Westside growing group Transition Turriefield have collaborated with local schools to develop a ‘Grow Shetland’ teaching resource, to help more schools grow food and support pupils’ learning.
The pack contains step by step guides for simple, quick growing crops; seed packets; key dates for sowing seeds and links to the curriculum to help lesson planning. They’ve been created with the involvement of teaching staff, and the information cards are accessible and easy to use for young beginner growers.
The packs will help children to learn about where food comes from and it is hoped that they will encourage practical skills to grow more food locally and reduce food miles.
Children’s Services Staff at Hayfield House, who have printed and collated the packs, will be sending them out to all Shetland schools before the end of term.
Penny Armstrong from Transition Turriefield said: “We have worked with Shetland schools for a number of years, to help them get the most from their polycrubs and growing spaces during the school year. This new resource is a great step forward and input from teaching staff has been invaluable. It has enabled us to tailor the resource to meet their needs and link food growing to the curriculum.”
Lesley Simpson, Executive Manager for Inclusion added, “Learning about where our food comes from and how to grow gives all our children and young people important practical skills and knowledge as well as enjoyable activities in our outdoor learning spaces.”
Transition Turriefield want as many people in Shetland as possible to be able to access healthy, fresh, chemical-free local produce. More information at www.turriefieldveg.co.uk/