Lakeside Elementary fourth-graders are enrolled in Veggie U, a hands-on experience learning where food originates.

From seed to snack, the students are learning plant anatomy, soil types, composting and nutrition.

FoodCorps Service Member Zoe Tucker enlisted Lakeside fourth-grade teachers Lorrie Gomez and Sara Walters in Veggie U. 

On Tuesday, 9-year-old River Hartig sprinkled in rows of mystery seeds. Classmates in his group swept dirt over the seeds and sprinkled it with vermiculite. 

“We have to try and guess what they are,” Hartig said, pointing to a sheet where he has filled in his guesses.

“The mystery makes it a lot of fun,” said one of Hartig’s group members, 9-year-old Haley Huff.

Hartig is sure most if not all of his guesses are correct.

“I think I’m right because I plant a lot with my mom — like cabbage and lettuce,” Hartig said. 

Huff also is a gardener.

“I plant at grandma’s house, mostly flowers and tomatoes,” Huff said.

In an earlier lesson, students in Gomez’ class learned about the seeds of different plants and tasted uncommon vegetables and microgreens such as white carrots, purple cauliflower, mung beans, popcorn shoots, celery microgreens, green pea tendrils and romaine lettuce.

If they aren’t able to determine the plant once the mystery seeds have grown, they can distinguish them by taste and smell, according to 9-year-old Aiden Savage. 

Hartig and Huff said their favorites were white carrots.

“They had a sort of sugary but sour taste,” Huff said.

“The white carrot had a sweeter and spicier taste,” Hartig said, as opposed to the average orange carrot sold at the supermarket.

Some students determined the popcorn shoots tasted like corn on the cob. A group of students shared their amazement in discovering that carrots come in all kinds of colors from yellow to deep purple or black. 

At another table were two see-through cases where students are testing soils such as sand, compost, potting soil and field soil to determine what type pea plants will grow best in. 

Ten-year-old SaraJane Gillette pointed out that the potting soil was outperforming the others after about a week. Gillette said she had predicted compost would do the best. Jacob Currier, 10, said he was surprised the sand had two shoots growing because it was so rocky.

After the planting was completed, several groups placed their flats underneath a grow light near the windows. Next to the flats is a tube-shaped gray piece of construction paper.

“This is our worm farm,” Gomez said, lifting up the paper to reveal a plastic 2-liter soda bottle filled with dirt. “Worms don’t like light.”

On the surface are a few food scraps and damp pieces of newspaper. There are holes in the bottom so the soil is not too wet.

“This is all new to me,” Gomez said with an air of excitement. “I am learning new things, too.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].