Homegrown
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Homegrown Cover.indd 1 2/3/09 14:06:17
MediaActive: Illustrated Books Project
An initiative of Thomas Adams School’s Media Arts Programme and delivered in partnership with Qube Arts, this project has established new opportunities for young people to develop a series of illustrated books that reflect their interests, concerns and creativity.
The young people have worked with the support of artists, designers, and a creative writer, making full use of digital media resources in North Shropshire to research, plan and produce the books. They have determined the themes, generated the ideas, created original writing and artworks, and finally, designed the layout and construction of the books.
The project has worked with 5 groups, has produced 5 distinctive books and has involved key partners: Loppington House, Thomas Adams SEN Department, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Youth Offending Service and the West Midlands Consortium Services for Travelling Children, Schools and Families.
Thanks go to all of the young people aged 14-15 years who have been involved in the making of Homegrown: Mickie, Jack, Matthew, Kelly-Anne, Toby, Alexia, Martina, Sarah, Matthew, Lathan, Bethany, Scott, Ashley, Charlotte and Christopher.
And to Mr Haycocks and the Applied Arts students: Charlotte, Chris, Lucy, Jake, Harry, Danielle, Amy, Jack and Leanne, for their assistance.
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Twelve months ago there was no course in Agriculture at Thomas Adams school. There were no raised beds, no chickens, no pigs and no plants. In a relatively short space of time, this exceptional group of young people have built this project from the ground up.
The Agriculture course is designed to replace more traditional Science courses and has allowed each of them to flourish in a more practical environment. Every young person on this course has tried their hand at each activity and can walk away knowing that their hard work will continue growing and standing for many years to come. This book is a testament to that hard work, a ‘How To’ of Growing Your Own by young people who have grown immensely as individuals.
Ben Williams, Teacher.
homegrown.indd 1 2/3/09 13:33:34
Homegrown
The Story so far.
Cleared the Science garden and harvested
the vegetables. Prepared for the pigs
Made a pig pen & Disinfected the pig penMade a scrapbook / Took photographs / Harvested
Learnt about free-range
Fed and watered the pigs and Changed the pigs bedding
Made raised beds for veg.Made compost bins from pallets.Planted fruit trees and bushes.
Made houses for the ducksPainted the duck house Fed and watered the ducks
Swept and cleaned the duck area
the vegetables.
The Story so far.
Cleared the Science garden and harvested
Prepared for the pigs
homegrown.indd 2 2/3/09 13:33:51
Cleaned and
sorted out the greenho
use.
Looked after the ferre
ts.
Went ferreting.
Walked the ferrets.
Digging. Visited stables
.
Mucked out and groomed
horses.
Planted hedgesGot chickensFed and watered the chickensCleared turf to plant potatoesPlanted daffodil bulbsVisited farmsLearnt about responsible farmingDesigned sausagesLearnt about pig products
considered healthy eating
sourced ingredientslearnt about animal welfare
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Food Miles
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Your food is sourced locally and less CO2 is produced getting it to you.
You don't use fuel to ship food from other countries. Also it will be much fresher & better for you.
Your foo
d won't be
fresh.
Food miles
means ho
w far the
food
has had
to tra
vel to
get on y
our pla
te. This
all adds ex
tra fue
l and
cost an
d is bad
for the
envirom
ent.
By “Gr o wing Your Own” you reduce your food miles. This mean s that:
Most food is impo rted but if you gr o w your o wn you get the best
homegrown.indd 5 2/3/09 13:34:06
When food is
grown locally it
doesn’t have to
travel so far to
the shop. This
means less car-
bon dioxide to
the planet.
It is making us
think about how
far we go to get
our fruit and veg.
We could reduce this to help the environment.
You don’t have to drive to get
your food – you just walk up the garden
doesn’t have to
travel so far to
the shop. This
means less car-
bon dioxide to
the planet.
the garden
homegrown.indd 6 2/3/09 13:34:16
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How do you feel aboutHow do you feel about
You are helping the environment.Food tastes better.You feel better because you know where it has come from.
know where it has come from.
Homegrown Produce?
