Project Overview:

Students and teachers at Canterbury College located in Logan City in Queensland, wanted to create a sustainable kitchen garden which could become a community hub producing an array of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Having a bush tucker garden and native beehive were also on their wish list. To make these gardens sustainable, they planned to develop a composting system utilising food and paper waste across the campus.

Armed with a 2021 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant, 250 students embarked on their project to bring their gardens and composting system to fruition!

Students were involved in the complete cycle of planning, planting, growing, harvesting, cooking and sharing the kitchen garden produce with the wider community. They promoted community awareness about the project through multiple events including a bush tucker planting day, pizza day and a 'I Beg Your Garden' community day.

They particularly enjoyed growing and cooking their own food. They also liked learning how to 'Care for Country' by growing bush tucker, caring for native bees, as well as learning about sustainable measures of food and paper waste management to create compost for the garden.

Educational Outcomes:

Through the project they developed very strong relationships with elders who are connected to the College. The students learned about traditional sustainable practices through Aunty Julie, particularly through her sharing her knowledge with the students regarding how to Care for Country using produce from the school’s bush tucker garden.

Environmental Outcomes:

The students planted a bush tucker garden to enhance the existing environment (large gum trees) as well as support the native bees. Similarly, they investigated ways in which food waste can be reused in the garden by turning it into compost.

Conclusion:

"This Kitchen Garden project allowed our students to engage in the joy of growing, harvesting, cooking and sharing their own food, whilst also learning about sustainable practices and how to Care for Country," said Brittany Sinclair, Teacher.