Orchard Training Homeschool Garden Club - Oranges

As the year concludes, we wrap up our year-long project on foods that we frequently consume but cannot cultivate here in the United Kingdom. We are finishing with a fruit linked with the Christmas period - oranges.

1.     Tea

2.     Coffee

3.     Chocolate

4.     Pineapple

5.     Mango

6.     Avocado

7.     Vanilla

8.     Banana

9.     Oranges

10.  Black pepper

11.  Cinnamon

12.  Turmeric

We have been considering them from very different curriculum points of view for example from the environmental viewpoint - air miles, from geography – the original origin,  from a historic investigation what did we use before this food reached the UK shores. Finally, imaging in a Design and Technology perspective if we could we chose not to buy that food or if we could no-longer purchase that food: how can we replace it in recipes? We will then try out some well-loved recipes with a replacement that we could grow in the Orchard Training Homeschool Garden.

Much like bananas, oranges face an eviromental threat - a sap-sucking insect that renders the fruit bitter and eventually kills the tree. Last year, the orange season faced major challenges due to adverse weather, reduced crop yields, and rising prices. Nevertheless, oranges are high in vitamin C, which is essential for us. Therefore, we will be comparing the vitamin C content in oranges with other fruits that can be cultivated in the UK and which are not under threat.