I feel ok because you kno w it is good to eat
More healthyCosts lessMuch tastier.
homegrown.indd 8 2/3/09 13:34:50
I think that it tastes better than
buying it from the supermarket
and you know that it is fresh.Homegrown produce makes you feel like you are helping the
environment and it means
fresher fruit and veg.
homegrown.indd 9 2/3/09 13:35:05
What is your favourite job on the school farm?job on the school farm?job on the school farm?job on the school farm?job on the school farm?
Looking after the chickens and collecting eggs.
Looking after and walking the ferrets.Pulling up ripe veg.
Planting and harvesting the fruit and veg.
homegrown.indd 10 2/3/09 13:35:26
Lookingafter theanimals.
Plantingthe
daffodils Carryingthe
wheelbarrow
Building the pens for the animals
homegrown.indd 11 2/3/09 13:35:33
funniest thing
Lexi being scared of the chickens.
throwing snow at each
other.
when chris said he
could jump the puddle
and then fell straight
into it up to his waist.
when ashley fell into
a 6ft canal and was
cold all day.
lathan going into the
smelly swamp.
What is the
that has happened to you or one of your class-mates while working on the school farm?
homegrown.indd 12 2/3/09 13:35:38
homegrown.indd 13 2/3/09 13:35:41
Being outside, not stuck in a classroom.
You know where it has come from and
how it has been treated.
It is cheaper to grow your own stuff than buying it from the shops.
It's really really fresh.
One great thing about Growing Your Own veg is...
homegrown.indd 14 2/3/09 13:35:50
You get to eat it!You get to eat it!You get to eat it!It is healthier.
It helps the en
vironment.
You can have lo
ads of fun gro
wing your own.
It tastes be
tter when y
ou've grown
it yourself.
You can have load s of fun gr o wing your o wn.
homegrown.indd 15 2/3/09 13:35:56
You need money at the start 1. to buy equipment.
Get your tools.2.
Make sure you have space for 3. the animals.
Think about time make a rota 4. to share jobs.
Prepare your planting areas and 5. source seeds / plants.
What you need
to get started
homegrown.indd 16 2/3/09 13:36:03
Check what the 6. animals need and make sure you can provide it.
Protect your animals 7. from predators, like foxes.
Make sure you have 8. food and water for the animals.
Erect a greenhouse9.
10. Invest in sensible clothing (wellies!).
homegrown.indd 17 2/3/09 13:36:06
If I could give one handy hint to other
students who wanted to start an organic farming project, I
would say.....farming project, I
would say.....farming project, I
homegrown.indd 18 2/3/09 13:36:33
Remember, pigs get very dirty!!
It’s hard work, but fun.
Wear gloves,
wellies and over-alls.
Don't aggravate the ferrets be-cause they will bite!
Wear warm clothes because it is often very cold
and muddy.Don’t think that it is just a doss. It really helps and you can get load s of GCSEs. Just get on with it!
homegrown.indd 19 2/3/09 13:37:09
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PigsPigsTopic 1
homegrown.indd 22 2/3/09 13:37:18
We feed the pigs, water them and generally take care of them. The pigs are Gloucester
Old Spots crossed with Large Whites.
If you want to keep pigs you need to keep a constant supply of food and water, a comfort-able bed for them, lots of toys and a lot of enthusiasm!
It is very important that you do not feed household scraps to pigs. If they are fed any meat and the slaughterer finds out you will be sued as it is illegal.
Pigs need lots of mud
They are very clean animals but their environment is very messy!
They depend on their owners.
to keep clean
Old Spots crossed with Large Whites.Old Spots crossed with Large Whites.Old Spots crossed with
It is very important that you It is very important that you do not feed household scraps to It is very important that you do not feed household scraps to It is very important that you
pigs. If they are fed any meat and the slaughterer finds out pigs. If they are fed any meat and the slaughterer finds out pigs. If they are fed any meat
you will be sued as it is illegal.and the slaughterer finds out you will be sued as it is illegal.and the slaughterer finds out
They depend on their owners.
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DucksDucksTopic 2
homegrown.indd 24 2/3/09 13:38:02
In school we are involved with the ducks by feeding and watering them. We also made a duck house out of used wooden pallets. We have helped to sweep up the paths to clean off the mess from the ducks and chickens.
Our ducks are called Bill and Ben. They are Indian Runners.
The ducks get food every day and fresh water. The bedding gets changed every other day. They have a splash pool but they kept getting into the fish pond in the Science garden, so we have moved them to share with the chickens which they like.
They eat poultry pellets.
homegrown.indd 25 2/3/09 13:38:08
They scavenge around in grass for other things
they fancy. To be healthy and happy, ducks need a safe, clean place to sleep, room to wander and scavenge, food and water
(for drinking and splashing), company from other ducks or chickens and medical attention if they are ill.
The Indian Runner Duck is characterised by its short
thigh bones which give it a funny walk which is
comical to watch. They are quiet and well-known for their excellent egg-laying
production.
These ducks needed rescuing so we gave them a home. We plan to get some lady ducks
so they will lay some eggs and hopefully have ducklings.
homegrown.indd 26 2/3/09 13:38:10
Time to fill up the feed ers
homegrown.indd 27 2/3/09 13:38:28
ferretsferretsTopic 3
homegrown.indd 28 2/3/09 13:38:34
We have three ferrets. They are called Max and
Paddy and Scratch. Max and Paddy are albinos
and Scratch is a polecat.
We look after the ferrets by giving them food and water,
cleaning them out, taking them for walks and sometimes we
take them ferreting.
Paddy and Scratch. Max and Paddy are albinos
They eat special ferret food which contains turkey and vitamins.
To be happy and healthy, the ferrets need fresh bedding, exercise and fresh water. Once a month they need fresh meat – chicken.
Ferrets come from the same family as skunks and weasels.
We have learnt a lot about the ferrets and how to look after
them and particularly enjoy walking and feeding them.
The ferrets smell!!!
homegrown.indd 29 2/3/09 13:38:49
chickenschickensTopic 4
homegrown.indd 30 2/3/09 13:38:56
In our school farm we have chickens.
We feed the chickens, give them fresh water and muck them out.
The chickens are all Black Rocks.
Sir's chicken is called Ada and she is a Marron.
homegrown.indd 31 2/3/09 13:39:00
The chicken s eat chicken pellets and they also peck at the grass and eat the little in sects etc.
Chicken s need space and a clean envir onment with food and water that is there frequently. They need to be checked to see if their health is ok.
An interesting fact is that they lay white eg gs, b r o wn eg gs and some lay light blue eg gs.
We includ e chicken s in the school farm because they are easy to look after , are cost effective and because they will lay eg gs that we can sell.
Chicken s need space and a clean envir onment with food and water that is there frequently. They need to be checked to see if their health
An interesting fact is that they lay white eg gs, b r o wn eg gs and some lay light blue eg gs.
We includ e chicken s in the school farm because they are easy to look after , are cost effective and because they
homegrown.indd 32 2/3/09 13:39:09
homegrown.indd 33 2/3/09 13:39:17
Veg Beds and Fruit t
reesTopic 5
homegrown.indd 34 2/3/09 13:39:19
We built raised beds to plant our vegetables in.We learnt that fruit and veg are a vital source of vitamin s. They keep us healthy and taste great.
So far we are growing;
Straw
berr
iesRhu
barb
Rhubar
b
Rhubar
b
Rhubar
b
Rhubar
b
apples
Straw
berr
iesRhu
barb
Straw
berr
ies
Straw
berr
iesRhu
barb
Rhubar
b
Damson
s
Straw
berr
ies
Straw
berr
ies
Straw
berr
ies
Straw
berr
ies
Straw
berr
iesRhu
barb
Rhubar
b
apples
apples
apples
Straw
berr
ies
plum
s
Straw
berr
ies
Straw
berr
ies
Damson
s
Damson
s
Straw
berr
iesRhu
barb
Straw
berr
ies
Damson
s
Damson
s
blackberr
ies
Damson
s
Damson
s
Damson
s
blackberr
ies
blackberr
ies
blackberr
ies
blackberr
ies
blackberr
ies
pum
pkins
blackberr
ies
pum
pkins
ru
nn
er bean
s
ru
nn
er bean
s
ru
nn
er bean
s
ru
nn
er bean
s
pum
pkins
pum
pkins
pum
pkins
pum
pkins
pum
pkins
pum
pkins
beetroot
ru
nn
er bean
s
ru
nn
er bean
s
ru
nn
er bean
s
ru
nn
er bean
sbeetr
oot
beetroot
beetroot
broad bean
s
ru
nn
er bean
s
ru
nn
er bean
s
broad bean
s
broad bean
s
broad bean
s
potatoes
onion
sbr
oad beans
potatoes
potatoes
onion
s
onion
s
onion
s
onion
s
onion
s
onion
s
onion
s
onion
s
onion
scar
rots
homegrown.indd 35 2/3/09 13:39:25
homegrown.indd 36 2/3/09 13:39:37
We’ve made compost bins from pallets.
