Eve Lamb
Whoever thought today’s kids believe their food comes from a plastic pack clearly haven’t seen something like the excursion happening out at Harcourt’s Organic Farming Co-op orchard on Friday.
There co-op members, The Orchard Keepers, hosted a special visit by Elphinstone Primary School in a boots-on educational exercise assisted by a Victorian Farmers Federation Kids Ag Vic Grant.
“We’re just bringing the kids to check out how fruit grows,” teacher’s aid Nicole Dubbeld told the Express during the leafy tour in perfect conditions.
“They love it and they love being outside.”
The weather was on side and the sparkling outdoors morning featured a guided tour of the orchard during which Orchard Keepers like Ingrid Phyland talked the students through the basics of organic fruit production.
Ingrid led the kids and their adult accomplices through the orchards with a running commentary on fruit production today and a bit about the history of the Harcourt area’s fruit growing.
“It’s great. We would love to do more of this,” Ingrid told the Express mid-tour.
“It’s great that young kids understand where their food comes from.”
The day covered everything from pollination, with a particular interest from students in the native blue-banded bee, and guest presentations from local expert orchardist Katie Finlay covering grafting and growing fruit trees from cuttings.
Fellow Orchard Keeper Yoann Le Guen demonstrated the finer points of the correct way to pick fruit without damaging the tree for future cropping.
A picnic and a 2kg fruit picking challenge – complete with fruit tasting – were all part of the day’s fun.
“It’s pretty cool,” said grade four student Adele Downie.
“Lot’s of fun,” agreed young Gilbert McDougall.
