Students and staff enjoying apples during Apply Crunch Day. (Photo Courtesy Errol Consolidated via SAU 20) 
Grade 3 student Audrey Chase trying the lettuce that was grown using Errol Consolidated School’s hydroponic unit. (Photo Courtesy Errol Consolidated via SAU 20) 
The gardening beds that were installed at Errol Consolidated over the summer for students and staff to grow vegetables that they will then be able to incorporate into school lunches once harvested. (Photo Courtesy Errol Consolidated via SAU 20) 
Errol Consolidated School’s hydroponic unit that assists in growing lettuce that will be used in the cafeteria for lunch. (Photo Courtesy Errol Consolidated via SAU 20)
ERROL – Superintendent David Backler and Principal Mary Fluette are pleased to share that through Errol Consolidated School’s partnership with New Hampshire Farm to School program students have been able to participate in a variety of interactive activities.
Errol Consolidated partnered with New Hampshire Farm to School to help promote good and healthy eating and make connections within the community.
Teachers and staff underwent training to learn how to incorporate food and nutrition into the curriculum. Lessons included working through science connections, math standards and even learning to make art using food.
Errol Consolidated has a hydroponic unit that provides light and heat to vegetables. It was managed and overseen by older students. Recently students grew lettuce using the hydroponic unit inside the school and were able to try the lettuce for lunch during salad day.
Throughout the 2023 school year, students could participate in gardening activities such as planting and harvesting vegetables. The planted vegetables were centered around the the New Hampshire Harvest of the Month and were then incorporated in the school’s cafeteria menu.
Errol Consolidated also had raised gardening beds created thanks to generous donations from White Mountain Lumber and Sweatt Farm over the summer. Once school started in the fall, students even planted garlic to track growth and are looking forward to seeing it sprout in the spring.
Students also participated in Apple Crunch Day in October, where they were able to create their own tasty treats using apples following their field trip to Poore Farm, where students got to press their own apples to make cider.
For 2024, students are excited to establish a salsa garden and to start composting materials with their new compost bin.
“I would like to thank New Hampshire Farm to School for partnering with Errol Consolidated. This partnership has allowed our students to gain hands on experience with staying healthy and creating their own food,” said Principal Fluette. “It is wonderful to see how excited students get when they actively participate in the growing and harvesting of their own food. This program is a great way to promote good and healthy eating across our community.”
For more information about NH Farm to School click here.
###
Discover more from John Guilfoil Public Relations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.