Veg Fest
Veg Fest is our fantastic inter-school food growing competition that runs throughout the growing season, culminating in a celebration event full of fun and games, showcasing the produce grown and thanking everyone involved!
The programme helps schools to set up and run their own growing club and run growing sessions beyond the life of the project to continue to inspire and engage young minds to grow their own.
There is a focus on outdoor, physical activity for children to to connect with the natural environment along with craft activities such as making wildflower seed bombs as well as learning about:
- basic gardening skills
- how to look after their plants
- garden ecosystems
- where food comes from and the importance of home growing
- how to harvest
The project also tackles the underlying causes of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles in children, including the lack of skills and knowledge around food and healthier eating, with the aim of installing positive habits from a young age. It promotes the importance of getting outside and being active along with healthy eating to benefit mental as well as physical health.
The prrogramme involves a number of schools in a similar area talking part, and through a Veg Fest project, Groundwork can provide:
- Growing beds built in school grounds if needed to help provide lomg term veg patches. (Supporting the school with the infrastructure for this programme is key to its longevity).
- ‘Get growing’ packs including compost, seeds, growing tips etc.
- Support from trained staff to establish weekly growing clubs at each school for 15-20 pupils.
- An assembly at participating schools to encourage participation.
- Training for teachers / teaching assistants, local volunteers and parents who want to take part in the project to give the confidence to be able to run these sessions independently of Groundwork in the years to come.
The project culminates in a fun vegetable festival competition, complete with judging panel. It’s a ‘country show’ style celebration event run by Groundwork staff. At this finale, held at the end of the summer term, each school will be invited to create a display stall to show off its produce, and prizes will be given out for various categories. This event gives pupils, teachers and volunteers a goal to work towards as well as a huge sense of achievement.
Sessions in your local area
If you would like to work with us to run Veg Fest in your schools we would love to hear from you, give us a bell on 01707 260129 or email: