Sustainability:
Learning IntentionTo become aware of what “sustainability” is and what our actions on each other and the planet are, and taking responsibility for our actions by the choices I make.
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Success CriteriaI have an understanding of an understanding of the seasons and how this relates to food production, purchase and consumption of food.
I can tell you about what is sustainable and what is not. I can list the pros/cons of growing your own food. I can cook using seasonal produce. I can list what is seasonal now in the markets, and tell you how I know this. |
Appreciating seasonal produce
Growing your own food
Growing your own food is a fantastic thing to do. It can be as simple as growing a few herbs or growing a few vegetables in pots or you might like to create your own gourmet garden.
One of the activities in Home economics in action 1 – ‘Growing a gourmet garden’ – involves students having access to a small garden to support their understanding of the seasons as they progress through the unit. Growing a gourmet garden incorporates VELS through identifying contemporary issues in sustainability in Australia, as well as an alternative practical activity under the standard of Producing. Students can be actively involved in managing the garden through watering, weeding, composting, harvesting and planting.
There are various ways that students could grow their own food:
If your school has a gourmet garden, or even one where you just grow herbs, this can be incorporated into your program at Years 9 and 10 (VELS level 6). If not, this activity could be introduced at these levels and incorporated into your home economics curriculum.
Even having just a few plants in a small patch of soil or in planter boxes is sufficient to support the curriculum.
You could also broaden this to investigating how students could grow their own fruits, vegetables and herbs at home (no matter where they live). This not only provides them with an understanding of these important foods, but also links into their understanding of sustainability and saving money.
One of the activities in Home economics in action 1 – ‘Growing a gourmet garden’ – involves students having access to a small garden to support their understanding of the seasons as they progress through the unit. Growing a gourmet garden incorporates VELS through identifying contemporary issues in sustainability in Australia, as well as an alternative practical activity under the standard of Producing. Students can be actively involved in managing the garden through watering, weeding, composting, harvesting and planting.
There are various ways that students could grow their own food:
If your school has a gourmet garden, or even one where you just grow herbs, this can be incorporated into your program at Years 9 and 10 (VELS level 6). If not, this activity could be introduced at these levels and incorporated into your home economics curriculum.
Even having just a few plants in a small patch of soil or in planter boxes is sufficient to support the curriculum.
You could also broaden this to investigating how students could grow their own fruits, vegetables and herbs at home (no matter where they live). This not only provides them with an understanding of these important foods, but also links into their understanding of sustainability and saving money.
Your Task at the Victoria Market:
When foods are not in season, this means they are not available or are expensive to buy. What are some alternatives to buying fruits and vegetables that are not in season?
Go to the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Markets website at www.marketfresh.com.au On the website, there is a link – www.marketfresh.com.au/produce_guide/ seasons.asp which takes you to the section on seasonal availability:
• The ‘seasonal guide’ helps you choose seasonal produce.
• The ‘seasonal search’ allows you to look for fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds that are in season now, those that are not currently in season or search for seasonal produce in a particular season.
There is also a good section on the Queen Victoria Market website at www.marketlife.com.au
Activity: Create a table or a mind map that shows what fruits and vegetables are in season in summer, winter, autumn and spring.
Go to the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Markets website at www.marketfresh.com.au On the website, there is a link – www.marketfresh.com.au/produce_guide/ seasons.asp which takes you to the section on seasonal availability:
• The ‘seasonal guide’ helps you choose seasonal produce.
• The ‘seasonal search’ allows you to look for fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds that are in season now, those that are not currently in season or search for seasonal produce in a particular season.
There is also a good section on the Queen Victoria Market website at www.marketlife.com.au
Activity: Create a table or a mind map that shows what fruits and vegetables are in season in summer, winter, autumn and spring.