We’ve planted fruit trees and bushes.
We’ve also planted bulbs.
We weed and water the beds and feed them when necessary.
We will eventually be able to plant seeds that we have taken from our own plants rather than buying them.
homegrown.indd 37 2/3/09 13:39:44
land-based
Topic 6
machinery
homegrown.indd 38 2/3/09 13:39:47
Land-based
machinery
means
machines li
ke tractors
and other
s
that turn
over the g
round etc.
There are
different ty
pes of
tractors e.g
. John Dee
r, Massey
Ferguson, N
ew Holland,
etc.
They are used for working the ground down, sowing seeds, mowing, spreading muck, collecting spuds, ploughing, pulling trailers, buck-raking, pulling cars out of ditches.
Some examples of tractor/trailer machinery are;
Power harrower
rowing up
feederscraperbailer
Plough
drill
bookrackflatlift
homegrown.indd 39 2/3/09 13:39:59
Work
Topic 7
Experience
homegrown.indd 40 2/3/09 13:40:01
I’m also learning how to lamb sheep, ho
w to cal, how to buck ra
ke
and lots of other thin
gs.
I am learning how to milk
Some of us do work experience in farming. I work on a farm that milks and has sheep
I’m also learning how to lamb sheep, ho
w to cal, how to buck ra
ke
and lots of other thin
gs.
I am learning how to milk
homegrown.indd 41 2/3/09 13:40:18
on a typical day, i arrive at 8am then get the cows up and scrape the beds off with a hand scraper. i then get on the scraper tractor and scrape the cubicles to make sure they are clean for the night. i then go into the milking parlour and scrape that out before getting back on the tractor and pushing all the manure into the lagoon. we then bed the dry cows and finally have breakfast!!!
homegrown.indd 42 2/3/09 13:40:26
i work with robot and dave
this is a milking farm and it has dry cows/ sheep/ calves and chickens
homegrown.indd 43 2/3/09 13:40:31
Topic 8
Visitshomegrown.indd 44 2/3/09 13:40:33
in our group we have been on four visits since the start of the year.
on these visits we learn about how people manage their farms. we also learn other stuff about our course and it helps us to look after our animals.
we visit the farm in different seasons to see the variety of jobs that happen at each time of year.
homegrown.indd 45 2/3/09 13:40:39
The visits are important because they give us information and are interesting.
The best thing about the visits is that we go to other people’s farms and see how they
work.
I benefi t from these visits because I get to spend time with my friends and enjoy the
time looking around and getting ideas and encouragement.I benefi t from these visits because I get to spend time with my friends and enjoy th
e
homegrown.indd 46 2/3/09 13:40:55
our teacher
homegrown.indd 47 2/3/09 13:41:11
best thing about being involved in the school farm
We get to have a good laugh with Sir and we also learn loads about farming
I like the gardening because it is less smelly and I might use it when I have a house with a garden
The highlight is going on trips
The thing I most enjoy about the school farm is that we get to work outside and have a laugh with our friends
The highlight is that we get to look after the animals.
We get to go on trips to farms
worst thing about working on the school farm
The pigs smell and when we walk into our classroom, it stinks of pig muck!
The worst thing is mucking out and getting dirty.
Cleaning out the pigs!!
homegrown.indd 48 2/3/09 13:41:14
The production of this book has been supported by lead artists, Martin Smith, Spencer Whalen and Kerry Davies, with the assistance of Adam Jermaine-Jones, Ben Williams and Penny Brown.
Thomas Adams School
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