Schoolyard Garden Project:
One of the aims of Slow Food Noosa has been to educate children
about the joys and pleasures of growing their own food.
Following the lead of high profile chef, Stephanie Alexander
and her school gardens in Victoria, last year Slow Food
set out to establish a permaculture garden at Noosaville
Primary School.
Leonie Shanahan from Permaculture Noosa was enlisted to
work with the teachers and students from Year 6 and create
a self sufficient organic garden. A sunny area of the school
grounds was chosen, a rainwater tank installed, beds were
dug and soil prepared before the sowing of the seeds. The
children were given the opportunity to come up with ideas
for the design of the garden and parents came along for
the planting. The garden was tended on a regular basis by
the students and teachers used the garden as an educational
tool for concepts such as water management, plant life cycles
and nutrition.
On the harvest days, chefs Matt Golinksi and Katrina Ryan
cooked up a feast with the children who were bursting with
enthusiasm to try the different vegetables and sample the
cooked dishes. The children were surprisingly adventurous
and delighted in the tastes of fennel, sorrel, Brazilian
spinach, peppery rocket and spicy wasabi lettuce. Rice and
pinenut stuffed dolmades made from silverbeet, sweet and
sour pickled vegetables and Chinese chicken, cabbage and
spring onion stir fry were some of the dishes the children
enjoyed.
The cost of this half yearly project was $6000 and the money
was raised through Slow Food events and the efforts of some
very dedicated people. Peter Wolfe from Cedar Creek farm
ran a weekly soup kitchen at the Eumundi markets for stall
holders through the winter months which raised significant
funds. Spirit House Cooking School was also a major sponsor
for the project along with donations from Arcadia Greengrocers.
This year, Slow Food Noosa is in the early stages of establishing
another permaculture garden at the Peregian Beach Community
college. This will be a joint effort between the school
and Slow Food and we hope to contribute another $6000 towards
the project.
Any donations or sponsorships are always gratefully accepted
as well as help from volunteers on our planting, harvest
and cooking days. If you are interested in assisting us
with this worthwhile cause, you can contact Katrina Ryan
on 54483322.
Noosaville
School Report - November 2007
Noosaville School Report - September
2007
Project Sponsor
Spirit House is a continuing sponsor for 2008
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