Most of us can name foods that are part of a healthy diet, but this topic challenges you to think about whether foods are also good for environmental health locally and globally.
Local Facts Related to Topic
- Berries are the key local fresh product; James Hutton does breeding of new cultivars (links to genetics, evolution, nutrition, life cycles, pollinators, climate change, medical drugs from plant sources and more!).
- Craigowl Primary received Tesco Bags of Help money (£12k) for a school garden.
- St Mary’s Primary have taken over the Whorterbank Tattie Patch; a good example of a raised bed, accessible structure. PEF invested in this case.
- The MAXwell Centre works with local Primary Schools to facilitate growing projects. This is an established project with a strong set of staff and a number of highly successful projects e.g. Summer Garden Club.
Tips and Ideas
- Learn about growing food organically, here!
- Check out Suttons Complete Beginners Guide to Growing your own Vegetables
- Enter homegrown produce into local food growing competitions; make this pupil-led so that children can suggest their favourite vegetables and research how to make the garden a success.
Local Resources Available
Dundee Resources
There are many community gardens that can be joined for ideas and understanding. Find a map of locations here.
Online Resources
- One Seed Forward links food growing to the CfE with modules, topics, awards and more!
- Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society has lots of activity ideas
- The RHS has lots of information including design tips, lesson plans and crop sheets for every vegetable you might wish to grow.
- Learn about sustainable food systems at Nourish Scotland
- Created for the Scottish curriculum Zero Waste Scotland's lessons take the whole school on a journey to save food from the bin.
- The Royal Highland Education Trust offers a selection of teaching resources
- World's Largest Lesson provides resources for all ages relating to the Sustainability Development Goal Zero Hunger
Case Studies
- Balgarthno Campus have a community growing space and an orchard.
- King’s Park School have raised beds and are planning to install more.
- St Peter and Paul’s Primary School has raised beds in their tarmac playground, supported by the MAXwell Centre.
What we can do to support your Eco-Schools Journey
- Provide advice on garden space building and planting.
- Information on resources available to help with planting, sowing and more.
Keep Scotland Beautiful Eco-Schools Topic Information:
Eco-Schools: Food and the Environment