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Explore the joy of sustainable farming and vegetable cultivation while learning about growing your own potatoes. Discover the challenges faced by farmers worldwide and the benefits of growing your own food. Get inspired by Ashley Primary School's gardening success stories and practical tips for starting your garden today!
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Love Potatoes! Learn about growing your own vegetables and sustainable farming Liberathe Ritabakinia, 35, in Burundi, shows her potato crop. PHOTO: SARAH ELLIOT//ACTIONAID ActionAid schools | December 2012
POTATO FACT Potatoes were first grown by Incas in Peru over 7,000 years ago. ActionAid Schools December 2012
GROWING POTATOES Some of Ashley Primary School’s potato harvest! PHOTO: ACTIONAID ActionAid Schools December 2012
Year 3 children show off their wonderful veg PHOTO: RICHARD DUNNE/ACTIONAID ActionAid Schools December 2012
POTATO FACT The potato is the fourth largest crop, after rice, wheat and maize. There are over 4000 varieties of potatoes in the world. ActionAid Schools December 2012
Eseza Chede, 21, displays a harvest of potatoes from her family's garden. PHOTO: GRAEME ACTIONAID ActionAid Schools December 2012
CHALLENGES FOR GROWING FOOD IN UK What problems have you faced at Ashley in growing food? How do you overcome these problems? • Covering plants and vegetables with newspaper over a frame or a protective cover can help them survive chilly nights. • Keeping plants healthy with enough light and water, and giving them plenty of room to grow can prevent diseases. • Netting can keep out unwanted creatures. Frost Disease Pests ActionAid Schools December 2012
CHALLENGES FOR GROWING FOOD IN OTHER COUNTRIES Soil erosion Drought Floods Storing food No seeds ActionAid Schools December 2012
CHALLENGES FOR GROWING FOOD IN MALAWI Typical landscape in Rumphi district, Malawi. PHOTO: GRAEME WILLIAMS/PANOS/ACTIONAID0 ActionAid Schools December 2012
Compost heap in Rumphi district, Malawi. PHOTO: GRAEME WILLIAMS/PANOS/ACTIONAID0 Maria Mkandawire pumps water PHOTO: GRAEME WILLIAMS/PANOS/ACTIONAID Thabu Chidimba, a smallholder farmer in the fields she shares with other local women. PHOTO: GRAEME WILLIAMS/PANOS/ACTIONAID Thabu and other women farmers on their irrigated land in Rumphi district, Malawi. PHOTO: GRAEME WILLIAMS/PANOS/ACTIONAID ActionAid Schools December 2012
WHY GROW FOOD? To understand more about our food Having local food means our food doesn’t have to travel as far – less environmental impact Food straight from the garden has less packaging To have healthy, fresh food at school – tasty school dinners ActionAid Schools December 2012
OTHER GARDENS AT SCHOOL Sylvia,11, weeds the school garden that’s growing cassava. PHOTO: JAMES AKENA/ACTIONAID ActionAid Schools December 2012
ASHLEY’S TOP FIVE TIPS FOR STARTING YOUR OWN GARDEN • The best way to learn is by doing! Start growing, even on a small scale • Get partners in the community – local horticultural society, go to older generation who have allotments, bring them into the school to support the children • Get everyone in school involved. At Ashley every year group has a job to do – e.g. hoeing, weeding, watering, sowing seeds, harvesting • Celebrate what you are doing - have a food festival • Most importantly - eat the food you have grown ActionAid Schools December 2012
Year 3 student proudly showing the harvested sweetcorn PHOTO: RICHARD DUNNE/ACTIONAID ActionAid Schools December 2012