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