Cultivating Food Literacy and Community in the WRDSB
Posted: August 10, 2025
Categories: nourish to flourish / Schools
Laurentian Public School
Kitchener, Ontario
One of our WRDSB vibrant Grade 7 and 8 schools, located in Kitchener, Ontario, was the proud recipient of the Nourish to Flourish grant this year. We serve a diverse population of approximately 400 students, including newcomers, students with exceptionalities, and many experiencing food insecurity. Our dedicated staff work tirelessly to create meaningful learning opportunities beyond the classroom, often volunteering their time to run clubs, sports, and community initiatives.
This year, with the support of the Farm to School Canada grant, we began transforming our vision of hands-on food education into a reality. Though this is our first time receiving the grant, the impact has already been transformative. We’ve launched an inclusive, student-centered program focused on food literacy, sustainability, and self-sufficiency.
From the moment we received the grant, our students were eager to get started. They worked tirelessly researching what we would need—from seeds and soil to grow lights and egg incubators. Our Grade 7 math classes took the lead on budgeting, calculating total costs and taxes to ensure we stayed within our means. Students then sourced supplies, built planter boxes, and began growing seedlings throughout the school.
The cornerstone of our initiative is a school garden, accessible to all students. We’re growing perennial plants and culturally significant crops that reflect the diverse backgrounds of our student body. Students are now engaged in the full cycle of food production—from germinating seeds indoors to transplanting outdoors and learning how to preserve seeds for future harvests. They’ve carefully planned when to start specific plants and how to space them for optimal growth.
We’ve also launched food literacy workshops to teach students how to prepare healthy meals with the foods they grow. While we were still waiting for our own crops to mature, we used locally sourced produce to begin cooking in-class. Students are learning foundational cooking skills, food safety, seed preservation, and sustainability. One of the most exciting additions has been our egg incubator—students recently hatched chicks and learned about animal life cycles, care routines, and ethical farming practices. This experience has helped deepen their connection to local food systems.
Our on-site kitchen—equipped with a stove, fridge, and dishwasher—has been instrumental. Students use the space to prepare meals and tastings that align with cultural celebrations, curricular goals, and classroom projects. Through science, health, and geography, we’ve seamlessly woven food literacy into the curriculum.
One of the key champions of this project has been our ACE Special Education teacher and Educational Assistant, our MLL teacher, and our Grade 7 math teacher. Together, they’ve ensured that all students, regardless of ability, can participate meaningfully. From adapting garden tools to providing sensory-friendly spaces, they’ve created a truly inclusive program.
As one student shared, “I didn’t know we could grow our own food at school—and now I want to grow a garden at home too!”
Thanks to the Farm to School Canada grant, we are not just feeding our students—we are empowering them. They are gaining lifelong skills in food literacy, sustainability, and collaboration. Most importantly, they are developing a deeper connection to their community and a sense of pride in what they can grow and share together.