Devon food growing project a success.

A project which has been teaching children in East Devon about the health, economic and environmental benefits of growing their own food has come to a successful end, having reached 84 children ranging from 3 to 11 years of age.

Little Green Change, the award-winning, non-profit environmental education company based in Lyme Regis, received funding from Devon County Council’s Growing Communities Fund to deliver 5 food growing sessions, including at Axminster Library, Axminster Community Primary Academy in May, and the Uplyme Village Fete in June. In total, the children either took home, or grew on at school, 236 plants including peas, sweetcorn, sunflowers, lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, chives, courgettes, pumpkins, and nasturiums (for their edible flowers).

Children learnt how to grow fruit and vegetables from seed, make their own plant fertiliser, create new plants from existing plants such as chives (plant propagation), and more.

Little Green Change's Founder and Director, Clare Matheson commented, “Projects like this show young people, their relatives, friends and the public that you don't need much space or experience to start growing some of your own food. Whether it’s in a pot, garden, school or local allotment, there are lots of ways people can grow their own really cheaply from seed, or by propagating new plants like chives from existing plants, and by reusing discarded pots and items like toilet roll tubes as seed starters.”

Tom White, Year 5/6 Teacher at Axminster Community Primary Academy commented, “This is an amazing opportunity for children to learn life skills and understand the wider world. It is also something schools struggle to find the time for, although incredibly important.”

Further information about this project, plus advice on how to grow your own food on a budget, see Little Green Change's website: littlegreenchange.com/seedlings