News & Events
Water & the kitchen garden
Severe drought conditions and water restrictions aren’t holding schools back
Kitchen gardens are going ahead and going strong, despite the water crisis. Each school is finding their own solutions to the restrictions, but there are some common solutions. Almost all have boosted their water harvesting capacity by ordering and installing new water tanks and planning water-efficient gardens through:
- Reducing evaporation from soil and increasing water retention (boosting organic matter in the soil, mulching, shading and wind buffers, watering early mornings or evenings only), and;
Reducing water consumption (planning and installing efficient watering systems, using water timers and rain sensors, weed control and clustering water-needy plants)
Some have started indoor, terrarium and potted gardens while waiting for summer to end and the rains (or water deliveries) to arrive, and are planning on planting out into the gardens at a later stage. Many schools have received some exemptions from water restriction watering times so that they fit in with school days and hours.
At the end of the summer holidays schools shared their keys to garden survival and water management:
- Use a drip irrigation on timer
Mulch
Set up a volunteer roster and communication book
Give clear instructions, walk all volunteers through the garden as part of planning
Employ a garden specialist for a period of time over the holidays
Plant hardy vegetables
The last planting of seedlings should be at least 2 weeks prior to holidays
Use Solid Water on all trees
Avoid plants in pots
Create a garden support team early in the year
There have been generous offers of support from businesses and community groups. Rotary, for example, built a concrete water tank for Weeden Heights Primary, others have offered to cover the cost to fill existing tanks at other schools. The school community around Eaglehawk Primary near Bendigo has been fundraising on a fortnightly basis to raise the money needed for water deliveries.
Initially schools in many of the rurals areas were sensitive about starting a garden in drought times, however they are reassured by the fact that ‘home producers’ growing their own vegetables use less than a quarter of the amount of water used in commercial production.
So far, the water situation hasn’t stopped anyone planting. It’s just made people more aware, creative and conscious of water in their planning, and provided good problem-solving opportunities for children.
The National Solar Schools program offers grants of up to $50,000 (GST exclusive) to install solar and other renewable power systems, solar hot water systems, rainwater tanks and a range of energy efficiency measures: www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/nationalsolarschools/
BlueScope Steel is offering a further 200 rainwater tanks to primary schools through the BlueScope Tank A Day Challenge: www.tankaday.com.au
Photo: Newly installed water tank at Bittern Primary School
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