Donald
Teuma-Castelletti
LITCHFIELD Aug. 1, 2017
A barbeque was held at the Jardins Éducatif du Pontiac last Tuesday, offering the kids an opportunity to show off the culmination of the work while helping fundraise for an upcoming trip to Ottawa.
Doubling as an open house, kids of the farm’s summer camp cooked and served hot dogs and hamburgers, sold fresh fruits and vegetables, and spoke to various visitors about the work they had been up to so far.

“Visitors get to see how much the kids work and their pride in what they do,” said program coordinator Meghan Lunam. “The kids pick it all, they wash it, package it, and now they sell it.”
Offered to underprivileged kids from the area, the summer program allows the children to experience a lot more than they would generally be able to.
Working at the farm Monday through Wednesday, kids learn to tend to the crops and help them grow, while learning lessons of respect and accountability. Once the work is done in the morning, they can relax and enjoy various activities throughout the afternoons, whether it be games, guest speakers or crafts. The week is topped off on Thursday with some form of venture, usually an opportunity for the students to experience something new.
Though, they do have rules to follow.
“They’re monitored the entire time they’re here, in order to make sure they know how to do the work,” said Lunam.
It’s through these lessons that all of the children learn respect for the land, their food and each other.
The kids must also always be presentable, use appropriate language and be clean, as much as they can working on a farm.
However, with the program finishing up Aug. 10, the kids are in for a treat with this trip to Ottawa. That’s because they’ll get to visit Funhaven, a large, indoor play centre with food and games. And Jardins Éducatif will be footing the bill for all of their hard work, from the bus ride to meals and game tokens.
“They don’t have to spend any money on it,” said Lunam.
One student, Johnny Martineau, who considered himself the entertainer for the day’s event, loves the program because of all the people he’s met. Having learned a lot about gardening and life lessons in general, he had a hard time narrowing down one big lesson.
Although, he wasn’t afraid to say he has learned a lot about the importance of watching his language.
And its kids like Martineau – plus the lessons they learn – that make the job worth it for Lunam.
“They’re a great bunch of kids. They’re compassionate, empathetic, fun and they try,” said Lunam. “They’re willingness to work and take pride in it is amazing.”