Wellington County councillors were given some food for thought following a June 27 presentation on the work being done by the sustainable agriculture project at Centre Wellington District High School (CWDHS).
Chef Chris Jess, a culinary teacher at CWDHS who is spearheading the project, told councillors the program is now underway and includes a $150,000 low interest loan to renovate a farm house adjacent to the school on property owned by Centre Wellington and plow a field where crops will be grown.
“We’re raising kids to understand about where food comes from,” Jess said of the program which is supported by several organizations including the county and Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB).
“The farmhouse is going to work as the academic centre,” Jess explained.
The program has also brought in celebrity chefs.
“We brought in chefs who are keen about working with our kids,” Jess said.
Growing food will become an integral part of the high school program. Jess noted that student John Parkinson brought his grandfather’s antique tractor to till the soil in the field attached to the farm house.
“It brought forward some of the past,” he said.
Another integral part of the program is fundraising. The culinary class was given a pig roaster fabricated by the school’s metal working class which will be used for fundraising. Jess also thanked Centre Wellington for its support of the program.
“We’re really proud of this,” Councillor Joanne Ross-Zuj said.
Holistic approach
To assist with paying off the loan, the program puts together two fundraising dinners each year, Jess said.
Councillor Bruce Whale said he hopes the program will incorporate a full slate of farm practices carried out by farmers throughout the county.
“I hope we can incorporate a holistic approach to agriculture,” Jess said.
County economic development officer Jana Reichert said her department has also included the program in economic development promotion at the county level.
“This ties well into our economic development planning,” councillor George Bridge, chair of the economic development committee, said.
Councillor Lou Maieron suggested Jess present council with a plan to stage a luncheon or dinner at county council to help pay for the loan.
“We’ve run two dinners a year and raised $10,000 to cover the loan,” Jess said.
“We’re looking all over the place for fundraising, that’s our bread and butter,” Jess said of the two established fundraising dinners.
He said the program has also received support from parents whose children are involved in it.
