Friday, May 11, 2007

Drymen Primary School Fair


I am very, very keen on getting children gardening, or at least getting their hands into the soil. I have a C19th belief that growing things is good for the soul and to this end I am working with Drymen Primary School's Eco board to raise funds for growing things in the school grounds.

Tomorrow there is a school fun day with lots of stalls, activities and a football tournament and the eco board shall be selling lavender plants - see above - which have been growing away in my polytunnel. The plants are still small but they are good sturdy wee plants and the ideal size for planting out as a hedge or patch as they will grow away quickly with minimal root disturbance.

Everyone is welcome at the funday - there will be homebaking and teas - it is not just a school thing.

So far the school's new raised beds have been planted with strawberries, peas and carrots. They still have one bed to plant and they still have to decide what to put in it. I love going down to help plant - the enthusiasm, particularly from the Primary 2s and 3s is fantastic.

14 comments:

ginny said...

Hi Jane,
I agree with you... growing things is so good for the soul and it's great to inspire them when they are small.
My sunny little one (YR 1) has gardening club today. She really loves to care for and watch things grow and her enjoyment gives me immense pleasure.
Good luck with your 'Fun Day' at school. Have a great day.
ps. Thanks for your lovely comment ... just got back from yoga and am a bit achy now.
Ginny x

Forgetmenot said...

That sounds like a great thing to do...wish I could go to the fun day

Suffolkmum said...

Fantastic. We've just started a gardening club at our school and some of the tiniest foundation children are growing veg which they can then eat for snack. We have a funday coming up to raise funds to finish off the wildlife pond. Those school children are lucky to have an expert to help them.

Anonymous said...

Have a good day at the school with all the gardening things. Wish I was visiting "home" so that I could go to it. Instead tomorrow I'm having a stall at the local Cats Protection Rehoming Day.

Annie

Anonymous said...

What a good idea it is to get children interested in gardening and growing things at an early age. When my 2 girls were at primary school I think the only thing they ever grew was a runner bean in a jam jar!

lixtroll said...

Hello, I have just had a lovely time catching up on all your blogs and photos, this is my first visit to your pages! Love the wiggly thingy for the sweet peas, and the pic of the polytunnel.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that hat, it is very fetching!

All the best with the Fun Day, and marvellous to be getting childre into growing things.

Inthemud said...

Yes, good to get children involved with growing things.
Hope fun day goes well.

Ragged Roses said...

I agree totally about gardening... my youngest's school seems to be bursting at the seems with plants at the moment and they're all busy growing something. Never seen them so excited. Good luck tomorrow.
Kim x

MILLY said...

Hi Jane,
I thought it was lovely that you planted the Glasgow display flowers at the local school. Yes it is such a good experience for young children to grow seeds and plants and learn all about gardening, as you well know. Good luck with the Fun Day .
Milly x

Anonymous said...

Hi Jane,

What a great idea! Good luck with tomorrow's Fun Day - I am sure that the lavender plants will sell.

Enjoy your weekend.

Marie x

Cait O'Connor said...

My first visit to your page.

I agree with you about growing things being good for the soul, I wish all schools grew their own fruit and veg. and learned to cook them as well. They should make flower gardens too . Not in after school clubs but as part of the curriculum. My three granddaughters are very keen on gardening.

Westerwitch/Headmistress said...

Gosh Drymen - we really are almost neighbours with a few hills and loch in-between!

Jane said...

well, just back from the Fair - it was well attended, both by parents and by other people from the village. The rain held off for the football and the children in charge of the lavender made £72 pounds and 41 pence.

That money will go into the eco school pot and be used for playground improvements.

The leftover lavender plants will be planted round one of the playground beds to make a scented hedge, they have already sown poppies in the centre of the bed so i think that it will look magical - red poppies floating above lavender flowers. I shall go in one day next week to help them get the plants off to a good start.

I would be very interested to find out what other schools are doing in their gardening clubs - we are still very much at the beginning and there seem to be masses of possibilities.

J
x

weirdbunny said...

How wonderful your helping the school. We were excused this morning from helping at the school garden , as it was cancelled due to the bad weather. Lovely to see the sweet pea ! (Did you get my return e/mail ? )