Farm-To-Table Fun
Applied Learning Programme
Written By
Celeste Kwek En Hwee
Bowling Academy, Secondary 1
Here at Singapore Sports School, we believe that we do not learn only in the classroom, and Applied Learning Programme (ALP) is a great example of how we can learn from experience. In April, our Secondary 1 student-athletes were introduced to a farming programme not only to learn how to farm food, but also to learn valuable life skills beyond books and sports. The farming programme was an exciting and enriching experience for us to learn about sustainability, food production, and how to care for the planet, and to do it all in an outdoor classroom setting.
The purpose of this farming programme was to teach us how to produce our own food. Being Secondary 1 student-athletes, we need to learn not just how to take care of our own bodies physically, but also learn how to take care of the available resources around us, such as the food which we consume. We began learning about different kinds of edible vegetables which we could cultivate, such as kangkong and bayam, both of which are nutritious and relatively easy to grow. They were chosen because they can grow well locally and are ideal for beginners with gardening.
What we did during our first lesson in the agricultural programme was plant the seeds of these vegetables into small planters. The process was carefully thought through and planned. The first thing to accomplish was filling each planter with soil, with the assurance that it was well-dispersed and compacted but never too tightly packed. The ground also had to be capable of giving space to the roots of the plants to distribute and grow. After the soil was prepared, we placed the bayam and kangkong seedlings carefully on top of it. Placing each of the seedlings had to be done with a lot of caution so that the proper space remained between them without overcrowding any of the seedlings.
After the seedlings had been placed in the soil, we watered the pots lightly to wet the soil. This was an important step because just the right amount of water helps the seedlings settle into the soil and start their growth process. We were careful not to over-water because too much water would kill the plants and make it difficult for the roots to get enough oxygen. After we planted the seedlings, we moved our mini pots to level 5 of the school, where we placed them in vegepods. The vegepods provided the plants with the optimal conditions for growth. The pods were designed to control the environment around the plants, providing them with protection from weather conditions while simultaneously supplying the right amount of light and airflow.
Part of the daily routine involved opening up the vegepod for at least one hour per day. It was an integral part of what we were doing because it helped the plants take in fresh oxygen from the environment, which they needed for them to grow. We learned that plants, just like any living organism, require a perfect balance of water, nutrients, and oxygen in order to thrive. This daily activity taught us about the importance of regularity and attention to detail, as slight differences in the environment can affect the health and growth of the plants.
Apart from the soil culture planting method, we were also taught hydroponics — an innovative and creative plant-growing method with no soil used. The hydroponics arrangement used nutrient-rich water to feed the plants instead of the usual soil, and this was a completely new experience from what we acquired with the mini pots. The hydroponics plants were faster and taller compared to the plants in the soil pots. It was fascinating as we could personally observe how plants can grow in a very different arrangement. The hydroponics system was of great assistance in allowing us to experiment with technology and innovation in farming, and it introduced us to what could be done through sustainable farming methods that take less water and space than traditional methods. The higher plants from the hydroponics system were a vivid example of how new farm methods could produce more.
What made it more special was that it was not just about learning the technical process of planting; it was about what we learned in between. The farming course taught us patience and responsibility. It is not a task that you can accomplish overnight; it requires effort and time, and it needs us to be consistent and committed in our work. We learned that things do not happen overnight, and that success comes from the little day-to-day work that we perform with attention and care. Be it ensuring the plants received enough water, ensuring the vegepods were opened every day, or observing the development of the plants, we learned that everything in the process counts.
One of the largest lessons of this farm programme was learning the importance of food and the work involved in producing it. Through seeing our seeds develop, we began to appreciate food even more. We were able to understand that making food is not simple and takes a lot of work, effort, and care. We also started thinking about sustainability and how we can make more sustainable choices in our own lives to reduce waste and look after our world. We even started eating more vegetables and reducing food wastage at home, being more sustainable in the food we chose.
As we continued through the programme, responsibility and teamwork became more demanding. We worked together to tend to the plants, sharing responsibilities and learning from each other in the process. From these experiences, we gained a sense of community and respect for each other. Whether in the garden, discussing how to attend to the plants, or arguing the ways we could improve the growth process, we all learned how to work together and appreciate each other's feedback.
The farm programme also taught us valuable lessons about how to apply what we learned practically. Studying both traditional soil-based agriculture and advanced hydroponic farming, we gained comprehensive knowledge of agriculture and how it can be utilised to address issues of food security and environmental sustainability at the global level. We realised that even as student-athletes, we had the ability to contribute to real-world problems and become more aware of our role in contributing to the environment.
In the coming years, we are excited to continue experimenting with the potential for soil-based and hydroponic farming techniques. As we move forward with the programme, we hope to plant even more vegetables, try out new techniques, and try different plants. This hands-on learning experience has made many of us think about more sustainable ways and how we can integrate these into our everyday lives. The programme also allowed us to learn more about responsibility, not just for our plants, but for the world as a whole.
Through the Applied Learning Programme, we have discovered more than how to grow food — we have discovered valuable life skills, a deeper appreciation for nature, and a better concept of the impact our actions have on the world. It has made us good students, good athletes, and good people. We look forward to seeing how our plants grow and how the things that we have learned will continue to affect our future decisions, both in school and in life.
