News

Thank you Kitchen Garden School volunteers!

Running the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program in schools relies on the assistance of thousands of volunteers. The following kitchen garden volunteers have been nominated as some star volunteers of Term 4 by their schools - thank you very much, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program would not be possible without your contributions!

• Majura PS in Canberra is lucky to have George and the Café Compost Collectors who bring food scraps from two local businesses each week to boost their compost supply. Alison is a valuable volunteer in the kitchen, helping with preparations, cleaning and shopping each week.
• Michelle has just started helping Montello PS, Tasmania, in the kitchen, is fantastic with the children and has found volunteering has boosted her confidence. In the garden volunteer Dylan has come from the local high school to work in the garden two days a week. He hasn't missed a day and is always keen and willing to work with the younger children.
• As the Garden Specialist at Wombat PS in NSW, Jacqui isn't a volunteer but plays a critical role in delivering the Kitchen Garden Program and supporting the volunteers. Jacqui has shown tremendous commitment and enthusiasm and is a huge asset to the School and the Program.
• Karen joined Bungwahl PS, NSW, through a local employment agency she contacted about volunteering in her local community. She volunteers in every kitchen class and brings in plants for the garden she has grown at home. Nikki, the Kitchen Specialist at Bungwahl, describes Karen as a magical fairy: ‘We are so lucky to have Karen. She is a wonderful asset to our Program, she makes my job so much easier and I hope she never goes away.'
• Mrs Clarke is a hardworking volunteer in the garden at Forbes North PS in NSW. As well as volunteering in classes, Mrs Clarke has donated two watering cans for the children to use, which will make hand watering much faster.
• Di is always positive and brings a smile when she volunteers at each of her four children's garden and kitchen classes at Hay PS.
• Richard is a parent of a Year 6 student at Barooga PS and first started volunteering in her kitchen classes; he enjoyed helping out so much he now volunteers in all kitchen classes and even comes in early to help with the preparation. Through volunteering in the kitchen Richard has greatly increased his own confidence and cooking skills and loves to take the recipes home to cook for his family. He intends on continuing volunteering next year even when his daughter goes to high school.
• Steve is Whitton PS' General Assistant and works tirelessly in the school garden in addition to volunteering in garden classes. Steve is a great role model for the children, nothing is ever too much trouble and he is a very valued member of the school community.
• Mrs Keeler ‘exudes enthusiasm' and is a regular volunteer in Gunnedah South PS' kitchen classes.
• Whalan PS were the lucky recipients of many items from their local Bunnings store. Shannon helped to organise the donated items and also organised Craig and Lii to assist with their greenhouse.
• Chooks are a wonderful asset to the Kitchen Garden Program and Mark at Zig Zag PS has worked hard to make sure the school's chook yard is safe and secure.

There are so many people supporting Kitchen Garden Schools around Australia in so many different ways - thank you all!

You don't need special skills or qualifications to be a kitchen garden volunteer, just a passion for cooking or gardening (or both!) and a willingness to engage children in learning about food in a pleasurable way. Volunteering in schools is a very rewarding experience and contributes greatly to the success of the Kitchen Garden Program. If you'd like to become a Kitchen Garden School volunteer, contact a school near you.