School Programs
The Edible School Gardens Programs usually run for a 12 month period. Year 5 and/or Year 6 initially take on the program and learn about permaculture and design, and from this information the students come up with individual permaculture garden designs. From these designs we decide on a final design - the overall process is student-driven, with adult guidance.
The students/school source as many donations of materials and goods for the upcoming garden 'set up' day. On the set up day many parents/grandparents/teachers and students participate in the setting-up of the "no dig" garden and permaculture design. Participation of the greater school community is not only helpful, it is also one of the few areas of school life where parents, family friends, grandparents, can actively participate in a child's school life in a fun way, enjoy the beginning and understand what the child is talking about when they come home with progress updates and the like...
The garden is completed in a day. 2 weeks later, students are planting up the garden with herbs and seedlings of salads and vegetables. The students learn about organic methods of pest control and fertilization. They also enjoy, each week, tasting the food from the garden.
Each term a chef joins the students for a "cook-up" of the food from the garden - it's a taste sensation!
We have had many chefs come and join the students, (the likes of Matt Golinski & Katrina Ryan to name but a few) not only do the students get to enjoy the fruit of their labours, they also learn how to cook and prepare the various vegetables, giving them not only enjoyment, but the value of how important salads and vegetables are in our life and future health. We even eat off arrowroot leaves so that there are no disposables used, therefore the children are also being made very aware of how disposable our current society is and the damage that can cause, that need not happen. The leaves then go into the compost.
We also have Harvest days which are celebration days - days to celebrate the good food we have grown. These events may include dancers and music, as well as the beautiful food. Again, we try to include the local community in these days, it may be in the form of local musicians, artists, dancers, even family members who have particular cultural experience to impart, whatever is relevant to the local community in the school in question.
The students are constantly learning about the different methods of growing food organically, composting, worm farms and fun, the list goes on & on, and we hope that you will read further to see what other schools have learned, experienced, and personally profited from their exposure to an edible school garden...
The Edible School Gardens program is not a free service and schools are required to source funding to pay for the program.
Cost of a basic 12 month program, based on teaching students in the school garden once a fortnight is: $11,146 (once a fortnight for a 12 month period) or, on a weekly basis: $16,186 (for the 12 month period), which includes the basic set-up. Costings may vary depending on how many donations of goods are sourced for the project, obviously the more donations of products and of course old fashioned cold hard cash for the project, the better it is for the school. (prices 2008)
Current Schools on the programme:
Tewantin State School
Tewantin State School is sponsored by Hilton Terrace Petrol Station. It is a 12 month program running once a fortnight. It is well supported by all at the Special Education Unit, lots of teachers and the Principal.... Read more here "Tewantin State School Edible School Garden Project"
Current Schools currently participating in the programme:
Peregian Beach Community College
The program at this school started in term 2 2008, and is sponsored by Slow Food Noosa, Years 4,5,6 and 7 are involved. This program runs once a week for 12 months... Read more here "Peregian Beach Community College Edible School Garden Project"
Sunshine Coast Grammar School
I am currently working on the Edible School Gardening program and our set up day will be later this term. There is much excitement and enthusiasm from the teaching staff. Stay up to date here "Sunshine Coast Grammar School"
Previous Schools that have completed the programme
Palmwoods State School Edible School Garden Project
Noosaville State School Edible School Garden Project
Original Projects:
Siena Catholic College Edible School Garden Project
Montville State School Edible School Garden Project
North Arm Primary School Edible School Garden Project
St Thomas More Catholic Primary School Edible School Garden Project
Chancellor State College Middle School Edible School Garden Project
Kin Kin State School Edible School Garden Project - Unfortunately there is no information available in regard to this school garden :(
Sunshine Beach Primary School Edible School Garden Project
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Please click on the following link to see the wonderful Edible School Gardens supporters who help to ensure that this programme continues in schools and who without their support the schools could not afford to continue with such a worthwhile programme: 'Edible School Gardens Supporters'...