Urban agriculture for humans and bees: N.B. students get their hands dirty while learning to garden
Gardening is often said to be good for the soul, but it can also be a lot of work. That’s something second-grade student Amelia Hicks now knows all about.
“You have to make the holes and you have to put the seeds in and then you have to cover up the seeds, but then you have to leave them there and put water on them until they start to grow,” says Hicks.
The students at Bessborough School in Moncton don’t seem to mind digging in and taking on the job.
Principal Nick Mattatall says the school recently received a grant from the World Wildlife Fund to upgrade their current community memorial garden into the perfect place for pollinators.
“We planted 40 lbs. of sunflowers that are actually just germinating in the last 24 hours and about 30 lbs. of wildflower seeds," says Mattatall. "So we’ll have an urban pollinator sanctuary for bees and butterflies and all kinds of other insects."
Fiona Mattatall says her grade two class has been learning about all the different types of insects that will soon call the garden home.
“We’re learning about the circle of life about butterflies right now,” says Fiona Mattatall.
The garden isn’t just for the pollinators, though. Students who help tend to the fruits and vegetables are allowed to take a few treats home to their families.
“At my house, we use the zucchini and mash them up and put them in cakes with chocolate chips,” says Fiona Mattatall.
“It’s just fun to grown them because afterwards, you eat them and I find they taste better because you grew them,” agreed Hicks.
It isn’t just the pollinators and students who benefit from all the hard work. A portion of the fruits and vegetables grown in the garden will be donated throughout the community, as well.
“The kids use it as part of our global goals to support some of our local food banks and the Humanity Project, so they give back stuff that they harvest from our gardens too. Not just to the local community, but also to those who are less fortunate,” said Nick Mattatall.
Soon, the gardening won’t have to stop when the students leave the schoolyard. More than one hundred packets of seeds have been donated to the school by Rainbow Seeds, a local seed supplier in Riverside-Albert, N.B.
“Everything from fennel to corn, to radishes, are going home today, so they can plant their own gardens in their house,” said Nick Mattatall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.