KEYS ASPECTS OF THE GARDEN TO TABLE PROGRAMME
During Garden to Table children become involved in all aspects of gardening in an environmentally sustainable garden, cooking and then enjoying delicious, seasonal meals they have produced themselves. The curriculum-integrated programme provides real-world learning opportunities for children outside the traditional classroom environment and is supported by comprehensive online curriculum resources.
Garden to Table also has wider community benefits when the children bring home what they have learned about growing, harvesting, preparing and cooking good food. Children develop increased self-esteem, pride in their achievements and pride in the environment, and behaviour improves in some children.
BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- children increase their consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables
- children learn where food comes from, how to grow, prepare and cook home-grown produce
- proven that children involved in the programme grow and cook food at home more often
- children make better food choices, with positive and sustainable impact on health and wellbeing
- children experience the social aspect of sitting around a table enjoying food
- evidence of increased numeracy and literacy through curriculum integration
- children learn ‘everyday environmentalism’, how to reduce waste and act sustainably
- beneficial for children who do not thrive in traditional classroom environment
- improved behaviour through engaged learning
- volunteering allows community to share their skills back into the community
- non-discriminatory. It’s for all children within the community – socially inclusive
