Orchard Training Homeschool Garden Club - Pineapples

In June, hanging baskets and beautiful pots bloom spectacularly, filling the air with sweet scents and color. This year, the learners from the Orchard Training Garden Club are also participating in the Orchard Training Cookery Club.

In January, we started talking about foods that we often eat in the United Kingdom but cannot cultivate locally. We pinpointed 12 such foods, and over the 12 months of 2025, we will explore each one.

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 will explore them from different curriculum viewpoints, such as the environmental perspective—considering air miles, the geographical angle—examining their origin, and the historical perspective—investigating what was used before this food arrived in the UK. Lastly, from a Design and Technology viewpoint, we will consider what would occur if we decided not to purchase that food or if it became unavailable: how can we substitute it in recipes? We will then try out some popular recipes using an alternative that we could grow in the Orchard Training Homeschool Garden.

This month's featured food is pineapples. Originally from South America, pineapples were brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus. They made their first appearance in Britain in 1668. We will explore the introduction of pineapples, the development of glasshouses, and pineapple-themed art.