Primary School Kitchen Garden News

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

Stephanie Alexander ABC Interview - Filmed at Collingwood College - 10 March

Think you know everything there is to know about Stephanie Alexander? Find out more on ABC’s One Plus One – screening Thursday 10 March, 9.30pm, or catch up on iView. Stephanie shares a wide-ranging conversation with guest host Rosie Batty, where she offers tips in the kitchen, talks about the Foundation, and reveals the challenges of running a successful business.

Kitchen-Garden News - 4th March, 2022

Wominjeka students and families,

February 16 – March 15 marks in the Wurundjeri traditional seasonal calender, the season of  Iuk Koolaye- Jumbunna – Eel Harvest and Inter Clan Business. First Nation people’s traditional seasonal knowledge is determined by observable conditions such as humidity, dewpoints, sunlight angles, radiant heat, wind patterns, warmth and wetness of topsoil, temperatures, growth of plants, activities of bees, water levels of creeks and migration of animals.

A special welcome to all grade 3 students, as they start their K.G learning journey this Semester. The first month of lessons in the garden and kitchen have generated much excitement, surprise and enthusiasm from grade 3, 4 and 5 students. Have a look at the K.G video on our school Instagram for a excellent overview:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CaZVTJFJoBX/

In the garden, we have observed that the previous years February hot days have again been less this year and we have had small patches of heavy rain that followed by long dry spell. The new computer programmed watering system has proved a game changer this summer, as the garden has flourished with regular and targeted watering. The required maintenance over the holiday period has been reduced considerably. 

The many Zucchini have loved the extra water and have given us plentiful “giant” zucchinis, including Blackjack, Golden and Cocozelle varieties. The Lebanese Eggplants are producing many fruit per plant, Golden Nugget Pumpkins are plentiful and the Basil is tall and fragrant. Students are amazed at the growth over 2 weeks. The Sunflowers and Jerusalem artichokes are the tallest I have seen and the Corn patch with Beans and Amaranth is superb. The potatoes, rhubarb and comfrey are plentiful. Tomato leafy growth is plentiful, however the fruit is very, very slow to ripen. Our capsicums will be lucky to set fruit before the cold arrives.

There has been much excitement from students as they dig and discover Purple Congo Potatoes throughout the garden beds……with many surprises outside the fence line, as rogue potatoes patches are found! The 2021 planting of many flower seeds such as Cosmos, Sunflowers, Dhalia, Zinnia, Calendula, Snap Dragon and Fennel have lured in large numbers of beneficial insects to our garden, generating wonder and excitement. Our new native garden along the compost fence line is also contributing positively in attracting these insects.

I have appreciated the ongoing commitment and welcome back our loyal team of fantastic K.G volunteers. Excitingly, our students now have the support of their volunteers. Please let me introduce this wonderful team of people:

• Susan Williams- volunteer of 21 years
• Merran Fergusson-volunteer of 21 years
• Susie Morris-volunteer of 4+ years
• Tom Kent-volunteer of 5+ years
• Julie Fergussson-volunteer of
• Zak Hayn-volunteer of 3+ years
• Anna Ephraim-welcome
• Luisa Cordoba Rodriguez-welcome

Sincere thanks to retired volunteers:  Nicole Beilby, Sheerian Poon and Tarik Zepcan for their volunteering efforts over the past many years. I am seeking more volunteers for Tuesday and Monday classes and Wednesday am lesson-please contact me if you are interested via desley.insall@education.vic.gov.au

Students and volunteers are really enjoying working together and most importantly getting to know each other just that little bit better. Every volunteer has been very impressed with their group of students. All students are demonstrating excellent teamwork, listening and sharing skills. There has been a wonderful positive classroom “vibe” for every class, and they are all relishing the seasonal kitchen learning activities. 

The harvest table has been full of our beautiful and delicious garden produce. This display is a key visual reminder to students of the season. Zucchini, warrigal greens, beans, parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary, mint, basil, garlic, lemons, lemon verbena, tomato, cucumber, purple congo potato, silverbeet, variegated sorrel, spring onions, chives, edible flowers galore, bayleaves, kale, peaches. All this delicious harvest was used in our recipes.

Summer Harvest Drawings:

In the kitchen classes, the focus, is for each student to demonstrate to me (and themselves), their varying levels of foundation skill and knowledge by doing as many kitchen task as they can independently. I was very pleased with the enthusiasm  and responsibility of students, as they demonstrated and practiced these key first skills. Setting up boards, preparation bowls, walking calmly and safely to get their knives, listening to their volunteer and each other, sharing tasks, safe knife work, composting, cleaning as you go, washing and drying dishes, presentation of their dish, setting the tables and cleaning up together were all completed well. Well done all!

As always….. when you can “garden, cook and share with those you love”

Desley Insall

Resources needed if you have any at home:

• Creative & fun clothing appropriate for Scarecrows-varying sizes
• Assorted coloured wool or string.
• Potted cuttings of beneficial insect attracting plants eg: Lavender, Echinacea, Salvias, Daisies-all varieties & colours, no-thorn roses, natives.

***Please drop into the office or to K.G room Monday> Wednesday.

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