A school garden party at the presbytery

Contrary to what the title might suggest, Gustavia's schoolchildren didn't hold a party under the windows of the presbytery. In fact, on Thursday December 18, they simply invited all the school's parents to a dethe work that has been carried out since the beginning of the school year in the school's educational garden.
The visit took place in the middle of the afternoon, before the Christmas vacations. Accompanied by their teachers, the children offered a tour of the different planting zones. Marianne Laplace, president of the farmers' association, works with the schoolchildren every week. She leads workshops in the presbytery garden. We're repotting everything we've done in previous years behind the school," explains the farmer. We're going to develop a vegetable garden in pots, with ornamental plants and fruit trees. We'll also be experimenting with radishes, carrots and so on. "Needless to say, the schoolchildren are all getting their hands dirty. We all try to work together," explains Marianne. Everyone sows, we prick, we repot using different techniques. We even have our own composter. "The aim is to introduce children to vegetable gardening. In particular, in the hope that they will motivate their parents to do the same at home. We won't be self-sufficient in Saint-Barthélemy," reminds Marianne Laplace, "but if each family manages to plant three vegetables, we'll already be doing well. "But children like to dream of a better world. As a result, they imagine self-sufficiency. Like Léonor, who writes: "Food self-sufficiency means adopting eco-responsible behavior. "Nolan says: "It requires a lot of space, patience and time. "No doubt some students will be able to convince their parents to start a vegetable garden. If they have the space, a rare commodity on the island.