As spring arrives the children have been
participating in a project that revolves around the vegetable garden. They’ve been
planting different vegetables, herbs and flowers next to the school and then
learning the corresponding vocabulary that relates to the planting and
maintenance of a garden. To compliment this they also did projects so that they could learn more about the origins, history and benefits of their respective plant.
Here the children are looking after the garden, they have already dug holes for the plants with spades, most of the vegetables and herbs have already been planted, now they're digging holes with hoes and pulling out weeds.
Here are some examples of the plants they have in the garden and some basic information about them.
The pumpkin is a round, slightly ribbed
vegetable with yellow or orange skin. They are native to North America but are
produced all over the world and are used for both food and recreation. They are
rich in antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E and
minerals such as copper, calcium and potassium. Popular methods of preparation are pumpkin pie or pumpkin
soup, they are also used as decoration in the United States during Halloween in
the form of jack-o-lanterns. 
Tomatoes are red fruits that grown on
vines. They are native to the South American Andes therefore they require a
warm climate to grow well. The fruit is rich in lycopene which helps prevent neurodegenerative diseases. They are eaten all over the word and used
in all sort of dishes such as gazpacho and pizza.
Lettuce is a leaf plant that was first
cultivated in ancient Egypt. It requires relatively low temperatures so that it
does not grow too quickly. Lettuce provides vitamins C, calcium, iron and
copper. We eat lettuce primarily
in salads.
Rosemary is a fragrant perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region. Rosemary can grow in many different climates and can withstand drought and long exposure to the sun. We use it for decorative, culinary and medicinal purposes. It is popular in Italian cuisine and is high in iron, calcium and vitamin B6.
Mint is a herb that is native to much of
Europe and southwest Asia. There are many different kinds but the most common
are spearmint and peppermint. It grows in wet soils and grows well in nearly all
temperate climates. Mint is extremely rich in antioxidants. Typical uses of
mint include Moroccan tea; it is also used frequently to accompany lamb dishes.
The leeks belongs int he same family as garlic and onions. They're very hardy and can stand cold winters. They have been cultivated since the ancient Egyptians. They are rich in vitamin K. They are popular in soups and also hold great importance for Wales as one of their national emblems.
