Growing food and minds – Learning about food with a modular farm
This is part one in our three-part series that explores food literacy in schools in the Interior Health region.
Students at KLO Middle School in Kelowna are learning about growing food and the importance of caring for the land thanks to the addition of a modular farm on school grounds.
With the help of funding from the President's Choice Children's Charity, the school installed a modular farm that uses hydroponics to grow leafy greens and herbs inside a large shipping container. Plants are grown without soil and are watered in a way that saves space and resources. Modular farms are easy to use, and can work in freezing temperatures as cold as -40°C.
Feeding bodies and minds
KLO teacher Karla Lockwood is the school’s farm coordinator. “We’re not only teaching students about agriculture and growing food, but the program helps us feed our students,” she explains.
Students explore topics like how food gets from farm to table and how plants grow. They learn about bigger ideas like climate change, sustainability and caring for nature.
The food grown in the container also supports the school’s breakfast and lunch programs. Some of the produce is consumed by students, and the rest is sold through fundraisers that provide much needed money for the school meal programs. “More students now have access to breakfast without feeling left out, decreasing stigma around food needs,” shares Karla.
Mark Wells is a grade 8/9 teacher at KLO. “We can learn a lot about school farms from experts in our community,” he says. “Karla shared her gifts with me, and UBC Okanagan professor Dr. Sumer Seiki has helped me learn more about school farms, and gardens in general.”
“I think a lot of people don't think of themselves as farmers or food producers, but they can be. We know that students and community members are more likely to engage in producing their own healthy food when they can see examples of how it's done, and especially if they can participate. When you start to see yourself as a farmer, even a beginner, that's when the powerful growth begins.”
Karla and Mark are excited about the next phase of the initiative which will see student leadership and the school’s entrepreneurship team involved in running the farm. The school’s kitchen is also in line for an upgrade thanks to funding from the Government of Canada’s School Food Infrastructure Fund.
Learning to care for and respect the land
Indigenous learning has also been integral to the farm project. Students have learned about local plants, land and traditions from Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. This helps the students understand and respect the land they live and learn on.
Beyond the farm and the classroom, the students help care for a restored Fascieux Creek, which runs next to the school.
During a track and field event 13 years ago, a western painted turtle nesting area was found. Western painted turtles are a threatened species in the area.
This discovery inspired the school to restore the creek, plant native plants, and create an outdoor learning space. Now, students from other schools also visit to learn about the creek, the turtles and how to care for the environment.
At KLO Middle School, students are not only growing food, but they are also growing their knowledge to care for their health, their community and the planet.
Supporting food literacy and programs in schools
Interior Health (IH) is proud to be part of projects such as the KLO Middle School modular farm.
The Interior Health Healthy Eating and Food Security team is available to support school districts to integrate food literacy into classroom activities, create nutritious, stigma-free meal programs, and foster positive school food environments.
For more information, please email schoolnutrition@interiorhealth.ca.
This article was written by Leah Perrier who is a public health dietitian with IH’s Healthy Eating and Food Security team. A mom to two teens, she enjoys spending time outdoors being active and is passionate about promoting health and well-being.
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