Page 23 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2023

Jersey DA
GREAME LE MARQUAND FNVS
The Jersey Association of the National Vegetable society this year decided to organise a primary schools vegetable competition which was held at the Royal Jersey summer show.
Our first idea was for the schools to showcase their vegetables in our miniature wheelbarrows. But this was going to be an early show with an early start to the season. The question arose as to whether the schools could still produce vegetables in time for the show, which was being held on 10 June, after all they would need quite a lot of vegetables etc to fill a miniature wheel barrow, and of course with three weeks of north-easterly winds against them, was this project a fair start for them?
However the decision was made to go
ahead, but to use small trugs instead of barrows. I myself wondered how many of the schools that had registered would pull out all the stops on such a daring project especially with these cold northerly winds all around them .
Small vegetable plug plants had been kindly donated to the participating schools from the states of Jersey prison service and were distributed accordingly by myself as a starting point for them . In fact, only a few schools pulled out because their produce wasn’t ready in time for harvesting. Quite understandable, and they were all thanked for trying.
Seven of the primary schools along
with their teachers made it to the RJA& HS summer show on time. Well I was absolutely amazed to see the quality of the produce that they had turned out in such awful conditions over the last few months.
Then came the toughest part . They all wanted to win the competition, and as far as I was concerned, every one of them was a winner. The judging criteria was as follows.
A minimum of five varieties of different vegetables to be shown, herbs fruit and flowers from the school garden could be used to enhance the display. Quality of
produce and presentation.
Nora Treanor a retired entomologist did a
sterling job in judging the competition in a very fair way by giving marks out of 30. Nora also judged the pint size- peas competition which was organised by the RJA& HS and The Jersey Association of the NVS.
Our thanks to Bonny’s country garden for sponsoring the compost, to plants of Distinction for sponsoring the peas, and the RJA& HS for facilitating us .
Our aim is to foster the enjoyment and education value of growing your own’ and provide a showcase for what can be achieved in a school garden.
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