Kitchen Garden Program
Year 4 in the Kitchen
This month, our Year 4 students have been busy harvesting and cooking with an abundant crop of tromboncini zucchinis, transforming them into a truly zuchinilicious menu! Students worked collaboratively to prepare a range of dishes including chocolate zucchini muffins, zucchini frittatas, zucchini rosti with horseradish cream (a surprising favourite!), and yoghurt flatbreads.
Students have continued to develop important practical kitchen skills such as following recipes, measuring ingredients, chopping and grating, shallow frying and baking. They also enjoyed rolling out dough for the flatbreads, building confidence and coordination in the kitchen. A highlight for some was testing their muffins for readiness using a toothpick.
Year 4 in the Garden
Out in the garden, all students have taken on a variety of important tasks. They cared for our chickens, watered garden beds, chopped compost materials, harvested olives, collected seeds, and sowed broad beans in preparation for the cooler months. Broad beans take a long time to harvest (16-18 weeks) but this magic bean is very easy to grow and is a great source of fibre, high in protein, iron and zinc. These plants also replenish the soil with nitrogen for future crops.
A highlight from the garden activities was the scavenger hunt, where students explored what is currently growing, observed bees nesting in the pollinator hotels, and learned about what materials can and cannot go into each bin.
As the garden transitions and prepares for winter crops, students are gaining a deeper understanding of seasonal growing and sustainability. Keep an eye out for the scarlet runner beans now growing over the wheel archway and watch out for pumpkin vines making their way through a few different garden beds.
To finish garden sessions, students enjoyed tasting a tomato upside-down puff pastry tart made with fresh cherry tomatoes from the garden. It was a wonderful celebration of their hard work and the produce they helped grow this term.
Year 3 in the Garden
Our Year 3 students have had an exciting time this month! During their first garden session, they explored the space, discovered what’s growing, and created detailed maps of the garden beds. Along the way, they learned about the difference between perennial and annual plants—knowledge that will help them understand how gardens grow and change over time.
Students crafted their own newspaper pots and carefully sowed silver beet seeds, taking the first steps in nurturing their own crops. These pots can be planted directly into the ground, eliminating transplant shock. Roots can grow through the decomposing paper, which generally breaks down in about four to six weeks.
Students also began working towards their “tool licence,” learning how to safely and responsibly use a range of gardening tools. Ask a Year 3 student if they can explain the difference between a shovel and a spade, or what secateurs are used for—you might be impressed by their expertise!
The sustainability scavenger hunt around the school helped them locate important features such as the wicking beds, worm farms, compost bays and pollinator hotels, where they observed busy bees at work. They also spent time exploring the Indigenous garden, learning to appreciate native plants and their importance in supporting local ecosystems.
Caring for the chickens has been another favourite activity, with students showing great responsibility and enthusiasm. To celebrate a wonderful first term in the kitchen garden program, the students enjoyed making (and tasting!) delicious chocolate freckles—a sweet ending to a fantastic start.
Term 1 Recipes
Many students have been eager to recreate this terms menu at home—please see the attached links for all the recipes.
Caring for Chickens
If you are available over the school holidays please consider signing up HERE to care for the chickens. It is good fun for students who may not have pets at home to care for. It’s been so wonderful to see families accessing the coop after school to give the chooks some extra free ranging time.
Please make a time with Allison this week to do an induction. The Instructions have been updated so if you are a previous chicken sitter please review them to ensure you are up to date with any changes.
We look forward to another exciting term of learning, growing, harvesting, and enjoying food together.
Allison and Chantel