crich area community news
The Early Potato Harvest
Back in April, members of the community came to school to help us build and plant our raised beds. In July, we were able to harvest the first of the season’s school-grown sweet peas and potatoes! The beautiful flowers from the sweet peas have been on proud display in our foyer.
The children got stuck into gathering the potatoes, as Cameron and Thomas describe:
It was exciting and dirty when we pulled the potatoes out and by the end of the day we had collected seven full boxes. When we pulled up the plants and picked out the big potatoes it smelt earthy, and it did not take long getting them out of the ground. It was a bit like digging for treasure. Some were bigger than others, and some we had to dig deep for, very carefully, with a fork. We put all the plant tops into the compost bins which were soon overflowing. We tidied up the beds afterwards with a hoe. We learnt that you have to be careful when you dig for potatoes or else you might stab them, but we didn't spike that many.
Our potatoes have also been cooked by Bernie, the school cook at Fritchley School, who provides all the school meals for the three village schools. The potatoes were baked for the Medieval Banquet.
The Loaf bakery and deli used some of our potatoes to make a delicious Spanish Tortilla, which they sold as their lunchtime special. Here is what Trent wrote about his visit to the Loaf.
On the 15 of July me and Natasha went to 'The Loaf' to try some Spanish tortilla omelette which included our potatoes from the school garden, which we had pulled up the day before. We delivered them at ten-thirty and an hour later we came back to have some of the omelette, which was surprisingly really tasty, it also looked good on the plate with a sprinkle of salad. It had potatoes in it of course, and also egg and onion with parsley, salt, pepper and paprika seasoning. There was another type of tortilla omelette on the menu that had three extra ingredients, tomatoes, beans and peppers. It tasted really delicious and Andrew the baker told us how to make the tortilla. Once we had finished we gave the waiter our plates, thanked him and went back to school. I would like to make Spanish omelettes at school, so I can remember how to make one at home.
The Luncheon Club at the Glebe also received some of our potatoes, which accompanied their Roast Beef dinner. Charlie and Joseph delivered some rocket potatoes to the Luncheon club. They were taken away to be prepared for lunch that day. The children stayed around to take some photographs and to collect feedback from those having dinner, on the taste of their potatoes. Everyone said that they tasted good or great. Seeing and smelling all the lovely food made Charlie and Joseph feel very hungry, so they wanted to rush back to school for lunch. We were pleased to see some of the gardening club helpers and a parent at the Glebe, as they had assisted with making the beds and planting the crops at the beginning of spring.
Mrs Howard and the children have also been busy cooking with the potatoes, which were used in some very delicious recipes! Here is Mrs Howard’s famous potato bake recipe:
Garden Grub Bake
Ingredients: ◊ 2 lbs potatoes ◊ 2 onions
◊ 12 oz mature Cheddar cheese ◊ Butter ◊ Seasoning
Method:
Boil potatoes, cool and slice
Chop onions
Grate cheese
In an ovenproof dish, layer potatoes, onions and cheese, adding knobs of butter and seasoning to each layer
Cook for 20 minutes at 180°C until golden brown
Other vegetables ready in the garden can be added, such as peas, beans, courgettes.
Mrs Howard always cooks extra for the staff as it makes staff meetings more bearable!
Autumn Events
Cooking Bus –
Tuesday 17th to Thursday 19th November
The Food for Life Cooking Bus is coming to Crich. We are one of five Flagship Schools in Derbyshire for the Food for Life Partnership, whose goal is to revolutionize school meals, reconnect young people with where their food comes from, and inspire families to cook and grow food.
The cooking bus is an articulated lorry which is set up as a fully working kitchen to accommodate sixteen cooks.
Look out for events in which you can participate throughout the day and early evening.
Family cooking session
Healthy Eating on a Budget
Young & not so young cook together
Bake along with Andrew from the Loaf
Gourmet cooking with a local ‘Celebrity’ chef
Birthday Celebration – 125 Years
Wednesday 16th December – we celebrate 125 years since the opening of the British School, more commonly known as the Bottom School. Education has moved on in 125 years; the village headteachers no longer throw punches at each other (only perhaps wet sponges at the village fête). Some things, however, never change – the Inspector still calls! I’m pleased to say that the behaviour of village children as documented in the book 'Parish Life with a Troubled Vicar' seems thankfully to have improved enormously over the years. As at the original opening of the school in 1884, we will be celebrating with a ‘public tea’. Further details in the next issue.
HMI Inspection for History
The June 2009 inspectors stated:
Pupils' attitudes and behaviour are excellent. They settle down quickly. They work well with each other and with the adults. Many have a keen interest in learning about the past.
All autumn events will be advertised around the village and on the CACN and school websites.