Little Growers – The Story so Far

In September 2007 AutoPot launched a new idea called “Little Growers”. The idea behind Little Growers is to help educate children, while having fun, in the way that our food grows. AutoPot had selected seven schools, not five as previously advised, from around the UK to launch the idea for 2008.

There are now 26 fully fledged Little Growers schools across the UK and an additional 50 schools with propagators in the initial stages of their projects.

The Little Growers concept has also been adopted across the globe. There are now Little Growers Schools in Japan, the Maldives and Thailand.

All of the schools selected since Little Growers began in 2007 are shown below. We will be updating the website with new content as the projects continue, allowing you to follow the schools’ progress, as with those who took part in 2008.

At the heart of the Little Growers project is the unique AutoPot self watering technology invented by Jason Ralph-Smith. The UK manufactured watering systems provide controlled irrigation for food crop production powered only by gravity. They are environmentally friendly, extremely safe for use in the schools and very simple to manage. The added advantage is they can be left unattended for several weeks, ideal for school weekends and holiday breaks.

When they come on board, all schools are provided with complete growing kits free of charge, so they can get started immediately. They select which seeds to plant and learn what they need to make them grow. Their fresh produce is then used throughout the school; during lessons, in the canteen and after school clubs, giving children a taste of ‘home-grown’ fruit and vegetables.

The process that schools follow to become involved in Little Growers is simple. Those showing an interest simply explain why they wish to be involved and what they will undertake to ensure that the objectives of Little Growers are fully delivered. Little Growers then provides all the necessary equipment including polytunnels, AutoPot self-watering systems, water butts, raised beds, liquid fertilizer, seeds & propagation units. Little Growers offers continuous support, and if required ‘hands on’ assistance with the set up, either from Jason Ralph-Smith or one of our volunteers. The schools are also provided with key information via online video examples on how to maintain the project and make it the greatest success possible for the childrens’ enjoyment and learning.

To help make the launch of Little Growers even more fun AutoPot ran a competition with all the schools involved. We decided to have a loofah competition. Most people if asked would tell you that a loofah is a sponge and comes from the sea. Believe it or not the loofah comes from a plant and is generally grown in the Caribbean. Congratulations to Hillside Primary who won the competition and received an AeroGarden to further their growing project as their prize!

To help make Little Growers prosper and more children benefit we would also like the parents of all the children to get involved. The idea is to try and make Little Growers self perpetuating. Each school will be asked to send out a newsletter to all the parents, informing them that their children & school will be involved in this project. Every parent then wanting to have their own self watering system at home in their greenhouse can purchase the AutoPot watering systems via the AutoPot on-line shop. Of course we will be attempting to raise funds from grants, the national lottery and corporate sponsorship but the more the parents get involved the better the concept will work.

 

Below is a list of schools taking part in Little Growers.

The following schools have joined the Little Growers Charity and have been provided with full start-up kits.

Further updates and information will be added to this area shortly.
St. John The Baptist Primary School, Sussex St John The Baptist Primary School, School Hill, Findon, BN14 8TR
Petersgate Infant School Petersgate Infant School, Green Lane, Clanfield,Waterlooville. PO8 0JU
Bramfield School Bramfield CEVC Primary School, Bridge Street, Bramfield, Halesworth, Suffolk
Gellifaelog Primary School Gellifaelog Primary School, Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 9TJ
Bagshot School Bagshot School, School Lane, Bagshot, Surrey, GU19 5BP
Hurst Lodge School Hurst Lodge, Bagshot Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 9JU
St John the Baptist CE (VC) Infant School Chapelfield Lane, Penistone, Sheffield S36 6FS

The following international schools have joined the Little Growers Charity and have been provided with full start-up kits.

You may click the green icon beside school names to visit their Little Growers Online Community profile.

Sagami Womens University Elementary School, Japan

Nanasawa Kibounooka School, Japan

Rungnapa School, Klaeng, Thailand

Maldives Schools – Coming Soon!

The following schools for 2009 have been provided with Poly Tunnels.

You may click the green icon beside school names to visit the Little Growers School Community Profile.

Chilton Foliat CE VA Primary School

Chilton Foliat CE VA Primary School, Stag Hill, Chilton Foliat, RG17 0TF

Hatton Cruden Primary School

Hatton Cruden Primary School, Station Road, Hatton Peterhead, AB42 0HZ

Wootton Upper School

Wootton Upper School, Hall End Road, Wootton, Bedford, MK43 9HT

Duns Primary School

Duns Primary School, Langongate, Duns, TD11 3AG

Pentip Church in Wales School

Pentip Church in Wales School, Pembrey Road, Llanelli, SA15 3BL

Oldfield Park Infants School

Oldfield Park Infants School, Dorset Close, Bath, BA2 3RF

Courthouse Junior School

Courthouse Junior School, Blenheim Road, Maidenhead, SL6 5HE

Badger Hill Primary School

Badger Hill Primary School, Marston Road, Brotton, TS12 2XR

Thorn Primary School

Thorn Primary School, Primary School, Cowtoot Lane, Bacup, OL13 8EF

Oak Hill Primary School

Oak Hill Primary School, Ardsley, Barnsley, S71 5AG

Wandle Valley School

Wandle Valley School, Welbeck Road, Carshalton, SM5 1LW

Bryn Deri Primary School

Bryn Deri Primary School, Caer Graig, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8RD

The following schools for 2009 have been provided with Propagators.

