I started a school garden
Sharon Mcmaster, a mum of three from Lisburn, Northern Ireland, set up a vegetable garden at her children’s primary school. She runs monthly Soup Days to raise funds
Icreated a vegetable garden at my children’s school with a few other parents in 2011. We built raised beds from sca old planks, and in our first year we grew peas, beans and potatoes. Since then we’ve raised money for a shed and polytunnel, and grow courgettes, cabbages, leeks, carrots and lots more veg. The pupils are being empowered to grow their own food and enjoy learning basic planting and harvesting skills. Parents and grandparents also help out. My dad was a keen gardener. He had a veg patch and greenhouse, and I strongly believe that children who take part in the growing and cooking process are more likely to eat that food. Three years ago, I started Soup Days to raise garden funds. Once a month, children from my after-school cookery club come in early and make soups using veg from the garden, Northern Irish wheaten bread and crusty loaves. They chop and prepare the veg – I’m just there to supervise. We make two or three soups, then other children can taste the samples before choosing. Chicken noodle and cauliflower & broccoli are the favourites. It started as a one-o fundraiser but has been such a hit that Soup Day is a lunch option once a month. In fact, it’s so popular that we have to use shop-bought veg as well as veg from the garden. We make about £80 profit each month, which has paid for seeds, compost, gloves and wheelbarrows.
The school nominated me for 2016 RHS School Gardener of the Year. I was surprised but happy to win. The prize money is a real boost for the garden. We want to grow more fruit for break times. My youngest will be leaving the school soon, so I won’t be volunteering in the garden, though I will carry on with the after-school clubs as part of my business, kindergardencooks.com, which teaches children about cooking and gardening.