After contacting the council for help a few years ago to discourage the ibis population, the school was gifted with a worm farm so organic scraps were not lying around or being sent to landfill.
This meant that the school’s single garden bed needed to be expanded, with the school now boasting 12, and their Kitchen Garden story began.
With the SRC students part of the Stewardship team, along with before and after school care students, at least twice a term they spend the day in the garden planting and harvesting, and for a donation, ‘give’ the produce to families.
Environmental Education Teacher Antonina Fieni says they also offer any extra seedlings growing in their greenhouse.
“The money raised allows us to replenish items such as seeds, gloves and mulch,” she said.
“At the moment, we’re saving for a gorilla cart (small wheelbarrow).”
The impressive range of veggies includes tomatoes, potatoes, silverbeet, tatsoi, snow peas, parsley, silverbeet, garlic, corn, beetroot, carrots, lettuce, climbing beans, capsicum, eggplant and broccoli.
“We also have a food forest with fruit trees, berries and herbs,” Ms Fieni said.
“Parents as well as teachers have shared amazing photos of pesto pasta, tabouli and baked potatoes.
“We are cutting out the food miles of produce being transported to stores to be refrigerated before being sold, and by sending veggies home to families, we are ensuring fresh produce is being eaten and not wasted … inspiring students to become change-makers in their local community.”
