Students at Northcote Farm Plant Seeds of Learning with New Apple Orchard

We are pleased to share our students’ most recent adventure at our Northcote Farm: planting apple trees!

A group of eager students recently rolled up their sleeves and planted 10 apple trees at our Northcote Farm. The selection of these apple trees was guided by the expertise of alumna Martha Lowry ’02, the proud owner of Woodfolk Cider in Coldwater, Ontario.

Martha ’02 worked with the Northcote Team to carefully select a blend of apple varieties that included cooking apples, juicing apples, and a vibrant mix of colours and flavours. This thoughtful selection not only adds diversity to our orchard but also presents invaluable learning opportunities for our students.

The orchard, a new branch of our sustainability efforts, promises to be an integral component of our hands-on learning initiatives and food system education. Janice Greenshields ’03, Assistant Head of Sustainability, shares her vision for the orchard, highlighting its potential impact on student learning:

“The vision for the orchard encompasses expanding our learning on the property and fostering a deeper understanding of food systems. For instance, our future Grade 9 Green Industries program will benefit from hands-on experience in planting, maintaining, and harvesting fruit from the trees. Students will have the opportunity to learn about pressing, juicing, preserving, and cooking with apples, adding to their experience on our regenerative farm.”

This initiative not only symbolizes our commitment to sustainable practices but also underscores our dedication to providing enriching educational experiences that empower our students with practical skills and a deeper connection to the environment.

We eagerly anticipate the growth of these apple trees at Northcote Farm and look forward to integrating the orchard into our curriculum, offering students another unique and immersive learning experience.