The Farm School Initiative was set up in 2014 by former British surfing champion Grace Crake (formerly Davies) on her family’s farm, La Cornetterie in Rue des Vallée in St Martin.
It has since grown to cater for 300 to 400 children a week. This year ten schools have signed up for six-week growing courses. Charities, church groups and Brownies are among other groups taking courses, attending workshops or enjoying day visits.
In addition, more than 100 children have joined the Sprouts Club for after-school and weekend sessions and Mrs Crake hopes to start a Tots Club for two- to four-years-olds this summer.
After studying English at Edinburgh University, with the aim of teaching, she decided that conventional class-based lessons were not for her so she decided to set up her al fresco educational initiative.
‘Over a six-week programme the children learn how to plant and grow plants on their own patch. They also do associated projects looking at weeds and pests, learn about propagation and germination and at the end they pick their own produce to take home,’ she said.
Each child gets their own patch to cultivate, growing ten mixed vegetable and salads crops as they learn about growing without chemicals and at what time of the year certain produce is in season. They also learn how to care for chickens and pigs.
Daniel Jackson (8), from Victoria College Prep, said: ‘I like coming to the farm to plant my plants and to feed and pick up the chickens. I also like watering and weeding my plants and taking care of them.’
La Cornetterie is a working farm and the classes and club sessions take place among the rows of crops being grown for sale on the Davies family’s stall in the Central Market, Just William. Courses are available for primary and secondary schools as they are aimed at six to 14-year-olds.
Mrs Crake said: ‘Growing is great fun and there is something to be learnt at every age. As farmers, we are still learning and we hope to give children the opportunity to learn to grow and know what it’s like to be part of the farming process.’
