Thousands of wheat seeds have been distributed to schools and other educational settings across the UK, along with instructions on how to grow, harvest and mill the grains - and even how to make bread from the crop.
The Growing Grains initiative signals the second phase of Blue Peter's campaign, which aims to help children grow and eat better food. The idea is the result of a partnership between organic food company Doves Farm Foods and the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG), one of the charities running the Mission Nutrition appeal.
The three partners in the appeal, FCFG, Save the Children and ContinYou, hope that thousands of children can experience for themselves the food growing process, in order to have a greater understanding of where our food comes from.
Tim Levell Editor of Blue Peter said: "The Growing Grains idea is simple yet so effective because it really helps children find out what it takes to grow and look after a food plant.
"Part of the aim of this year's appeal is to show the importance of eating better food and it doesn't get much better than food you have grown yourself.
"Mission Nutrition is also about showing that, in some countries, being able to grow food can often make the difference between life and death."
Overall the appeal aims to get two million meals on plates for children. Through Mission Nutrition, Blue Peter will help children in the UK, as well as in Bangladesh, Colombia and South Africa, making the appeal truly global as the long-running children's programme celebrates its 50th birthday.
All money raised by children around the UK will:
- Help provide daily meals for children in Bangladesh, Colombia and South Africa through Save the Children
- Set up new breakfast clubs across the UK through ContinYou
- Help children in all four countries grow their own food by setting up gardens in schools and communities through the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and Save the Children.
To find out how to help raise more funds for the Appeal by holding a Bring and Buy sale, as well as other information about growing food, then you can visit:
