SSDB 2020 Harvesting Day

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later. - Og Mandino

This year’s Start Small Dream Big project has not only lead to an amazing change for our centre’s rooftop garden but has also inculcated a love for nature in the children of all levels. Working hand in hand with our parents and our community partners the children have accomplished a great feat and it is now time to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables!) of their labour with a Harvesting Day. The K2 class kicked off the day with a lively Harvest Dance, to show just how excited they were for the activities ahead.

Even though the children were extremely excited to begin harvesting the plants, they took some time to learn the correct methods of cutting the shoots and leaves to get the best harvest possible. In accordance with safe distancing protocols, the children had their own gardening tools and baskets to put their harvest in. They also made an effort to keep their face masks on at all times and to stand one meter away from each other.

The children harvested Aloe Vera, Kangkong, Basil, Dill and Pandan leaves. They were diligent gardners and despite being keen on harvesting as much as they could, the children kept in mind that they should be gentle with the plants so that they could have more harvests in the future.

Harvesting Day did not end at just the garden, however. Next the children busied themselves with cleaning and packing their harvested vegetables to share with frontline workers at the hospital. High standards of hygiene were observed as the children separated the fruits and vegetables by type and packed them away in plastic containers. The Aloe Vera was also washed and meticulously cut so that it could be made into Aloe Vera juice.

Once all of the fruits and vegetables were packed and ready to be distributed, the children enjoyed more fun as they cooked what was left of their harvest into yummy dishes. Chicken rice, stir-fried kangkong with garlic, and aloe vera juice were on the menu for that day.

Two representatives from the K2 class were chosen to give out the vegetables that had been packed to the offices at the hospital. Accompanied by our principal, they spread cheer with a little bit of healthy eating.