ANGLOPHONE WEST SCHOOL DISTRICT
Garden backpack program at Nackawic Middle School continues to produce

The Garden Backpack Program continues to produce fresh vegetables for a second year at Nackawic Middle School. Student volunteers from the garden club participated in harvesting and washing the vegetables this fall. 

The first load of produce went to seven deserving students and their families and included zucchinis, cucumbers, eggplants, green peppers and tomatoes. Recipes to prepare the vegetables were also sent home with the students. Two weeks later, beets and carrots filled the backpacks.

"We continue to look for student involvement and community volunteers throughout the summer as the program develops," said Principal Kathy Anderson. "Our goal is for more students and families to benefit from the program in the future. In addition, students use the vegetables during home economics as they learn how to prepare and cook meals."

The garden club got underway at Nackawic Middle School in the spring of 2019 with seeding and potting taking place in preparation for the growing season. Students in Grades 6-7 cared for the garden daily and watered plants throughout the germination period and beyond to maintain plant quality until the seedlings were ready to be transplanted into outdoor garden boxes. Care continued with watering and weeding in the outdoor garden during the summer months with the help of new soaker hoses. The school garden had some new species this year with pumpkins, spaghetti squash and eggplants among the plants. However, garden pests and hot summer weather influenced the overall yield, Anderson said. Still, the results were positive for filling backpacks as planned.