Preschool students at Goodstart Wagga Wagga – Lake Albert Road are keen gardeners and have been busy harvesting carrots, sugar snap peas and lettuce to enjoy as part of a healthy lunch or afternoon tea at their early learning centre.
The children tend to the garden daily and have proudly grown an array of other produce such as celery, rocket and spring onions. The centre’s vegetable garden and compost area was created earlier this year, transforming a section of a block of vacant land adjacent to the centre as part of a community partnerhsip with the local Bunnings Warehouse.
Centre director Suzie Wakefield said at lunch time there is a great discussion around the table about what the children can taste and smell. Produce that is not used as part of the centre’s daily meals prepared for is shared with families so nothing goes to waste.
“Since we established our vegetable garden earlier this year, the children have taken so much interest in planting and garden and learning all about the cycle of life. It’s wonderful to see the wonder in their eyes when the seedlings sprout and to see their excitement when they get to eat what they grow,” Ms Wakefield said.
“Another benefit of the vegetable garden is that when children have direct experience with the natural world, they learn about nature and how to take care of natural environment, which is an important lesson for our future generation to learn.”
Goodstart Wagga Wagga – Lake Albert Road was recognised for its efforts to embed sustainability into the daily practices at the centre, winning the NSW Sustainability Award in the organisation’s national awards program.
Goodstart has eight centres in the Wagga area, find your nearest centre here.
The children tend to the garden daily and have proudly grown an array of other produce such as celery, rocket and spring onions. The centre’s vegetable garden and compost area was created earlier this year, transforming a section of a block of vacant land adjacent to the centre as part of a community partnerhsip with the local Bunnings Warehouse.
Centre director Suzie Wakefield said at lunch time there is a great discussion around the table about what the children can taste and smell. Produce that is not used as part of the centre’s daily meals prepared for is shared with families so nothing goes to waste.
“Since we established our vegetable garden earlier this year, the children have taken so much interest in planting and garden and learning all about the cycle of life. It’s wonderful to see the wonder in their eyes when the seedlings sprout and to see their excitement when they get to eat what they grow,” Ms Wakefield said.
“Another benefit of the vegetable garden is that when children have direct experience with the natural world, they learn about nature and how to take care of natural environment, which is an important lesson for our future generation to learn.”
Goodstart Wagga Wagga – Lake Albert Road was recognised for its efforts to embed sustainability into the daily practices at the centre, winning the NSW Sustainability Award in the organisation’s national awards program.
Goodstart has eight centres in the Wagga area, find your nearest centre here.