Benefits

• Life-long skills in the kitchen and garden



• Introduction to and appreciation of fresh seasonal food



• Socialisation through team work, sharing a meal and working with volunteers



• Practical understanding of environmental sustainability



• Understanding the link between good food choices and optimum health



• Active, hands-on activity and exercise

For children

• New skills in the kitchen and garden equip them to lead lives that are not dependent on processed foods



• Models a new way to connect with parents/family in discussing what happens in the Kitchen Garden Program and applying what is learnt (growing things, cooking things) at home



• Develops understanding of time needed for important things to happen e.g. grow food to harvest, bread dough to rise



• Introduces new foods, new flavours, new textures



• Appreciation of fresh seasonal food



• Students learn and record specific vocabulary to describe some of the textures, tastes and sights that they experience



• Students record their experiences through class diaries



• Students develop confidence and self esteem



• Encourages physical activity



• Develops co-operative behaviour as all work is done as part of a small group



• Develops social skills at the table e,g, sharing, conversation



• Develops deeper understandings and tolerance of cultural difference by exposure to other culinary traditions



• Develops strong relationships with adults other than class teacher or parent e.g. volunteers



• Develops practical understanding of environmental issues such as soil health, water management, seed-saving, organic pest control and the importance of plant diversity



• Understanding the link between good food choices & optimum health



• Develops better understanding of the relationship between the garden and the table

For schools

• Ability to achieve learning outcomes through an innovative, hands-on approach



• Creates excitement within the school community



• Opportunity to build internal and external community networks and connections during construction phase and ongoing volunteering



• Builds students’, families’ and local communities’ pride in their school which has flow on effects such as increased enrolments, less vandalism



• Facility which can also be used for community purposes, before and after school care groups, special occasion celebrations, and hired for income



• Be recognised as a valuable contributor to educational innovation

About the need

• The most prevalent child health issues affecting children today are obesity, dental disease, emotional and behavioural problems, bullying and learning delays.



• Of the 30,000 television advertisements children watch on average a year, 12,000 are for food. 75- 80% of those foods advertised have marginal or low nutritional value.



• Around 30% of Australian children are currently estimated to be overweight or obese. The two major contributors to this problem are poor dietary habits and inadequate levels of physical activity.



• Children's fruit and vegetable consumption has decreased over the past 20 years while consumption of energy-dense foods (including sweet soft-drinks and snack bars with a high sugar content) has increased.



• Children's physically active time has also decreased, while time spent in sedentary activities such as television watching and computer games has increased.



• Obesity is a precursor to heart disease, respiratory problems, diabetes, joint and kidney problems and other chronic illnesses.



• Changing family structures and other lifestyle changes result in fewer families eating together on a regular basis. Meals are being prepared at different times leading to the use of snack and convenience foods. Solitary eating also has significant implications for social development.