Education on a plate

Chef Mark Cooper takes Caysha Rehua and Kylahnie Takerei-Hughes through their paces, watched by programme co-ordinator Erin Keremetakapa.

From the moment Kihikihi School joined the nationwide programme ‘Garden to Table’ earlier this year, children in the area have been elbow-deep in the messy joy of growing then eating their own produce.

The school launched it in term one this year under the eye of school staffer, Erin Keremetakapa.   She co-ordinates the programme, fitting it into the school schedule to enable selected classes to adequately cover all the processes, from preparing the beds then planting and caring for the vegetables, to reaping then helping create delightful treats in the school kitchen.  That part is done under the watchful eye of chef Mark Cooper, who also does food technology with the year seven and eight classes.

The kids are learning a lot of lifeskills as they learn about growing and making their own food.

“We loved the look of the programme and thought it would be good for our tamariki,” said Erin. “We already had a few established garden beds and a school kitchen, but this is more extensive.  The kids are learning a lot of lifeskills as they learn about growing and making their own food.  They really love it.”

The students do ‘Garden to Table’ sessions on Fridays.  Classes are split to spend the morning in the garden or the kitchen, then swap over the following week.  Their tasty offerings include dishes like pickle quiche and basil pesto macaroni, which they enjoy together as a shared light meal.

“We use basic food materials that are in the kitchen, then add to them with the garden produce.  The recipes are included in a workbook that our tamariki get to take home… we’re finding that quite a few of them are now enjoying cooking at home.”

Erin said that while teachers are present at all the sessions, the continuity of the programme is reliant on volunteers.  The school also hopes to extend it to cover the entire school rather than just a few classes as is the case now.

“Volunteers are key to us being able to continue.  All we need is a few people who can support our tamariki when working in the garden or kitchen.  The sessions are from 9am to 1pm each Friday during the term.”

The Kihikihi School programme has attracted several sponsors who have provided them with items such as rakes, gloves, garden forks, weeders and the like.