Farming and Gardening

Our school is on a large rural setting bounded by farms and wetlands. Students and their families work in the kitchen and class gardens, the restored wetlands, on the farm, and in the surrounding area.

Class 3 participates in the farm program, working each week with our farmer Mary Rose on her biodynamic farm next door, and in the school grounds. As well as planting seeds and watching them sprout, mulching, weeding, composting, feeding and caring for the animals, the children learn to revere the Earth that sustains us. Working in the school’s kitchen garden along with weekly cooking activities using the vegetables they have grown, completes the cycle of paddock to plate and the children awareness of the changes each season brings is deepened.

Class 5 students study botany, Class 6 students study horticulture and all enjoy the Apple Orchard in the centre of the school grounds. Class 3 takes charge of harvesting and baking apples for the Autumn Festival.

Our Kinder and Prep children are regular visitors to the farm, especially when there is a new calf to meet or poddy lamb to be fed!