Schools put vegetables and herbs on display for mini-wheelbarrow competition

Sunday 25 March 2018

Five local primary schools have already entered their vegetables and herbs display for the eighth annual West Show Association (WSA) mini-wheelbarrow competition.

Sponsored by the CI Co-op, this year’s competition, which is open to all primary schools, will see the best display receive £1,000, while the second and third will receive £600 and £400, respectively.

Schools entering the competition will be provided with a Goodness Gang pack, comprising four trays of 20 varieties of seeds, as well as other seeds selected by the Jersey Association of the National Vegetable Society (NVS) and growing instructions. Throughout the competition, advice on growing and presenting vegetables will be available to schools from the NVS.

Schools are advised to sow their seeds as soon as possible after entering the competition - in time for harvesting and judging on 6 July. Plug plants may be used as necessary.

Entry to the competition is due to close on 26 March, ahead of the start of the Easter school holidays. All entries will be displayed in mini-wheelbarrows at a WSA event in St. Peter on 8 July, which will celebrate Jersey’s rural traditions. Displays will be judged on the basis of quality, variety of vegetables and herbs and presentation.

Pictured: The displays are judged on quality, variety of vegetables and herbs and presentation.

Mike Jackson, President of the WSA said: “One of the objectives of the WSA is to encourage the showing and exhibiting of Jersey-grown vegetables and herbs, something that is an important part of rural traditions. This is such an important competition for us because it helps to teach children about those traditions and where the food that they eat comes from."

Tanya Dorrity, The Channel Islands Co-operative Society Community Officer said: “We are very proud to support The School's Mini Wheelbarrow Display of Vegetables and Herbs competition again for the eighth time. 

"We would encourage all local primary schools to enter this great competition, which aims to teach children how to grow their own vegetables and herbs and learn about where their food comes from. We will be donating £2,000 from the Co-operative Eco-Fund as prize money for the winning wheelbarrows and for every school that takes part, the Society will gift 80 Goodness Gang seed pots.

"The Society is passionate about educating children on the importance of eating a healthy diet, which is why we introduced the Society's 'Grow your own Goodness Gang' campaign last year. We endeavour to teach children that healthy eating, including growing fruit and vegetables, can be easy and fun."