Tregadillett Pre-school

An introduction of freshly grown vegetables to snack time, with the aim that we could introduce our preschool children to try a greater variety of vegetables in an endeavour to encourage them to include more vegetables in their diets.

Not only did the children benefit from a stimulating outside activity but most of the children will eat the raw carrots they have grown themselves whereas only two or three prepared to even try raw carrot previously.  Everyday the children are requesting we pull more carrots.

Today we harvested our first broad beans which the children were clamouring to try.  In fact only four or five liked raw broad beans but with one exception they were all prepared to try.

The peas, potatoes and runner beans are not yet ready to harvest.  We hope to have sufficient for all the children to take a few of each vegetable we have grown home to share with their families.  The other barrels have herbs and marigolds which we also hope to be able to share out.

The project is achieving all the things we hoped for in particular encouraging the children to eat their own produce.  It is good for their health, good for their self esteem, good for their knowledge of the world around them and it improves their diet.

Anne Langley, June 2009