Workshop for pilot secondary schools

Pilot schools from our Secondary Years Kitchen Garden Project recently spent an inspiring day experiencing the thriving Kitchen Garden Program at Riddells Creek Primary School.

Staff from Numurkah Secondary College and Narre Warren South P-12 College took part in a Pilot Schools Workshop at Riddells Creek PS in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.

The workshop gave these pioneering schools in the secondary years project, which is supported by AstraZeneca Australia’s Young Health Programme, the opportunity to collaborate and network, and learn from a primary school with experience running the Kitchen Garden Program.

It also included plenty of time for discussions about the successes and challenges the secondary schools have faced in starting their kitchen garden programs, which gave the Foundation valuable feedback for the development of the project.

The day incorporated a tour of Riddells Creek PS’s kitchen and garden, which gave the secondary school staff the chance to see how a successful Kitchen Garden Program is run.

Riddells Creek PS Kitchen Specialist Michelle Treloar made sure participants were well fed on the day, cooking up a delicious morning tea and lunch using produce from the school’s vegetable garden. The shared lunch included baked herb and ricotta gnocchi, focaccia, broad bean dip and seasonal quinoa salad.

After lunch the group refocused with a hands-on mindfulness exercise, which involved using their senses to smell and identify different herbs.

Secondary Years Project Officer Maria Pokorny said the workshop was a valuable opportunity for the Foundation to provide secondary schools with the support they need to achieve the next steps with their kitchen garden program.

“It was really fantastic to hear everything these secondary schools are achieving and working towards in their kitchen garden programs,” Maria said.

“It really emphasises that there are various ways secondary schools can implement and timetable a kitchen garden program, and each will have different initiatives and student outcomes they would like to use the program to influence.”

“We know the package of program support, professional development and resources that is currently in development for secondary schools will need to be flexible, so schools can adapt and tailor it to their unique setting.”

A big thank you to Riddells Creek Primary for hosting the Pilot Schools Workshop, and to Kitchen Specialist Michelle for the delicious food she prepared on the day.

• The Foundation is currently seeking expressions of interest for 10 more secondary schools in Victoria and New South Wales to come on board the project as pilot schools. If your school is interested, contact our Secondary Years Project Officer Maria Pokorny before 5 August 2019 on 0415 741 536 or maria.pokorny@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au