Students at the École secondaire Arthur-Pigeon high school in Huntingdon planted a food forest in October 2023 after having won the L’Écocitoyenneté, j’en mange! contest. It’s one year later, and the school’s forest is not only producing harvests, but thriving – thanks to the students who are taking good care of it.
On October 21, Noah Rouyère of the Arbre-Évolution cooperative stopped by the school to show students how to better care for their plantation. The co-op is providing eco-education support to the school over three years as part of the project, and Rouyère was on hand to teach students about their fruit trees and nourishing shrubs while demonstrating techniques that will help them manage the living environment.
Throughout the school year, students are actively involved in the cultivation and maintenance of the food forest, which serves as a living space for learning that encourages student involvement and commitment while raising awareness about the environment and food security.
The high school also counts on a close collaboration with the Les Complices Alimentaires organization, which supports the students by processing harvests during the school year. The organization also tends to the food forest during the summer when the school is closed to students. (SR)