Achaleven Primary School

Connel, By Oban, Argyll, PA37 1PH

Lismore School & Pre-Five Unit

Achnacroish, Isle of Lismore, PA34 5UG

Wey House School

Bramley, Nr Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0BJ

William Austin Infant School

Culverhouse Road, Luton, LU3 1PZ

Hesleden Primary School

Hesleden, Hartlepool, TS27 4PT

Islay High School

Bowmore, Isle of Islay, PA43 7LS

Park Primary

Kerrera Terrace, Dunollie, Oban, PA34 5AU

Small Isles Primary School

Craighouse, Isle of Jura, Argyll, PA60 7XG

Monkton Senior School

Monkton Combe, Bath, BA2 7HG

Knockando Primary School

Knockando, Moray, AB38 7RY

Dormanstown Primary School

South Avenue, Dormanstown, Redcar, TS10 5LY

Sacred Heart RC Primary School

Tollgate, Bretton, Peterborough, PE3 9XD

Bishop of Llandaff High School

Rookwood Close, Llandaff, Cardiff, CF5 2NR

Lochgilphead Joint Campus

Kilmory, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8AA

Caldershaw Primary School

Edenfield Road, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QL

Queensbury School

Langdale Road, Dunstable, LU6 3BU

Auchnagatt Primary School

Martin Terrace, Auchnagatt, AB41 8TF

Kempston Rural Lower School

Church End, Kempston, Bedford, MK43 8RH

Inveraray Primary

The Avenue, Inveraray, PA32 8YH

Fyvie School

Main Street, Fyvie, Turriff, AB53 8RD

Lark Rise Lower School

Cartmel Drive, Dunstable, LU6 3PT

Cherry Garden Primary School

Cherry Garden Lane, Bitton, Bristol, BS30 6JH

St. Beghs Catholic Junior School

Coach Road, Whitehaven, CA28 7TE

Kilchrenan Primary School

Kilchrenan, by Taynuilt, Argyll, PA35 1HD

Eastfield Infant School

Pig Lane, St Ives, PE27 3NL

Alford Academy

Murray Terrace, Alford, AB33 8PY

Hemlington Hall Primary School

Briscoe Way, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, TS8 9SJ

Llanedeyrn Primary School

Wellwood, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, CF23 9JN

St Peter’s CE Primary School

Shrubbery Gardens, Wem, SY4 5BX

Marlborough Junior School

Blenheim Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF23 5BU

Alva Academy

Academy Avenue, Alva, Clackmannanshire, FK12 5DY

Georgetown Primary School

Oakfield Road, Tredegar, NP22 4LJ

Nacton Cevc Primary School

The Street, Nacton Village, Ipswich, IP10 0EU

Neroche Primary School

Broadway, Ilminster, TA19 9RG

Roman Road Primary School

Chevington, Leam Lane Estate, Gateshead, NE10 8SA

Barcaldine Primary School

Barcaldine, By Oban, Argyll, PA37 1SG

Iona Primary School

Isle of Iona, Argyll, PA76 6SJ

Antrim Gramma School

Steeple Road, Antrim, BT41 1AF

The Scottish Society for Autism

New Struan School, 100 Smithfield Loan, Bradbury Campus, Alloa, FK10 1NP

Sandbach Community Primary School

Crewe Road, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 4NS

Strone Primary School

Strone, By Dunoon, Argyll, PA23 8RU

Clachan Primary

Clachan, Tarbert, Argyll, PA29 6XL

Orleton CE Primary School

Orleton, Nr Ludlow, SY8 4HQ

Lime Tree Primary School

Budworth Road, Sale Moor, M33 2RP

Johnstown Primary School

Salem Road, Johnstown, Carmarthen, SA31 3HS

Brechfa School

Brechfa, Carmarthenshire, SA32 7RA

Grangewood School

Fore Street ,Eastcote, Pinner, HA5 2JQ

Ashton Middle School

High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1NH

Skipness Primary School

Skipness, By Tarbert, Argyll, PA29 6XT

Cippenham Infant School

Dennis Way, Slough, SL1 5JP

The following schools took part in the Little Growers project for 2008.

The green arrow beside each can be clicked to visit the school’s profile at the Little Growers Community.

Hillside Primary School

Rushey Way, Lower Earley, Reading RG6 4AN

Hawthorns Primary School

Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 3PQ

 

Gray’s Farm Primary School

Gray’s Farm Road, St Paul’s Cray, Orpington

Faringdon Junior School

The Elms, Gloucester Street, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7HZ

Crawley Ridge Junior School

Graitney, Crawley Ridge, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 2AJ

Ysgol Y Gogarth

Fford Nat-Y-Gamar, Craig-Y-Don, Llandudno, Conwy, LL30 1YF

Swanmore C of E (Aided), Primary School

Church Road, Swanmore, Southampton, SO32 2PA