Kitchen Garden News

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

Kitchen-Garden News

Wominjeka students and families,

As our national floral emblem the Golden Wattle erupts all over Melbourne, we

acknowledge Wurundjeri traditional seasonal wisdom – Wintoonth-Wootanbaj- Jumbunna

Regeneration and Women’s Business (August 31 – October 25).

I really hope you enjoy seeing the following images documenting K.G students' skills,

knowledge and creativity with various Kitchen Garden remote projects.

K.G students have demonstrated flexibility, creativity, kitchen skill and independence in

their learning to produce Grissini - Italian bread (edible literacy), Salad of their Imagination and /or A Design Process project (research, plan, create a themed table setting, cook and serve themed dishes to support the design). As you can see from work displayed here, all students have added their own personal creative flair with care to their work!

Students continue to stretch themselves by learning new ways to document their learning

by using IT; Power-point, video, iMovie, digital scanning, photographic montages and iBook programs have all been utilised to great results. A large thank-you to all families for

supporting your children’s learning in K.G, I do hope you have enjoyed seeing them

demonstrate their capabilities and engagement in this area?

The students have now commenced K.G Remote learning No 2, focusing students to

independently study the size, form, texture, colour of specific parts of an edible botanical

specimen as they draw, research and document their knowledge. Students will then extend their knowledge and insights of botanical leaves, flowers, seeds etc as they collect and dry specimens to create an artwork of their choice.

Parents, carers and siblings, you may also wish to get creative and join our students in

making a dried botanical artwork! Please watch my video for the 3 methods to dry

specimens at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-_JjI-Wdo3IgFyv8KM5xJFlLnoCys_0K/view?usp=sharing

Again, I wish to acknowledge to our school community my gratitude to Trevor and Simon

Andrews (our School Grounds/Maintenance dynamic duo) for their support in repairing or

building new structures in our garden during this period. Both have made a huge difference to my workload of garden tasks during this time and as you will see from the attached video, to great results!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-XwaRO8N7XozrT_tKZj_wfcU13vPgNbm/view?usp=sharing

It is also pertinent to acknowledge due the continuing huge impact COVID 19 restrictions

have on our school, the loss of the physical and positive social support that our amazing K.G volunteers have bought weekly, as they supported our students' learning aims. Many of these volunteers have volunteered for 10-17 years……every ….single…. week ….whatever

the weather! I can share with our school community that they are missing our students, the K.G program and the class camaraderie enormously.

So, A HUGE shout out to: Merran, Susan, Susie, Susie, Barb, Tarik, Tom, Sheerian, Julie,

Genevieve, Zak, Qiong and Margaret. We miss you all and hope that when you can come

back, you are able to keep volunteering!

To all my students, please keep your completed work coming into me via

desleyi@collingwood.vic.edu.au

“Keep gardening, cooking and sharing food with those you love”

Desley

BOTANICAL ARTWORK AND RESEARCH  

DESIGN PROCESS: THEMED TABLE SETTINGS / DECORATION AND FOOD  ( this Has the most images>please include all of  Gus folder, Nina's doc & Hamish-Star wars)

SALAD OF YOUR IMAGINATION

HOMEMADE GRISSINI: EDIBLE LITERACY! 

OTHER EDIBLE CREATIONS 

About the Kitchen Garden Program

Collingwood College students participate in our Kitchen Garden Program as part of their school curriculum in Grades 3-6. Garden classroom occur outside in all weather conditions, with students learning, exploring and practising the skills and knowledge to grow a diverse range of vegetables, fruit and herbs using organic growing methods. Students then harvest our seasonal produce for cooking a range of (95% vegetarian) delicious dishes in their kitchen classroom. The student’s learn and practise kitchen skills, techniques and terminology and also importantly, their communication skills, creativity and teamwork while dishes are being prepared.

Students, staff and volunteers sit at beautifully set tables sharing the dishes created. Voicing opinions respectfully, as all students can benefit from sharing their individual learning efforts. Knowledge is documented in Kitchen garden books and shared to our school community via email, E/news, display boards and importantly by our students.

For our students, an integral part of the enjoyment and richness of the classroom experience is the depth and loyalty of volunteering we have for our school program. These exceptional people of all ages, interests, backgrounds and skills ensure our curriculum goals are supported for our students.  Potential volunteers do not need garden or cooking experience! Attributes we seek are a personal interest to support our K.G program philosophy, assisting students in their learning around food diversity, seasonality, sustainability, garden and cooking skills. The K.G learning importantly supports and explores student’s emotional connection and enjoyment in regards to growing and cooking seasonal food. Good humour and the excitement of learning new skills and knowledge in a shared environment, the ability to commit to a day/time are also attributes we seek in our volunteers.

We welcome applications from persons in our school community, or friends/family who wish to apply to be a Kitchen garden volunteer. Please send an email to me at

Insall.desley.d@edumail.vic.gov.au

Please look at our school website (K.G page), if you are new to our school community for more information. Classes run in Monday-Wednesday. 

For those who may want to support our students and teachers in another way-we are always thank-full for people to garden outside class times or on other days. Please feel free to email me with any questions. Tours for potential volunteers will usually occur after school hours with arrangement.

With thanks,

Desley Insall

Kitchen Garden Specialist Teacher & Volunteer Coordinator