Written By
Celeste Kwek En Hwee
Bowling Academy, Secondary 1
Here at Singapore Sports School, we believe that we do not learn only in the classroom, and Applied Learning Programme (ALP) is a great example of how we can learn from experience. In April, our Secondary 1 student-athletes were introduced to a farming programme not only to learn how to farm food, but also to learn valuable life skills beyond books and sports. The farming programme was an exciting and enriching experience for us to learn about sustainability, food production, and how to care for the planet, and to do it all in an outdoor classroom setting.
The purpose of this farming programme was to teach us how to produce our own food. Being Secondary 1 student-athletes, we need to learn not just how to take care of our own bodies physically, but also learn how to take care of the available resources around us, such as the food which we consume. We began learning about different kinds of edible vegetables which we could cultivate, such as kangkong and bayam, both of which are nutritious and relatively easy to grow. They were chosen because they can grow well locally and are ideal for beginners with gardening.
What we did during our first lesson in the agricultural programme was plant the seeds of these vegetables into small planters. The process was carefully thought through and planned. The first thing to accomplish was filling each planter with soil, with the assurance that it was well-dispersed and compacted but never too tightly packed. The ground also had to be capable of giving space to the roots of the plants to distribute and grow. After the soil was prepared, we placed the bayam and kangkong seedlings carefully on top of it. Placing each of the seedlings had to be done with a lot of caution so that the proper space remained between them without overcrowding any of the seedlings.
After the seedlings had been placed in the soil, we watered the pots lightly to wet the soil. This was an important step because just the right amount of water helps the seedlings settle into the soil and start their growth process. We were careful not to over-water because too much water would kill the plants and make it difficult for the roots to get enough oxygen. After we planted the seedlings, we moved our mini pots to level 5 of the school, where we placed them in vegepods. The vegepods provided the plants with the optimal conditions for growth. The pods were designed to control the environment around the plants, providing them with protection from weather conditions while simultaneously supplying the right amount of light and airflow.
Part of the daily routine involved opening up the vegepod for at least one hour per day. It was an integral part of what we were doing because it helped the plants take in fresh oxygen from the environment, which they needed for them to grow. We learned that plants, just like any living organism, require a perfect balance of water, nutrients, and oxygen in order to thrive. This daily activity taught us about the importance of regularity and attention to detail, as slight differences in the environment can affect the health and growth of the plants.
Apart from the soil culture planting method, we were also taught hydroponics — an innovative and creative plant-growing method with no soil used. The hydroponics arrangement used nutrient-rich water to feed the plants instead of the usual soil, and this was a completely new experience from what we acquired with the mini pots. The hydroponics plants were faster and taller compared to the plants in the soil pots. It was fascinating as we could personally observe how plants can grow in a very different arrangement. The hydroponics system was of great assistance in allowing us to experiment with technology and innovation in farming, and it introduced us to what could be done through sustainable farming methods that take less water and space than traditional methods. The higher plants from the hydroponics system were a vivid example of how new farm methods could produce more.
What made it more special was that it was not just about learning the technical process of planting; it was about what we learned in between. The farming course taught us patience and responsibility. It is not a task that you can accomplish overnight; it requires effort and time, and it needs us to be consistent and committed in our work. We learned that things do not happen overnight, and that success comes from the little day-to-day work that we perform with attention and care. Be it ensuring the plants received enough water, ensuring the vegepods were opened every day, or observing the development of the plants, we learned that everything in the process counts.
One of the largest lessons of this farm programme was learning the importance of food and the work involved in producing it. Through seeing our seeds develop, we began to appreciate food even more. We were able to understand that making food is not simple and takes a lot of work, effort, and care. We also started thinking about sustainability and how we can make more sustainable choices in our own lives to reduce waste and look after our world. We even started eating more vegetables and reducing food wastage at home, being more sustainable in the food we chose.
As we continued through the programme, responsibility and teamwork became more demanding. We worked together to tend to the plants, sharing responsibilities and learning from each other in the process. From these experiences, we gained a sense of community and respect for each other. Whether in the garden, discussing how to attend to the plants, or arguing the ways we could improve the growth process, we all learned how to work together and appreciate each other's feedback.
The farm programme also taught us valuable lessons about how to apply what we learned practically. Studying both traditional soil-based agriculture and advanced hydroponic farming, we gained comprehensive knowledge of agriculture and how it can be utilised to address issues of food security and environmental sustainability at the global level. We realised that even as student-athletes, we had the ability to contribute to real-world problems and become more aware of our role in contributing to the environment.
In the coming years, we are excited to continue experimenting with the potential for soil-based and hydroponic farming techniques. As we move forward with the programme, we hope to plant even more vegetables, try out new techniques, and try different plants. This hands-on learning experience has made many of us think about more sustainable ways and how we can integrate these into our everyday lives. The programme also allowed us to learn more about responsibility, not just for our plants, but for the world as a whole.
Through the Applied Learning Programme, we have discovered more than how to grow food — we have discovered valuable life skills, a deeper appreciation for nature, and a better concept of the impact our actions have on the world. It has made us good students, good athletes, and good people. We look forward to seeing how our plants grow and how the things that we have learned will continue to affect our future decisions, both in school and in life.
- Farm-To-Table Fun