PLEASURABLE food education teaches children to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food in order to form positive food habits for life.
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Modeled on the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program, the classes allow children to experience the joy of digging in the garden, picking fresh veggies, smelling and tasting the food and importantly, sharing the experience with their classmates.
The Avenel Community Garden was established this year in a pocket of Avenel Primary School in north-east Victoria to enhance students' learning about the cycle of food - from seed to table.
Under the keen guidance of teacher, Lucy Ivey and Avenel community volunteers, students from Foundation to Grade 4 have filled the garden wicking beds, planted, fed, mulched, watered and grown plants from seed.
And they have planted native understorey varieties on school grounds that will provide habitat and encourage beneficial insects to the garden.
Next in the paddock to plate-style project comes harvesting the first crop, cooking and tasting the delicious vegetables during class time and planting a summer crop.
"We are looking forward to the project evolving over time as we learn what grows best and at what times in our local area," Ms Ivey said.
"And to working with local volunteers to run a productive garden that can benefit the entire local community."
The grade 3/4 students at Avenel Primary say they enjoy garden classes because they're "interesting". The humble potato was unanimously voted their favourite vegetable to grow.
"It's a really good way to find out about plants and the insects, like ladybirds, they attract," said one. "It's hands-on learning outside of the classroom, which is so fun," said another.
Fun, according to research by the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, has a powerful and positive impact on learning.
When students are relaxed, happy and engaged, their senses are on full alert and their brains are perfectly primed to absorb the learning opportunities that surround them.
Ms Ivey said the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden model was not a random lesson but rather a food-education concept that had become an integral part of the curriculum.
She said the school's strong engagement in the project had been reflected through students sharing their knowledge and skills of how to grow plants with their peers and parents.
"We are hoping that working in the garden will increase the students' exposure to a variety of healthy foods that they can grow, cook and eat at home," Ms Ivey said.
"We are also excited for students to build a connection with adults in their local community as they work alongside them in the garden.
"And lastly, we are hoping that students working in the garden will help them develop their teamwork and scientific observation skills."
