Primary School Kitchen Garden News

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

Kitchen-Garden News

End of year Kitchen Garden news !

Wominjeka Collingwood students, families and community and a heartfelt 

Congratulations and farewell to all graduating Grade 6 students.

I wish all our grade 6 students every success for their future learning journey at High school. As always, I hope all Kitchen Garden students will continue to garden and cook for their own satisfaction, enjoyment, skill and knowledge development.  And most importantly, because it is so much fun to do and a wonderful way to bring people together!

Class 6C Final Class Photos

Goodbye & Goodluck Grade 6.MOV

Our last 3 weeks of classes, have focused on ensuring our beautiful edible garden is prepared for the summer holidays and the coming heat. Students have continued to seed save our spent poppies and parsley. Many students have enjoyed this contemplative garden task, as they slowly snip each dried flower head off the spent plant to save it, working in small groups, chatting together and marvelling at the size of these seeds. 

Students have been excited to see the growth of their summer Nightshade (Solanaceae) crops over the last month, with the 1st bed of heritage tomatoes almost ready to tie to the first trellis rung and eggplants, capsicum settling in and growing well. In the Cucurbita family, the Blackjack zucchini and pumpkin plants are spreading their beautiful leaves. We have prepared another bed that is sited in full sun, with extra drip irrigation, sturdy trellis and students have planted more tomatoes grown from seed and then mulched all heavily to protect the soil and retain the moisture. Each plant had a foliar drink of diluted worm juice to ensure there is no “transplant shock”.  Calendula seeds have been sprinkled amongst the tomatoes as part of our organic pest management and basil planted as a companion crops. We have discussed the “why” we are planting late and students have understood that we hope to have the fruit of our summer crops ready for 2021 classes, not during the summer holidays!

Garden Photos

Leek, pumpkin and rainbow chard seedlings have been planted-all grown from seed. The first ripe fruit from our Victoria Plum tree was harvested and the remaining, as well as late Apricots will be harvested before final break. For our younger students, it can be difficult to see the fruit trees laden and “not pick” the ripening fruit. However, as a whole Primary school, every teacher has supported the Kitchen Garden program by explicitly showing students the trees and explaining why they should not pick the growing fruit. I am so thankful to our school community for their support and consequently, there was a BUMPER crop of Apricots from 1 tree! Over 80 kg was harvested.  Perfect Apricots were shared to all Primary classes as a thankyou and the excess preserved for 2021.

Harvest Photos

All kitchen classes have finished for 2020 with gingerbread, rolling, cutting and baking. I was treated to some beautiful singing by grade 5 students while they cooked (Grade 5-Gingerbread rolling & singing.MOV  and Instagram). What a treat for me! Students have enjoyed the independence working solo with myself and the assistance of either Mathew or Elijah (placement Integration Aid students). I have appreciated these training students efforts and hope that 2021 brings back our wonderful team of long-term amazing Kitchen Garden volunteers. We all miss you!

If any parents or community members are interested in volunteering in 2021, please email me 

desley.insall@education.vic.gov.au

Well done students and happy Term break to all!

Desley

RECIPES

Gingerbread & Royal Icing

Gingerbread Baking:

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