Learning blooms in Linden Christian geography class

An assignment for some tenth-grade students is teaching them the miracle of growing their own food.

Nick Janzen's Linden Christian School geography class was given some serious homework: grow at least two different plants at home.

"Most of us are not as connected to growing food and where food comes from," Janzen says. "We have been talking about food and agriculture, and we wanted to do something a little more hands-on."

Getting their hands dirty, the students went to work growing plants from seed to full plant at home.

"You put this little sead in the dirt, and put some water on it and give it some light, and this thing starts to grow. It's really a miracle."

Zara Pollendin, one of the Grade 10 students, quickly learned the unique assignment was not an easy task.

"My mom has plants in her house, but I don't really think about 'oh it's something I have to take care of," Pollendin says. "Doing this project it was like 'oh wow. I am actually growing something."

Janzen says the assignment focussed on growing food to give students a chance to be part of the process. For student Katie Brunotte, growing from seed to harvest is nothing new.

hot pepper, broccoli, and onion plants growing

''My dad and I always do gardens outside every year so it was interesting to do it inside," Brunotte says. "Hopefully, we can transfer the skills I learnt to help out more in the summer gardens."

Finding success with her lettuces, Brunotte fed her rabbits with them. Janzen, on the other hand, brought salad dressing to class to munch on the kale, arugula, and other leafy greens growing in the classroom after sharing them with the class rabbits.