Children at Queen of Peace Primary School in Altona Meadows are growing vegetables in their school’s garden to donate to local charities and soup vans.
Teacher Annette Gauci said the garden was established to help the less privileged in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay.
“For over 12 months, we’ve been donating vegetables grown in our garden, such as pumpkin, spinach, beetroot and potatoes, to the Matthew Talbot Soup Van run by St Vincent de Paul [Society] in Maidstone,” she said.
“This year, the Queen of Peace parish has also become involved by organising vegetables grown by the schoolchildren to be donated to the Laverton Hub.
“Tomatoes, beans and zucchini were greatly appreciated and used to prepare meals.
“Last year, the preps helped during their play-based curriculum time. After reading
Jack and the Beanstalk, children enjoyed planting zucchini, beans and cucumber seeds, watching them grow in amazement.”
Ms Gauci said the children watered the garden each day during their lunch breaks.
“Monitors also collect classroom fruit scraps to compost each day and enrich the soil,” she said. “This has been the secret to our bumper crop of vegies, especially zucchini.”
‘‘Sustainability is a big focus at Queen of Peace, so this year, we have two school leaders whose job is sustainability.
“A water tank was also donated by a former year-6 student who won an illustration competition through the City of Melbourne – an urban forest of the future competition.
“The garden has helped our social justice program, as children can take an active role in helping others in need.’’
