Victorian School Garden Awards 2020
At the recent Victorian School Garden Awards, the College received the Regional Award.
The following overview was the basis of the award recognition.
Synopsis: Food studies and the kitchen garden programs both share a single cohesive garden space. The garden space includes a stone yarning circle, fire pit, pizza oven, raised vegetable garden beds, orchard and edible native plants. Both programs actively grow, harvest and cook with the produce that come from these gardens. Growing heirloom varieties of vegetables allows students to collect viable and good quality seeds to propagate for the next season's produce. This gives opportunities to cook with interesting ingredients and experiment with unique cooking techniques.
Working bees and establishing the gardens: In establishing the edible gardens, we have planted many diverse vegetation for growing and harvesting food. Working bees, class participation, curriculum and school initiatives have all contributed to the establishment of the edible gardens. The general maintenance, such as pruning, addition planting and removal of weeds has all been completed by students and staff.
Market garden: The farm hot-house and market garden are utilised by the agriculture students for Years 9 to 12 and VCAL programs.
Our chickens and eggs for the kitchen and markets: Our Hy-line brown chickens are all free range producing high quality eggs. Students collect eggs for cooking and also to sell them at the school market. Our Science Faculty also conduct tests for egg quality, such as calcium content which help keep high egg quality. Our new egg roll-away system also keeps the eggs clean.
Selling and cooking with freshly grown produce: Our markets are run by the agriculture students creating pop-up stalls during pick up times. Students sell freshly harvested vegetables and eggs from the farm to parents, staff and friends of Aitken College.
Baking in the wood fire oven and fire pit: The Food Studies and Kitchen Garden programs use the pizza oven and newly constructed yarning circle to cook pizza, bread, and roasted meals. Open-days, break-ups, faculty meetings and other functions provide opportunities to also utilise these resources.
Food and its connection with meeting and gathering: The newly constructed fire pit and yarning circle seating was inspired by the indigenous yarning circles for meeting and gathering that runs deep in the indigenous culture and traditions. With Woodlands Historic Park 3km from the school, we felt it important to connect this idea and culture as part of this design. Food is an important part of meeting and gathering.
Wider school community and future: Other curriculum initiatives, such as our Primary and Secondary students, can be engaged in this garden space as a learning resource. A variety of faculties across the College including Humanities, Science and Environmental Studies, also utilise the space as part of their curriculum. For example, the Humanities Faculty have invited Aboriginal Elders to speak to students relating to culture, traditions, food and community living. These talks and visits are normally conducted within a classroom; however, it would be much more exciting and beneficial to engage these classes and presentations at the yarning circle with edible plants gardens in close proximity.
