Mr. Geddis’ Grade 5/6 class recently explored some of the environmental impacts of our food choices, including the fossil fuels required to grow, transport, process, and package much of the food we eat. To help students see positive solutions to these challenges, we learned about supporting our local food system in a way that is both environmentally friendly and healthy for our bodies.
Thanks to a generous donation of potatoes from Bent Plow Farm, a local Nelson farm, students spent a Beyond Recycling class making their own oven-baked French fries using potatoes grown right here in our community.
The class was delighted by the entire process of peeling, cutting, seasoning, and baking the potatoes. As the fries came out of the oven, students eagerly sampled their creations and shared their reviews. Several students declared that they tasted even better than French fries from McDonald’s. One student enthusiastically exclaimed, “These are the best french fries I’ve ever tasted! Where does my family get more of these potatoes?” Many students asked for the recipe so they could make the fries at home with their families.
Making french fries also sparked an important conversation about food waste. The potatoes we used came in all shapes and sizes, and so did the fries we created. Students noticed that these imperfect potatoes were just as delicious as perfectly shaped ones and discussed how much food may be wasted simply because it doesn’t look the way consumers expect.
While enjoying their fries, students watched videos showing how potatoes are grown, from
planting and harvesting to the machinery and hard work involved in producing food. We finished the lesson by reflecting on how our homemade fries met Beyond Recycling’s “Real Food” criteria. They were nutritious, natural (looking much like they do when grown), now (grown in season and stored locally through the winter), near (grown close to where students live), and naked (requiring little to no packaging).
Students were excited to discover that one of their favorite foods can also be nutritious, locally grown, and environmentally friendly. It was a delicious reminder that supporting local farmers can benefit our health, our community, and the planet.