Paddock to Plate

During Paddock to Plate (P2P) students have moved through the process of preparing for future meals that we get to share and enjoy together. During our week 3 sessions students worked in teams to produce their own french toast which we all sat down together and enjoyed. We also had the opportunity to prepare pizza dough last week in readiness for enjoying school cooked, made-to-like pizza and the beginnings of next week’s shared meal of KFC chicken with grilled vegetables in a salad. Students made mayonnaise in a jar which I will bring a hand held mixer to complete the process so that they can enjoy their own school-made efforts. 

I am impressed to hear that many students had chosen to cook French toast for their Mother’s Day breakfast at home, a sure sign that they are enjoying the hands-on approach and the practicality in their own home environment. We all thrive when we can feel into ourselves, trusting that we can let go to allow ourselves to build confidence with a difference of joy, openness and with a willing heart. For me, confidence is letting go of the perception of needing to know and embracing the unknown! It’s so wonderful to have such an enthusiastic team of students, sharing this experience with each other, gaining valuable wisdom from … and that I get to mentor this is priceful! This fuels me hearing that newly learned skills are being used and shared at home.

During the first two weeks of term 2 I was super encouraged by the stamina of the children to step up and into the areas of interest whilst also being open to learning further afield from the known and comfortable. I do foresee that this thinking outside of “the box we know” will grant us an opportunity to grow with wholesomeness and prosperity for the community we get to live and learn in. I absolutely trust this! 

We have been fostering food waste management in the kitchen and lower primary classroom, and I endeavour to purchase some compost bins for the other classrooms ready for the coming week. An opportunity to share our scraps with chooks, worms and the rotating compost bin and another tool and asset to have our P2P program flourish. Buckets will need to be emptied into the big rotating composts at the end of every day with the goal of experiencing and learning the impact of having fertile soil using many forms, including composting, generating happy and healthy plants that we get to eat and enjoy.

I had the privilege of engaging with Beeac Primary School mentors and students, participating in their facilitated Kitchen Garden program. Gratitude for this opportunity of outreach and insight, seeing how other schools' programs are designed with a successful framework and structure.

Much of the produce brought to school has been from my garden. If there is any produce that you would like to share, know that it will be well received….we may just need to move some things around in the freezer.

Gratitude for the team of children, staff and families I get to share this experience with.

Best,

Jen Bush.