Rooted in Purpose: Green Industries at The Grove

At Lakefield, we believe students learn best when they are immersed in real-world experiences that challenge them to think critically and creatively engage with the world around them. As part of our ongoing commitment to Authentic Learning, we continue to grow new interdisciplinary courses and projects that connect academic inquiry with hands-on discovery. This fall, one such initiative took root through our new Grade 11 Green Industries course—an inspiring example of how education at The Grove is designed to be purposeful, personal, and deeply connected to place.

On September 22, the Grade 11 Green Industries class launched an exciting three‑week initiative: a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA).

Throughout the project, our students grew more than just vegetables. They deepened their understanding of food systems, explored regenerative agriculture in action, and experienced what it means to create something of value for a real community. CSA—Community Supported Agriculture—is about more than delivering fresh produce. It’s about building a system that supports local growing, strengthens our connection to the land, and celebrates the value of seasonal food.

Over the three weeks, the class harvested, washed, packed, and delivered custom CSA bags straight from Northcote. Each bag was a surprise of the week’s harvest, offering members a taste of what’s in season and a direct connection to where their food comes from.

But this was far more than a logistics project. It was a full‑scale experiential learning unit that brought together the core themes of the course: sustainability, agriculture, and business. Students gained hands-on experience with real‑world food systems, exploring regenerative practices like rainwater harvesting, no‑till gardening, passive solar hoop houses, and pollinator protection. They studied case studies of local farms to understand how CSA systems support farmers’ livelihoods—creating both reliable income and sustainable business models.

“This project gives students a deep understanding of the benefits of a community-supported agriculture (CSA) system for farmers,” explains Ms. Greenshields. “Through case studies and hands‑on work, they gain a combination of practical, entrepreneurial, and creative skills that a traditional classroom cannot replicate.”

The CSA initiative challenged students to wear many hats: farmers, marketers, newsletter editors, recipe developers, and creators of value‑added products such as freeze‑dried tea mixes and farm‑made pesto. They engaged deeply with the process, producing weekly newsletters, designing bags with natural dyeing methods, and reflecting on their learning throughout.

They also explored broader themes, from Indigenous food sovereignty to environmental stewardship.

The biggest takeaway? Students walked away with a profound appreciation for the work behind food production, the importance of supporting local farmers, and the real-world connections between sustainable farming, entrepreneurship, and community. A three‑week initiative became a transformative lesson in agriculture and in life.