A group of young people from three SD62 schools made their way to Lohbrunner Farm in Langford on Thursday afternoon (Oct 24) to get their hands dirty while learning about gardening, farming and where their food comes from.
The students, a kindergarten class from Happy Valley Elementary School, a Grade 8 class from Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School, and a class from Belmont Secondary all arrived at the farm to help with the harvesting and post-harvest cleanup that are both parts of the process of putting food on their plates.
B次元官网网址淭his partnership offers a unique opportunity for younger and older students to engage in cross-age learning. While the kindergarten students discover where their food comes from and how it is grown, the Grade 8 students take on mentoring roles, sharing their knowledge and skills in gardening,B次元官网网址� said Kristen McGillivray, the manager of strategic communications for SD 62. B次元官网网址淭his interaction fosters a sense of responsibility and leadership in the older students, while the younger ones benefit from personalized guidance and the chance to observe role models at work.B次元官网网址�
The day was about more than just having fun on the farm, though.
B次元官网网址淚t helps the students see food in a different context B次元官网网址� one that emphasizes the journey from the farm to the table,B次元官网网址� said McGillivary. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a chance for students to reflect on their relationship with food and the environment.B次元官网网址�
It was the second trip to the farm for the SD62 students who had been out a few weeks ago to help with the pumpkin harvest.
B次元官网网址淭he last time we were out here it was raining and wet and a little cold, but we still had a lot of fun,B次元官网网址� said Grade 8 student Vienna Cedrl.
The farm is located on Lippencott Road in Langford on land that was posthumously donated by Norma and Joseph Lohbrunner, who had farmed the 13-acre parcel of land for many years prior to NormaB次元官网网址檚 death. It is now operated as the Lohbrunner Community Farm Co-op and is part of the property owned by the Land Conservancy.
David Gage, a volunteer and member of the farm cooperative, explained that the farm has been operating in its current form for the past eight years and provides the opportunity for community members to become a part of a community farm service cooperative providing access to viable land while promoting and supporting local food production.
B次元官网网址淭his is a non-profit organization and thereB次元官网网址檚 all sorts of ways to get involved,B次元官网网址� said Gage. B次元官网网址淲e have people coming by to help out and some choose to become members. In the end, though, itB次元官网网址檚 about making a connection with the land.B次元官网网址�
In the meantime, the 60 or so SD62 students who visited the farm helped make soup from the farm ingredients, blazed trails, and generally had a whole lot of fun.
For more information on Lohbrunner Farm, visit
