Students and families gather at Kingfield Elementary School’s 10th annual harvest dinner on Oct. 17; where every classroom proudly serves soups made from produce from the Kingfield school garden. Sent Photo

KINGFIELD — The 10th annual Harvest Dinner held at Kingfield Elementary School on Oct. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. wasn’t just another community gathering; It was a strong demonstration of the school’s commitment to applied learning, sustainability and community connection. Led by kindergarten teacher and garden coordinator Selina Warren, the event marked a decade of growth for both the school and the school. garden program and the Harvest Meal itself.

“There were about 150 of us,” Warren said. “This year’s theme was ‘Stone Soup’. The idea that we have so much to share and be grateful for when we all contribute a little.” The story of Stone Soup, in which travelers persuade a village to contribute ingredients for a communal meal, was a fitting metaphor for the way Kingfield Primary School students and their families have come together over the years.

When Warren first started the garden program a decade ago, the harvest dinner was a much smaller affair, limited to her class and a handful of parents. “There have been a lot of families here from the very beginning, from a small group of parents for a little soup and salad in my classroom ten years ago to now this large community event where we feed 150 people and include all the people in a larger community,” Warren shared.

This year, the Harvest Dinner showcased not only the students’ culinary skills but also the school’s thriving garden. “Each grade made its own soup with produce from the garden,” Warren explained. “They could tell their parents, ‘This is the soup we make in our classroom,’ which gave them a sense of pride and ownership.” The soups included carrot-zucchini, potato-leek, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink vegetable, tomato-basil, minestrone and Zuppa Toscana, the latter made with potatoes and cabbage picked from the garden. “We bought sausages for Zuppa Toscana, but the cabbage and potatoes came straight from the garden,” Warren said proudly.

Kingfield Elementary School students stand proudly on Oct. 17 with their homemade soup made from ingredients collected from the school garden in Kingfield. Sent Photo

The meal wasn’t just about soup. Students also baked bread, prepared salads and even helped make fries using the potato slicer mounted on the school tent. “We had kids pull the slicer down to slice the potatoes, and then we would fry them in a little fryer,” Warren said. “It was a lot of fun.” The bread-making process began weeks ago with the help of a SNAP educator who worked with students to make the dough, which was baked the day of the event. “We ended up with six different types of soup, two different types of salad, bread and, of course, fries,” Warren added.

For dessert, kindergarten students prepared rhubarb apple crisp using rhubarb harvested in the spring and apples donated by local families. “The cereal was great,” Warren said. “It’s always fun to see kindergarteners take ownership of their work.”

The event also featured a variety of agricultural exhibitions, reflecting the school’s strong ties to the local farming community. Warren said one family farm came with a cider press, another family farm brought sheep, a wool rug display and a mini cow. He said it was really fun. He also stated that a family came with a beekeeping exhibition. These exhibits help connect student learning to real-world agricultural practices, Warren said.

In addition to food and exhibitions, the event offered families a variety of activities, including an obstacle course, ball games and a biodiversity story walk. “We had a farmers market table with leftover produce for families to pick up,” Warren explained. “My kindergarten students spent weeks collecting herbs, and we also packaged canned and dried bean seeds, as well as dried herbs such as basil, parsley, thyme, and coriander seeds for the table.”

A highlight of the event was its annual fundraiser, which raised $750 to support the garden program. “We do not charge families for meals because it is a student learning project and part of the curriculum,” Warren said. “People who don’t have family at the school can donate if they want, but the real fundraiser is the raffle.”

The funds, combined with the spring seedling sale, help the school cover expenses for operating the garden, such as compost, seeds and raised bed materials. “We replaced two of the raised beds this year,” Warren said. “We had donated lumber, but we had to buy construction plastic to line the beds and screws to build them. All those little things add up.”

A Kingfield Elementary student eagerly slices potatoes using a hand-operated potato slicer on Oct. 17 and helps prepare fresh french fries for the school’s 10th annual Harvest Dinner in Kingfield, which highlights garden produce. Sent Photo

For Warren, the event is more than just a meal; It’s an opportunity for students to take pride in their work and for the community to see the impact of the school’s garden program. “It was a really fun event,” Warren said. “We had a lot of school board members and it was great for them to see what our students were doing. “There was great feedback from the families.”

The gardening program is an integral part of the Kingfield Elementary curriculum and teaches students valuable lessons about agriculture, sustainability and teamwork. “We always showcase student work at the event,” Warren said. “There are pictures of kindergarten students, sentences of first and second graders, and writings of fourth graders. Fourth graders always write these great essays because they are nostalgic; “They will move on to secondary school next year.”

Recently named Warren 2023 Maine Agriculture Classroom Teacher of the YearIt has been at the head of the garden program since its inception. He co-authored the original Growing Gardeners curriculum in 2012, and his commitment to outdoor education and hands-on learning continues to shape the lives of his students. “It is very gratifying to see how much the program has impacted them over the years,” he said.

Warren described the success of the event and its importance to the Kingfield community. “Last year it rained and there was a rainbow,” he recalled. “We had a beautiful sunset this year. Big things happen in small places. 150 people in our little community is a big deal.”

According to Warren, this event is a testament to the power of community and the importance of hands-on learning. “Everyone contributes a little bit and we create something big,” he said. “It has been a wonderful journey and I am so proud of our students and what they have achieved.”

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