GROW at School Post Primary
WELCOME EDUCATORS
Welcome to the GROW at School Post Primary Educator Hub.
These resources will allow students to explore the connections between the garden and the real-world challenges of food, climate, and health through the lens of the Food Matters TV Series.
Explore our Veg Directory
To find out more about your vegetables, please explore our Veg Directory.
FOOD MATTERS
Each of the six episodes is paired with classroom-ready case studies and hands-on activities, giving students the chance to dig into big questions about sustainability, food systems, and healthy living, while actively engaging in their school garden.
Lesson 1
LOVE SOIL
Soil is one of Earth’s most valuable resources, yet 30% of it is degraded. With 95% of our food produced in soil, protecting it has never been more important. Mick travels across Ireland, from mountain farms and organic oat fields to rooftop gardens, exploring innovative ways farmers and growers are protecting and enriching the soil.
Lesson 2
FOLLOW THE SEASONS
Eating food at its freshest is key to sustainability, yet modern diets often ignore the seasons. Mick explores Ireland’s food past and present, meeting historians, chefs, and growers, and finishes in Kerry with the 30-day challenge of eating only Irish ingredients..
Lesson 3
STOP FOOD POLLUTION
How can we stop food pollution? In this episode, Mick explores the chemicals and plastics harming our environment and sustainable solutions. From farms and waterways to zero-waste shops and local food consumption, there is hope yet for a cleaner, healthier system.
Lesson 4
SUPPORT LOCAL
This episode explores the struggles and strengths of small producers and why supporting local matters. Mick hears from farmers, retailers and communities under pressure and ends with NeighbourFood, showing how connecting producers and customers can help fix our food system.
Lesson 5
EAT MORE PLANTS
With meat consumption driving climate change, Mick explores how eating more plants could be part of the solution. From chefs and growers to dietitians and food writers, he meets the people putting vegetables centre stage, including Dublin’s own vegan fast food truck.
Lesson 6
END FOOD WASTE
Many of us are oblivious to the amount of food we waste and are unaware of which foods we discard on a regular basis. Mick investigates food waste in Ireland, looking at its scale and public perception. He explores initiatives rescuing surplus food, how technology helps reduce waste, policy changes in markets, and zero-waste kitchens putting solutions into practice.
