We are excited to share the latest on MULTIPLY and Brighton Permaculture Trust’s 2023 Schools Project. As part of MULTIPLY’s mission, as a social enterprise, we have donated a percentage of our 2022/2023 year profit to Brighton Permaculture Trust who are multiplying the impact of their Schools Project and already exceeding our hope of delivering environmental education to 100 school-aged children in the Brighton and Hove area.
This autumn Brighton Permaculture Trust have delivered apple pressing workshops to over 180 children thanks to MULTIPLY’s support. Each event was unique, reaching different audiences and providing a diversity of benefits to the children, and to Brighton Permaculture Trust.
In each workshop, the children chop apples and use a hand press to make delicious fresh juice. The learning elements of each workshop always include food hygiene; health & safety – using knives and the apple press; taking turns & working as a team. Where possible the children also pick the apples, developing a deeper connection to their food and to nature. Depending on the group the workshop also covers some discussion of healthy eating; choosing local and seasonal food; food waste and ways to preserve food; orchards and caring for wildlife.
September 2023, Moulscoomb Primary School
Moulscoomb Primary is a school where over 50% of children are eligible for free school meals. Brighton Permaculture Trust planted an orchard in the school grounds a few years ago. The trust delivered a two-hour workshop for 50 children as part of their Harvest Day celebration. The Year 5 children chopped apples and used a hand press to make juice. By working with partners, we helped the school deliver a fantastic harvest event, with apple picking and cooking activities.
October 2023, Bee in the Woods
Bee in the Woods is a forest school nursery operating at various locations across Brighton & Hove. This is a new relationship for Brighton Permaculture Trust. The 12 pre-school children had a great day picking and juicing the apples in the Trust’s Home Farm orchard.
October 2023, Apple Harvest Day
Brighton Permaculture Trust’s Apple Harvest Day was a community celebration event held in Stanmer Village. Stephan led the apple pressing for children all afternoon, with over 100 children taking part in total. These included 10 children who took part in a walk from their local community orchard in Holllingbury, each bringing an apple to juice in a special edition batch of apple juice that the Mayor of Brighton helped to press. The mayor auctioned three bottles of the juice to raise money for a crowdfunding campaign.
November 2023, Hollingdean Community
The final event was held at the community orchard planted by Brighton Permaculture Trust in Hollingdean. By making it a community family event the aim was to use the workshop to encourage more local people to engage with their orchard. It is an area with lots of young families and we are keen to get more volunteers to help look after the orchard trees throughout the year. We juiced with 8 children from Cherry Tree Nursery, plus 5 other under 5s and 15-20 older kids and teenagers.
Find Out More
If you would like to find out more, or get involved with the Brighton Permaculture’s School’s Project, please contact admin(at)brightonpermaculture.org.uk. You can find out more about Brighton Permaculture Trust and the amazing work they are doing on their website.
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