glad things are going well and people and pupils are taking an interest. Hopefully your hard work and enthusiasm will continue to be rewarded. Don't forget more pics.
Regards Lorna

[Hyacinth]

All great news, Pete and the pic shows promise of goodies to come already 8)

Hope you first veggie pic is going to be of the kiddies dressed up as veggies...are we gonna open a book on how many carrots you're going to have? ;D

[petemason]

I'm not sure I can take any pics of the children without their parents permission but there is one child who is going dressed as an apple tree today and she will definitely get her photo taken - or she can start earning her pocket money!
Photo to follow.........

Here as promised



The 'Dress as your favourite fruit/veg appears to have been a success. There were strawberries, pea pods and bananas coming out of school when I went to pick my apple tree up!

[STEVEPARTRIDGE]

Hello and congratulations on such a wonderful idea and project, the children at the school will have a much better idea and understanding of where some of their food comes from and this will hopefully encourage them to take on a healthier approach life, well done regards Steve.

http://www.myallotments.blogspot.com

[muddy boots]

Was only saying to OH the other day, it ought to be a major event in schools.  Was horrified some years ago when children were asked to draw where milk came from and drew a cardboard carton :P

Think it's a fabulous project and will watch with great interest!

[manicscousers]

It'd be nice if this was on t.v, to draw attantion to how important this sort of project is !!, instead of celebrity silly b**gers in the jungle

[lorna]

So glad all seems to be a success. Hope they all appreciate your hard work.
Lorna.

[OliveOil]

Awwww - she looks like a christmas tree with apples :-)

There are so many of us at school that grow our own... would love to do something at school but i dont think the teenagers would be impressed in the least!

[busy_lizzie]

This is brilliant Pete, and such a great idea to involve the children.  Loved the costume. You seem very organised.  Our proposed plot is a total jungle, full of bramble and allsorts of other unmentionables.  We haven't started on it yet, though the park warden has arranged to get our site flattened by some heavy machinery in the next month.  Please continue to keep us updated, as it is so interesting seeing how you progress.  :) busy_lizzie

[Hyacinth]

Apple of your eye, eh, Pete? Lovely picture. I'm sure she and her friends all had a great day 8)

[petemason]

Awwww - she looks like a christmas tree with apples :-)

Welllll........actually that's exactly what the costume is. Last years Christmas party outfit (Christmas Tree) with plastic apples replacing the baubles!

Just a quick note to those of you who have been kind enough to comment. The fact that the project is on the school playing field has helped a lot. I'm not having to clear an abandoned allotment site or start from scratch on land that is overgrown with couch or brambles.
I'll keep everybody posted on our progress.

[Conker]

Hi Pete,

We're in the process of trying to sort out a similar patch at our school too.  Have applied to go on a RHS course at the National Wildflower Centre in Liverpool for arranging the best veg that will grow within a school year, etc, etc, but it's only in March 2007.  Would be good to compare notes.

Keep up the good work.  Would love to see updated photos of your plot!

Bob

[Trixiebelle]

FANTASTIC PETE  ;D

I'd really love to get some school projects going on our allotments but the red-tape is longer than a couch-grass root 8) , the school policies are harder to understand than the Lottie Contract document, the plot-holders have gone dormant on the issue (same as a 2yr-to-ripen asparagus crown)  and the headmistress is a prickly nettle :D

So I'll just open a bottle of wine instead :D

Post more pics!

Trix XXX

[sally_cinnamon]

Just found a fab internet resource for this kind of school growing project...

http://www.growinggrub.co.uk/index.htm

:)

[vee]

That looks fabulous Pete. Well done  :D The kids will be the next generation of allottmeneers.
In our area (Tameside) the Allotment Federation were asked to help schools to do just what you've done, but I never heard whether it got off the ground. (The council were doing it to get extra points for Britain in Bloom) I volunteered but never heard any more of it.