Ecotrust is teaming up with School District 52 to help strengthen Prince Rupert’s food security and promote hands-on learning.
Prince Rupert sits on rocky terrain and has no viable farmland in the area. Due to the constant rain and cloudy weather, outdoor agricultural activities can be very difficult. To combat Prince Rupert’s food security issues, Ecotrust has been working with the local school district to develop several school-based greenhouses to sustain viable conditions to grow a variety of produce.
Because the greenhouses are located on school grounds students are given the opportunity to learn about plants and their ecosystem through hands-on activities. Ecotrust hopes this project will help improve affordability and support children of low income families, said Ecotrust program manager Dianne Villesèche.
“Prince Rupert experiences the highest child poverty rate in the province at around 26 per cent which is roughly 10 points higher than the provincial average. Our school district has 1,850 students and approximately 465 are in the school meal programs and some of those children have expressed that its the main meal that they have in a day. All the food that we’re growing on active school property is going back into the school meal programs.”
