Meet Secondary Years Project Officer, Vivienne Holman

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation is thrilled to announce that AstraZeneca Australia, through their Young Health Programme, have generously funded the continuation of our work on the Kitchen Garden Program for Secondary Years. We look forward to expanding the reach of our ground-breaking program and enhancing our tailored package of support and resources.

We are very pleased to welcome our new Secondary Years Project Officer Vivienne Holman to our team! Vivienne will provide dedicated support to secondary schools across the country, guiding them through their kitchen garden journey, and welcoming new schools to the program. Please give a warm welcome to Vivienne. 

“I’m Vivienne Holman, the Secondary Years Project Officer at the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation (SAKGF). I am a Home Economics Teacher and enjoy introducing students to new foods and providing hands-on activities where they can learn about the food, where it comes from and how it can be used.  A key focus of my teaching is to equip students with the skills and confidence to create affordable, nutritious tasty meals for themselves and others. I like to try new foods and recipes and believe food tastes better if it is cooked with love. I have also worked as a Public Health Nutritionist promoting health and wellbeing. My role at the Foundation is all about supporting secondary schools to implement the Kitchen Garden Program and I am looking forward to working with the team and using my skills and experience to help the program grow.” 

What is your favourite tool in the kitchen or garden shed?
Garden tool: The mattock, as it is used early on in preparing garden beds and it marks the start of something new and exciting.
Kitchen tool: A serrated vegie knife, because it’s suitable for all ages and has many uses.

Tell us one of your go-to recipes?
Taco rice: A fusion of Mexican and Japanese – filling, quick, easy to make, colourful, makes use of what is in the fridge and caters for all tastes as people create their own dish.

What is the last thing you grew in the garden?
During summer I enjoyed watching cuttings from friend’s gardens take root and grow.

Tell us about the most unusual fruit or vegetable you have tried?
Vegetable: Cucamelon.
Fruit: Finger lime.

What is your favourite fruit or vegetable and your favourite way to eat it?
My favourite vegetable is the carrot. I love its vibrant colour, crunch and versatility. It is also easy to obtain and travels well in a backpack so can be taken on overnight bushwalks to add to meals or eat as a snack on the track.
My favourite fruit is cherries and I like them fresh with the stem still attached. They bring back happy childhood memories of family gatherings at Christmas and of raiding the tree in the backyard and being caught out by my red lips and fingertips.

What is one of your hobbies and/or hidden talents?
I get very excited when it rains. I love being around water (rain, waterfalls, creeks, pools and surf) and getting wet. Having lived in some dry places I don’t take water for granted and find a swim a great way to relax.
My hobbies are going to the movies and live theatre, bike riding, reading, spending time with family and friends, staying active, trying new recipes/food.

The Kitchen Garden Program for Secondary Years was launched in 2020, with support from AstraZeneca Australia under their global Young Health Programme.

Like to learn more or get involved? Visit our membership page or call our friendly and expert Support Team for a chat on 13000 SAKGF (13000 72543).