The community at St. Benild School is now at the stage of reaping its harvest from their Lasallian Leavening Fund project.

For the past months, each of the six classes has been responsible for four planters of cherry tomatoes, aubergines, red cabbage, sweet peppers , melon and watermelon seedlings which have been sown in twenty-four planters last March.

Growing this variety of fruit and vegetables has been no easy feat. It has taken a lot of tender loving care and attention from all of us in various ways. Regular watering was key. The pupils’ enthusiasm and participation in this process was remarkable. We also often had to spray with homemade pesticide, add fertiliser, delicately cut dead leaves and check continually on the growth of the crops.

This has been an authentic learning experience, a real agricultural adventure and one of the most exciting projects the school has ever embarked on. The sense of satisfaction felt when using and enjoying one's own produce is hard to explain in words! Just have a look at our faces!