Students and families gather at Kingfield Elementary’s 10th annual harvest meal Oct. 17, where each class proudly served soups made from crops from the school garden in Kingfield. Submitted Photo

KINGFIELD — The 10th annual Harvest Meal at Kingfield Elementary School, held on Oct. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. was not just another community gathering – it was a powerful demonstration of the school’s commitment to hands-on learning, sustainability, and community connection. Led by kindergarten teacher and garden coordinator Selina Warren, the event marked a decade of growth for both the school’s garden program and the Harvest Meal itself.

“We had about 150 people,” Warren said.  “This year’s theme was ‘Stone Soup.’ The idea that when we all put in a little bit, we have a whole lot to share and be grateful for.” The story of Stone Soup, in which travelers convince a village to contribute ingredients to a communal meal, was a fitting metaphor for the way Kingfield Elementary’s students and families have come together over the years.

When Warren first started the garden program over ten years ago, the harvest meal was a much smaller affair, limited to her classroom and a handful of parents. “There were a lot of families that have been here since the very beginning, from a small group of parents in my classroom ten years ago for a small soup and salad, to this large community event where we are now feeding 150 people and involving the greater community,” Warren shared.

This year, the Harvest Meal showcased not only the culinary skills of students but also the school’s thriving garden. “Each class made their own soup with crops from the garden,” Warren explained. “They could say to their family, ‘This is the soup we made in our class,’ which gave them a sense of pride and ownership.” The soups included carrot-squash, potato leek, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink vegetable, tomato basil, minestrone, and Zuppa Toscana, the latter made with potatoes and kale from the garden. “We bought the sausage for the Zuppa Toscana, but the kale and potatoes were straight from the garden,” Warren said with pride.

Students at Kingfield Elementary School proudly stand Oct. 17 by their homemade soups, made with ingredients from the school garden in Kingfield. Submitted Photo

The meal wasn’t just about soup. Students also baked bread, prepared salads, and even helped make french fries using a potato slicer mounted in the school pavilion. “We had kids pulling down on the slicer to slice the potatoes, and then we were frying them in a little fry-a-lator,” Warren said. “It was so much fun.” The bread-making process began weeks earlier with the help of a SNAP educator who worked with students to make the dough, which was then baked on the day of the event. “We ended up with six different types of soup, two different types of salad, bread, and of course, french fries,” Warren added.

For dessert, the kindergarteners prepared a rhubarb apple crisp using rhubarb harvested in the spring and apples donated by local families. “The crisp was amazing,” Warren said. “It’s always fun to see the kindergarteners take ownership of their work.”

The event also featured a variety of agricultural exhibits, reflecting the school’s strong ties to the local farming community. Warren said a family farm came with a cider press, another family farm brought sheep, a wool rug display, and a mini cow. She said it was really fun. She also noted a family came with their beekeeping exhibit. Warren noted these exhibits help connect the students’ learning to real-world agricultural practices.

In addition to food and exhibits, the event offered a range of activities for families, including an obstacle course, ball games, and a story walk through the biodiversity field. “We had a farmer’s market table with produce left over for families to take,” Warren explained. “My kindergarteners spent weeks harvesting herbs, and we packaged dried herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, and coriander seeds for the table, along with saved and dried bean seeds.”

One of the key elements of the event was the annual raffle fundraiser, which raised $750 to support the garden program. “We don’t charge families for the meal because it’s the students’ learning project and part of the curriculum,” Warren explained. “People that come that don’t have families at the school can donate if they like, but the real fundraiser is the raffle.”

The funds, combined with the spring seedling sale help the school cover the costs of running the garden, which includes expenses like compost, seeds, and materials for the raised beds. “We replaced two of the raised beds this year,” Warren noted. “We had lumber donated, but we had to buy construction plastic to line the beds and screws to build them. All those little things add up.”

A Kingfield Elementary student eagerly slices potatoes using a hand-operated potato slicer Oct. 17, helping prepare fresh fries for the 10th annual Harvest Meal, where the school’s garden crops took center stage in Kingfield. Submitted Photo

For Warren, the event is more than just a meal – it’s an opportunity for students to take pride in their work and for the community to see the impact of the school’s garden program. “It was a really, really joyful event,” Warren said. “We had lots of school board members present, which was wonderful for them to see what our students are doing. There was great feedback from families.”

The garden program is integral to Kingfield Elementary’s curriculum, teaching students valuable lessons about agriculture, sustainability, and teamwork. “We always display the students’ work at the event,” Warren said. “We have pictures from kindergarteners, sentences from first and second graders, and essays from the fourth graders. The fourth graders always write these amazing essays because they’re nostalgic; they’re moving on to middle school next year.”

Warren, who was recently named the 2023 Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year, has been at the helm of the garden program since its inception. She co-authored the original Growing Gardeners curriculum in 2012, and her dedication to outdoor education and hands-on learning continues to shape the lives of her students. “It’s heartwarming to see how much the program has impacted them over the years,” she said.

Warren reflected on the event’s success and its significance for the Kingfield community. “Last year, it drizzled, and we had a rainbow,” she recalled. “This year, we had a beautiful sunset. Big things happen in small places. 150 people is a big deal in our small community.”

For Warren, the event is a testament to the power of community and the importance of hands-on learning. “Everyone puts in a little, and we create something big,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful journey, and I’m so proud of our students and what they’ve accomplished.”