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Local orchardist inspires Orrvale Primary School students with farm-to-plate incursion

By Jay Bryce

Jul 24, 2023

Keeping the doctor away: Prep students enjoying their apple break with local orchardist Ian Brown-Shepherd. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

On Friday, July 21, prep students from Orrvale Primary School participated in a special incursion led by local orchardist Ian Brown-Shepherd (grandfather to one of the children).

Guest of honour: Ian Brown-Shepherd, also known as Pa Ian, waves goodbye as he heads back to his farm. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Throughout this term, the young learners have been engrossed in their inquiry unit, focusing on the fascinating journey of their food from farm to plate.

Their curiosity led them to explore different types of farms, their produce and the inner workings of supermarkets.

Here’s Ian!: Prep students Parker Aynsley, Knox West and Bekim Ahmet roll out the red carpet for Mr Brown-Shepherd. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The excitement was palpable when Mr Brown-Shepherd arrived at the school on a tractor, carrying his picking bag filled with freshly harvested apples.

The students were eager to learn from him about the various fruits he grows and the processes involved in getting them to our local supermarket shelves.

Hey Apple: Foundation students Isla Jekins, Khloe Scali and Pearl Kadamani have a bite. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Immersed in the orchardist’s wisdom, the students witnessed the journey of an apple from seedling to a fully grown fruit, ripe for picking.

They even had the delightful opportunity to savour an apple that was grown, picked and lovingly delivered to them during the incursion.

Chomping down: Prep students Annabelle Griffiths and Hattie Corrie enjoy some fine dining. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The hands-on experience with Mr Brown-Shepherd not only provided valuable insights into the world of fruit production but also instilled a deeper appreciation for the hard work and dedication that goes into bringing fresh produce to our tables.