A unique lunch took place on Friday, October 3rd, for 55 CP and CE1 students in Villard-de-Lans. Gathered in the schoolyard, they enjoyed a meal composed entirely of produce from the small garden they cultivate. Sown in class, harvested, and then prepared by their own hands, the vegetables, flowers, and aromatic plants from the educational vegetable garden ended up on their plates and in their glasses.
After months with their hands in the soil, the children felt immense pride tasting 'their' harvest. The menu included rhubarb juice, a virgin mojito made with garden plants, a goat cheese and beetroot spread, chard quiche, a duo of soups, as well as a chocolate-zucchini cake and an almond-rhubarb tart, all prepared using ingredients from the plot cultivated in the courtyard.
Numerous parents participated in organizing this meal. The mayor, Arnaud Mathieu, and Nadine Girard-Blanc, deputy for school affairs, were present to congratulate these young aspiring gardeners.
'It's a comprehensive activity: raising awareness about respecting nature, observing the cycle of life, working as a team, handling tools, and experiencing the joy of harvesting,' enthused Alexandre Bourgeois, garden animator. The school applies permaculture techniques, thereby strengthening the educational approach to the environment. From the garden's plan to building the raised beds, from 'lasagna' gardening to choosing seeds, and from plant associations to compost fauna, every step is an opportunity to better understand nature.
