Wrap up local produce

At the end of June, BICS students created wraps that reflected the produce growing in the BICS garden.

Sarah Haxby

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At the end of June, BICS students had the opportunity to participate in the ‘It’s a Wrap!’ program; a nutrition and garden feasting event. Students explored the idea of growing a complete meal in the school’s garden that is good for the whole body. With the exception of oil and vinegar, all of the ingredients of the wraps were a reflection of what was planted and harvested from the school’s garden, including grains and proteins.

Students created salad wraps filled with healthy greens, vegetables, sunflower seeds and garbanzo beans, as well as trying items from  the ‘unusual and in interesting’ tray of bok choy, arugula, beet greens, radishes, mint, fennel fingers and edible flowers. Students ate at the feasting tables and enjoyed strawberry lemonade made with local ingredients, sweetened by just a touch of honey.

Daphne Fargher, an experienced garden-nutrition program facilitator, used nutrition charts, youth-friendly interactive displays and freshly picked produce from the BICS garden. Every student’s wrap was a nutritious, colourful and edible feast.

Isabella Bottay and Melissa Roocroft, two of the newest graduates of the FoodSafe program, were unfailing star helpers. The ‘It’s a Wrap!’ program was made possible thanks to funding from the Farm to School program funders including VanCity and the Public Health Association of BC (PHABC).

The greens and garden produce from the Grow to the Market Program was made possible in part thanks to the school’s Grow to the Market and Garden programs which were supported by the Vancouver Coastal Health Urban Agricultural Initiatives, the Bowen Agricultural Alliance, the Community School Association, the BICS PAC and Friday lunch program, as well as our many parent volunteers and community partners.

We would like to inspire the whole community to celebrate local produce. Some students are continuing to help keep the school’s garden growing this summer and will be harvesting greens, edible flowers and fresh produce that they will share with the community through regular donations to the Food Bank and at their table at the next farmers market at BICS on Saturday, July 21, from 9 a.m. to noon. We hope that you will be inspired to create your own salad wraps using local ingredients.