VCAL Garden

VCAL Garden.

VCAL Going Green for the Food Security Network Project

Late last week a van heavily loaded with fresh vegetables left Craigieburn Secondary College bound for the Asylum Seeker Research Centre. The vegetables had just been harvested from the VCAL Vegetable Garden. The harvest marked the culmination of a long and very rewarding process. 

Early in the year, VCAL students had been given the opportunity to create a vegetable garden in the area between the bike sheds and Portable 6. They accepted the challenge and have been involved in developing the garden at every stage since. They assisted in choosing an appropriate site, measuring and marking out the garden beds, cutting and joining the timbers, moving and preparing the soil, attaching pest proof nets, planting, watering and generally keeping a watchful eye over the seeds, seedlings and plants.

The VCAL students were assisted by Chris (aka the Garden Guru Guy) from Food Security Network. Chris visited with VCAL students on alternate Thursdays providing support for our efforts in the vegetable garden as well as sharing insights on matters such as soil preparation, watering, pest control and propagation.

The Vegetable Garden Project has been fun and engaging but it definitely had its challenges. The VCAL students learnt that many hands make for light work and vegetable gardens aren’t built in a day. But perhaps the biggest lesson of all was just getting involved and staying open minded – just giving things a go! It was also really nice to feel that we were doing something worthwhile that would help the less fortunate.

Overall, we VCAL students would like to express our gratitude to Mrs. Galea, Miss Korkoneas and Chris for providing us with this learning opportunity.

THE VCAL STUDENTS