A giant pumpkin has been the subject of much excitement, learning and fun at Stellenbosch Waldorf School over the last number of weeks.
The vegetable, which weighs 110,45 kg and boasts a combined measurement of 5,5 m, was the result of a small pumpkin seed gifted and planted by a parent of the school last October. Learners were tasked with cultivating, watering and taking care of the plant, which eventually resulted in a large vegetable, which is currently on display at KwikSpar Paradyskloof.
School manager Jill Berning said it was the first time such a large vegetable was grown at the school, adding that teachers and learners were “very excited” about the produce. “We plan to sell some of these very special seeds, but we will keep a few for ourselves to see if we can grow an even bigger pumpkin next year,” she said.
Class 3 parent and vegetable-garden expert Hendrik van Niekerk planted the seed in the school’s garden last year. “He provides valuable input regarding the costs of maintaining a garden and also donates his time and expertise to the school,” Berning pointed out. “He helps us decide what to plant, where to plant it, and guides us in all our vegetable garden plans.
“The Class 3 learners take the lead for the garden throughout the year. For example, they have just planted beans and are currently germinating their seedlings in the classroom – to plant later. If we need more hands, for example, when we have to harvest sweet potatoes, each class takes a turn in the garden to help.”
During the growing and cultivating process of the pumpkin, Van Niekerk “kept everyone on their toes”, especially when it came to watering the plant during the festive holiday break. “He also made sure only one fruit grew, so it had the opportunity to grow as large as possible,” Berning said.
“Since we do not spray any pesticides in our garden and it is 100% organic, we do share the pumpkin with a few bugs.”
She added that the project formed part of the school’s Class 3 curriculum, which places strong emphasis on connecting nature with practical skills. This includes taking care of the school’s garden, as learners are in charge of all aspects of the cultivation.
The garden project in Class 3 is an example of how the Waldorf curriculum supports children’s holistic development. “This activity helps develop a sense of care and respect for the environment, and also promotes an understanding of natural cycles and the importance of sustainable practices,” Berning explained.
“By working in the garden, Class 3 [learners] learn valuable life skills and develop a deeper appreciation for the source of their food.”
The large produce also provided other classes with opportunities to grow with the school running a competition where learners had to guess the weight of the pumpkin. “Everyone really enjoys the pumpkin! The competition elicited quite a few responses,” she said. “Class 7 used a method to take measurements and convert them to the possible weight. We would eventually like to see if we can make soup with the pumpkin, and anyone who would like to help is welcome to join us.”
Berning added all vegetables and flowers grown at the school were on sale to the public. She invited the community to visit the school, where scan-to-pay facilities were available.
