Students delight in their gardens

Leonie Shanahan

04 Apr 08

As a follow up to our story in the last edition of ECO, teacher and permaculturalist Leonie Shanahan asks students from four local schools their thoughts on permaculture.

Leonie says: Besides lots of fun, exercise & fresh air, the students learn the life skill of growing their own organic food and experience many new fresh nutritious foods. Its very rewarding to see the benefits they get from their garden.

St Thomas More School: Sunshine Beach Year 5

Question: What do you like about your school permaculture garden?

	Jacinta Ainsworth We dont use any chemicals on the food. We learn to co-operate with each other especially when there are tomatoes to pick, which are my favourite.
	Hannah Wilkinson We learn how to grow plants and look after them. I started my own vegie garden at home.
	Kristen ODonnell We get together and have fun. I like to eat the food we grow, especially the shallots.

Noosaville State School Yr 6

Question : Why should schools have permaculture gardens?

	Jaimee Gilbertson We dont use any chemicals on our garden so the food we grow is a lot healthier. We get to experience lots of new food.
	Tianie Foster We have lots of native animals at our school and our garden wont harm any of them because its eco-friendly. A permaculture garden saves money as we can pick it straight from the garden when the chefs come to cook with us. Its a good experience.

Siena Catholic College

Tell us about the garden you are working in at school.

	Stella Curtis Its a permaculture no dig garden. This means when we built the garden we didnt dig the ground but put layers of straw, dirt, papers and compost to build up the garden.
	Sally Skelton Our garden is pretty and has lots of food. We watch the plants grow really big and then we get to eat them.

Palmwoods State School
Question : Why do you love your school permaculture garden?

	Mitch Smith We are helping the environment by composting and growing healthy food. We also grow food for the tuckshop.
	Soul Cormick I like to see all the different insects that visit our garden that help our plants grow. I enjoy using the special hook and pole to get the passionfruits off the tennis court fence.
	Jessica Lowes We pick lots of lettuces, silverbeet and herbs for the tuckshop. Its good our tuckshop has lots of fresh food.

Article: 'Eco on line'

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