École Birchwood, Saint-Lazare, Québec
2020-2022 (Grant Year 2)
Located in Saint-Lazare in Montérégie, this school’s initiative is based on the development of their vegetable garden. In fact, the school invested half of the Farm to School grant to buy a “Nutritower”. This tool utilizes a newer technology called hydroponics, i.e. the unique use of water to grow food. This means that soil is no longer necessary for vegetable production, and students will be able to watch their food grow all year round!
Young people wishing to learn more about this technique will be able to develop their skills in science and technology classes, where they can create small, basic hydroponic systems themselves.
The remainder of the grant enabled the school to purchase a variety of gardening equipment. The purchase of covers for the outdoor garden will allow them to plant seedlings earlier in the year and continue their production over a longer period. Students will also be able to grow and plant seeds in classrooms using heated lights. This will allow them to understand the entire process of plant development, from seed to plant!
