Impact
Teachers Quotes * Testimonials * Experience
Our Programs
Sprouting Chefs currently services 2 main school garden programs in the Burnaby, BC area with Forest Grove Elementary as the model program in North Burnaby Edmonds Community School hosting our Seed to Table Program and after school programs as well.
These programs encompass many of the BC Curriculum Guide’s focus on Social Emotional Learning (practicing mindfulness in the garden and incorporating the Virtues of how to “Be” with discussions of Love, Compassion, Patience, Trust, Peace, Gratitude and Forgiveness as examples), Place Based Learning using the school garden to integrate many learning opportunities as well as cross curricular opportunities, Project Based learning – whenever possible, we allow the students to build aspects of the garden as well as discussing Social Responsibility issues such as vandalism and theft with gardens.
Testimonials
Garden Learning Impact
Absolutely, active learning should be a priority for all students.
The garden club has a really positive influence on my child. It is one of the few programs that he really enjoys. He still has a lot of dependence on his parents so I think by us not being there he could participate more and really enjoy being himself. That is why this is such a precious program for our family.
All the time. From herbs we now plant in the garden, to vegetables we want to grow, to cutting vegetables and making kale chips. All inspired from Garden Club.
Yes, my child now eats more vegetables and loves to help me cook in the kitchen.
Excellent educational program and enrichment for our children that should be in every school. Thank you, Barb, for all your hard work!
Using the information and skills she learnt in the garden club to implement in the home garden.
Absolutely, active learning should be a priority for all students.
The garden club program has a significant influence on my child interest to explore the garden and it’s magic of bringing food to his plate. from growing seeds to harvest and then to cook and eat.
My child has developed a willingness to try new foods based on what is grown in the garden and what is prepared in the cooking classes. She has even prepared some foods all on her own at home.
Yes, my child now eats more vegetables and loves to help me cook in the kitchen.
Student Quotes from the Garden
Student Impact Statement from Owen Ebose, Current Volunteer/Youth Committee Lead:
“After my first seed class in 2016, I began attending Sprouting Chefs camps and started volunteering for the organization. Since that day, my life has completely changed. I have found a true home amongst like-minded individuals who are loving and caring.
I now have a passion for sustainability and the environment and am a climate activist. I owe all of this to Barb and her program. She works with every student to ensure that they feel loved and welcomed. She engages students and sparks passion within them, something that many teachers are unable to do. I have spoken with students and parents who described the impact Sprouting Chefs has had in their lives, praising Barb as their mentor.
We desperately need more programs like this in schools across the world. Many students, like me back in elementary school, are lost. They have no passion or interest, and do not care for long lectures and boring activities. The teaching style present in Sprouting Chefs programs is different from anything I have come across before. Every student who passes through leaves with a newfound interest in sustainability and healthy living. Barb changed my life, and I am committed to helping her do the same for more youth across the world. As we face a climate crisis, education is key. Not only is Sprouting Chefs a fantastic extracurricular program, but it is an organization that should be integrated into schools and institutions everywhere.”
“I love helping and giving back to my community through fundraisers”
“When I look up at the garden one word comes to mind and it is FRESH. Everything is fresh, the plants, the soil, and the woods. There is just something about it that refreshes yourself.”
“I like gardening because we get to plant new stuff and we get to dig holes and put seeds in them.”
“Whenever I walk by the garden I always think, wow we are really grateful for all of this because we have so many opportunities when it comes to the garden. We can use all the food we grow to cook for events or fundraisers. We learn about planting seeds and discover what we can find out about cooking.”
“I see the garden growing fuller by the month, everything grows right before our eyes.”
“I am really grateful to have such a beautiful garden at our school, seeing it grow, just like everyone around it”
“The garden and the cooking classes are connected in the way that a lot of the food we cook is from the garden. So in a way, I sort of like the garden…”
“When I’m in the garden I feel happy because it’s calm space to work and just sit down and think.”
“I like how you have to think and work together to make the food happen.”
“I really enjoy the Sprouting Chefs, my favourite class was in grade 1. It was when we made this spectacular potato pizza. It was so delicious.”
“I like cooking meals and things from the garden and being able to eat it.”
“The community garden is a place where we bond, eat, play, build, learn, teach, and produce creativity.”
“This year I learned how much thinking it takes to find a perfect place for a plant.”
“When I am in the garden I feel joyous and I am so grateful for having this fabulous opportunity.”
“In the kitchen I am inspired and creative.”
“I have learned how to cook finely with local ingredients and spices.”
“I enjoyed planting seeds in to the soil. When I walk by I notice the sprouts changing and growing over time.”
Windsor Elementary - Students
From Div 4: grade 4/5
“If you grow one thing and it gets a virus then all of the other plants will get the same virus. That’s why you need to plant lots of different kinds of plants.”
“If one plant gets sick, the other plants can help it. Some plants attract insects that eat pests, like ladybugs”
“You have to plant flowers for bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. The flowers attract these pollinators”
“Carrots can trick bugs so that they eat something else”
Windsor Elementary - Students
From Div 7: grade 1 and 2
“Worms dig and eat compost!”
“Worms poo back soil!”
“We don’t eat the worm poo, but it is good for the plants. Then we can eat the plants!”
“We learned how to grow plants!”
“Plants need soil, water, and sun.”
Windsor Elementary - Students
Div 2 grade 6/7 learned the following:
When certain plants bloom (dandelions and daffodils) then it’s safe to transplant others into your garden.
Dandelions are weather beacons. They will close up when rain is expected.
When you start plants indoors and are getting ready to transplant to your garden, slowly build up a tolerance by taking them outside for a couple of hours a day.
Windsor Elementary - Students
Division 3 grade 4/5
Div 9: Kindergarten
Division 3 grade 4/5
Division 3 grade 4/5 learned that the hole depth matches the seed size. That there is a need to rotate crops to help the nutrients in the soil, and that some plants benefit being beside other plants in helpful ways.
Div 9: Kindergarten
“You punch a little hole in the dirt and you put the seeds.” -Meika
“We found some little creatures. The worms eat the old plants and the spiders eat the bad bugs.” -Zabi
Windsor Elementary - Students
From Div. 1 Grade 6 and 7 students
“We learned how to look for clues in nature for when to move/transfer the potted plants to the garden. For example, look at the blackberry bush to see if the flowers are in bloom or if the lilac tree in the gratitude garden is starting to bloom.”
“We need to gradually bring out the potted plants outside before planting/transferring into the garden so we don’t ‘shock’ the plants.”
“We need to water every other day and not to over water the potted plants in the classroom.”
“The watermelon seed has to be in warm temperature throughout its growing process.”
“Since it was a really cold winter, it was beneficial to our garden because it killed most pests in the soil.”
“The best place to put our potted plants once we place a seed in the soil is on top of the refrigerator at the back for a good heat source.”
“That there such a thing as a blue pumpkin and spaghetti squash.”
“When placing the seed in the soil, we place it as deep as the seed size.”
Teacher Testimonials
