A Food Forest Enriches Outlook High School and Community
Recently, Outlook High School, through its school and community library, applied for funding to create a food forest. A food forest is a when plants that attempt to mimic the ecosystem and patterns found in nature are planted. Food forests place emphasis on trees, shrubs, perennials and self-seeding annuals. They are planted thickly and use ground covers to shade soil and suppress weeds. The diversity of plants attract insects, help pollinate crops and keep pest populations in check. They also keep rain water and act as windbreaks. Click here for more information on food forests.
Funding became available for schools to create food forests through Notice Nature, a Saskatchewan community youth program coordinated by the North Saskatchewan River Basin Council with support from Cenuvus Energy, a Calgary-based oil company. OHS was one of only 20 schools in Saskatchewan to be selected to receive the funding.
“A Food Forest is a great chance to learn about local agriculture and add to our land-based education right in our own backyard!” Explained Marla Ziegler, the OHS Librarian who headed up the effort at the school.
A Notice Nature representative came to OHS with about 20 plants, including two apple trees, nine strawberry plants, six raspberry bushes, two cherry bushes, a Saskatoon bush and a lostaberry bush and spent a couple hours teaching students about sustainable planting and gardening. Then with the help of the Notice Nature representative, OHS students planned out how to plant their food forest. The plants that were specifically selected so that their fruit will typically be in season when schools is open.
A location near the staff parking lot was chosen for the location of the food forest because it receives plenty of sun, is close to water access (a tap) and is easily accessible for the community as well. The OHS School Community Council (SCC) was very excited and supportive of the venture. “Not only will this food forest benefit our school community, I believe the community surrounding the school will benefit as well,” stated Mrs. Ziegler, “our school and school division are really proud of how we involve the community in our building and with our students. This is just another way to connect. We will be reaching out to the community to let them know the food forest is for everyone to pick and enjoy; especially during the summer months.” She added.
The food forest also has amazing benefits for OHS students. “This is a hands-on opportunity to learn about agriculture; you really can learn so much working in the dirt!!” Said Mrs. Ziegler. “This is an easy way to engage our students in a different way other than textbooks. OHS Commercial Cooking classes can use the fruit when planning their recipes, our breakfast program can use the produce, OHS Life Skills students will have the opportunity for more alternate programming such as learning how to take care of living things. There are many cross-curricular connections.” She added.
Notice Nature selected Friday, September 16 as the planting day for OHS. The students came out in force and worked hard to stay within the tight time constraints they faced. Fortunately Mrs. Ziegler had the foresight to submit a call-before-you-dig application to SaskPower before she even knew for certain OHS would receive the funds. Everything came together quickly! Fortunately Notice Nature provided most of what was needed including the plants, some shovels, mulch and chicken wire.
Over fifty Grades 8 and 9 students participated in the work on September 16. The Grade 9 students helped with the planning, the planting and the mulching. The Grade 8 students finished the mulching and caged the plants with chicken wire to protect them from animals. “The students had to dig through pretty hard ground,” explained Mrs. Ziegler, “but they persevered and got it done.”
The day was an awesome success! “It was a fantastic opportunity for OHS students receive some land-based education and yet another way to engage the students in life-long learning,” concluded Mrs. Ziegler.
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