From Planters to a School Food Forest

Toronto’s Kapapamahchakwew Wandering Spirit School has big plans for a sustainable food system

Ismaila Alfa from CBC’s Metro Morning in Toronto met with a class at Toronto’s Kapapamahchakwew Wandering Spirit School, a 2022 Farm to School Canada grant recipient. He spoke with the Outdoor Education teacher, Laurie LaBrecque, as the grade 3 class was playing the three sisters game (bean, corn, squash) and planting their fall garlic crop.

Laurie spoke about the importance of teaching her students sustainable food skills that gives them an opportunity to connect with their culture and to the land. She also shared a vision to create a school food forest and a fully closed food system within the school, where the students plant, harvest, eat and compost their own food.