Local families enjoy the benefits of Go4Fun
Families on the Central Coast are enjoying the benefits of a free after-school program to help children be more active and eat healthier.
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School Gardens
Recipes and workshops with a focus on healthy eating and environmental sustainability in primary schools.
Supporting school kitchen gardens
Our Central Coast School Garden Interest Group provides a platform for teachers and staff supporting school kitchen gardens to connect with one another and share ideas around school gardens, food and nutrition learning experiences, practical cooking sessions and environmental sustainability practices like composting.
We also develop resources and share local case studies to provide inspiration on how a school garden can be successfully implemented at your school.
Why have a school garden?
Having a garden can help your school to promote environmental and sustainable learning as well as encourage healthy eating and physical activity. It’s a fun way to learn outside and provides students with a hands-on opportunity to prepare, eat and share the food they have grown.
Participation in a school garden program has been shown to help improve knowledge and confidence in relation to growing, preparing, cooking and eating a diverse range of fresh foods among Australian children.[1]
Can my school have a kitchen garden?
Any school can have some sort of garden or kitchen, regardless of their site, size, resources, gardening experience or classroom space. Here are some useful guides on how to start a kitchen garden and how you can use your garden to promote environmental and sustainability learning for students.
Central Coast School Garden Interest Group
The Central Coast School Garden Interest Group shares ideas and connects Central Coast primary schools with an interest in school gardens and cooking.
The group encourages food, nutrition and environmental sustainability teaching with a focus on practical, hands-on learning experiences
The group meets face to face twice each year, with a different school hosting the meeting and sharing their experiences. Regular updates are shared with the group via email.
The next meeting will take place at The Entrance Public School from 3:30pm to 5:30pm on Wednesday 6 November 2024.
The session will include a tour of The Entrance Public School’s garden, information on the Habitat for Wildcare program and Rumbalara’s new organic waste program, plus network with other schools, enjoy a delicious afternoon tea, and receive a free garden resource pack.
For all updates from the Central Coast School Garden Interest Group on upcoming workshops and resources, join our primary schools mailing list.
“I always love hearing what is happening in other schools. I love sharing with the teachers at my school for inspiration and ideas.”
School Gardens Interest Group workshop participant
“I am very excited for all activities that have been offered in the past and eagerly look forward to ongoing workshops. Amazing professional learning.”
School Gardens Interest Group workshop participant
Harvest for Health Grant
In 2022, in partnership with Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre, Central Coast Health Promotion Service offered five Harvest for Health grants, each worth $1000, to local primary schools.
The Harvest for Health Grant supports the creation of supportive school environments for healthy eating and environmental sustainability via school produce gardens and/or kitchens.
Check out the case studies from the schools who received the grant.
Patch to Plate recipes
Patch to Plate is a free recipe book developed by Central Coast Health Promotion Service that includes healthy and simple recipes that local teachers have made with their students using fresh ingredients from their own school gardens.
Download the recipe book and try these tasty recipes at school or at home. You can also watch and share how to prepare four of our delicious recipes from the Patch to Plate book in the video series.
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