OmVed Garden's Schools Project Manager Corrie Wingate had the opportunity to attend GROW Futures, a programme designed for educational leaders who are passionate about bringing sustainable food-growing projects into schools and communities. Here she writes about her experience.
For three days, alongside a team of chefs, growers, and educators, we explored hands-on approaches to connecting curriculum with community engagement and sustainable food growing practices in educational settings. Each lesson was viewed through a therapeutic lens, recognising the profound benefits of working in nature for both personal growth and well-being. In addition to learning from the experts at GROW Farm, we drew on the wealth of knowledge and expertise within the GROW Futures community. By exchanging our diverse skill sets, we formed a new community of like-minded and engaged individuals.
Hosted by GROW Farm—an inspiring six-acre agroecological farm at Totteridge Academy in High Barnet—GROW Futures programme offers both resources and inspiration for those of us looking to develop similar initiatives to take learning outdoors.
I saw that GROW is more than just a farm—it’s a living outdoor classroom, an experimental growing site, and a community hub that has flourished for the past five years. Tucked within Totteridge Academy, GROW Farm is rooted in agroecology, a sustainable approach that blends ecological knowledge, traditional farming techniques, and modern science to build resilient, just food systems. Their weekly farmers’ markets, volunteer programmes, and composting initiatives are central to GROW’s mission, showcasing a sustainable, community-first model for both education and resilient food systems. For example, 80% of their seasonal harvest goes straight to the school’s kitchen, supplying about 20% of the canteen’s fresh produce needs.
Each lesson was viewed through a therapeutic lens, recognising the profound benefits of working in nature for both personal growth and well-being.
GROW’s educational outreach goes beyond the farm fields, their free educational programmes let kids engage deeply with the farm, learn sustainable practices, and build lasting connections in a safe, nurturing environment. They also offer accredited courses in floristry, and a one-of-a-kind mushroom academy, creating educational opportunities for all ages. With holiday clubs, after-school programmes, and outdoor learning sessions, GROW Farm is a place where students and families from different backgrounds can connect with nature while learning practical, sustainable food practices.
One of the most inspiring initiatives at GROW is their Grow - Cook - Share programme, a GP referral initiative that provides raised beds at the farm, along with the tools, resources, and ongoing support to help families grow their own food. This is complemented by their community-raised bed garden at Grahame Park Estate, where residents from different generations come together to garden and participate in workshops. It’s a beautiful example of how gardening can strengthen community ties, making sustainable food practices accessible to everyone, and empowering people to take part in the broader movement toward a more sustainable food future.
At OmVed, we’re deeply inspired by GROW Farm’s innovative approach to education and community outreach as we work to develop our own initiatives. With new projects taking shape, such as our outdoor education programme with a local primary school in partnership with Camden Public Health, we are eager to create lasting, positive and meaningful change. Our goal is to not only improve the health and well-being of our residents but also nurture a deeper connection with the ecology of our neighbourhood, building a more sustainable and thriving community for all.
We’re deeply inspired by GROW Farm’s innovative approach to education and community outreach as we work to develop our own initiatives.
Written by Corrie Wingate.
You can learn more about GROW Farm by visiting their website here.