VET HORTICULTURE

Footscray City College and Maribyrnong City Councils have joined forces to grow plants and develop student interest in horticulture. The project looks to educated local  VET Horticulture students on how to propagate plants from Footscray Park. Students are instructed by Council gardeners on the best way to take cuttings, collect seeds and grow unique plant species. The ultimate goal of the project is to grow plants to put back into Footscray Park to see the gardens flourish into the future.

The project aims to utilise resources from both the local school and the Council. Footscray City College has a purpose built horticulture centre, with propagation benches, shade and hot houses. The school is perfectly placed to grow plants locally for the Council and its parks. Likewise, the Council has extensive knowledge in the world of horticulture, with local gardeners having expertise to share with students. The mix and crossing over of school and council resources will ultimately help grow the Footscray Community.

The project looks to additionally combat a problem that Footscray Park is facing - stolen plants. Gardeners estimate that a third of all newly planted garden beds go missing, which leads to the overall appearance of the gardens losing out. Students will combat this problem by proving plants that can replace stolen species.

Jak Dunstan - Horticulture teacher