From garden to plate, Riddells Creek Primary School students have been learning how to grow, harvest, and cook nutritious food as part of a funded initiative.
In partnership with Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health, funding from the Healthy Loddon Campaspe Healthy Schools Project provided the school with seeds, plants, garden tools, and a rabbit-proof garden fence.
The school also bought new kitchen equipment to expand its Stephanie Alexander kitchen garden program, which focuses on promoting healthy and nutritious food to children and young people.
This program has included student-driven updates to the school’s canteen menu.
Healthy Loddon Campaspe coordinator Alicia O’Brien said she was excited her organisation could provide the funding.
“Supporting the school with membership to the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program, along with garden upgrades … has helped boost the productivity and sustainability of the school’s garden, leading to … better quality produce,” she said.
One of the school’s Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program specialists, Aga Jones said that the program has broad benefits.
“It is such an important part of the curriculum giving students the opportunity to appreciate the joy of … growing your own produce, and hopefully set them up for a lifetime of positive eating habits,” she said.
Six councils are involved in the Healthy Loddon Campaspe Project’s initiative – Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire and Mount Alexander Shire.
Oscar Parry
