News

Welcome new Queensland Kitchen Garden Schools!

17 new schools have just joined us under the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Queensland Program, funded by the Queensland Government.

Minister of Education Cameron Dick announced the successful schools on 3 October 2011 at Mansfield State School, officially launching the Queensland Program with Stephanie and CEO Ange Barry. The Queensland Program sees 17 new schools join the kitchen garden family under almost $1 million in funding from the Queensland Government. The funding is in the form of infrastructure grants of up to $66,000 per school, which the schools will use to build the organic gardens and home-style kitchens necessary to implement the Kitchen Garden Program.

‘Learning how to grow and prepare food is an important life skill and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program is helping Queensland students learn about cultivating vegetables and how to cook with them,' Mr Dick said.

‘The funding helps schools build gardens and kitchens where students grow and harvest fruits, herbs and vegetables before using them to prepare healthy, delicious meals. The skills students are learning will stay with them for life.

‘Today's announcement of $925,000 in Queensland Government funding for 17 schools takes the total number of schools participating in the Program in this state to 42.

‘Stephanie Alexander has helped many Australians improve their cooking skills and now she is helping inspire a new generation of kitchen maestros.

‘The Program is fully integrated into the curriculum to support literacy, numeracy and science studies as well as encouraging teamwork.'

Stephanie said the Program helped make learning about nutrition fun:

‘This is about students rolling up their sleeves and learning about where good food comes from and why it is good for you. Cooking and gardening are important life skills and the Program gives children the opportunity to learn these skills in a fun, interactive environment.'

Member for Mansfield Phil Reeves said Mansfield State School students were looking forward to getting involved in the Program:

‘Mansfield State School is a fantastic school and it is great that the students have an opportunity to learn in this environment,' Mr Reeves said.

‘Other schools have grown vegetables like zucchinis, eggplants and capsicums as well as looking after chicken coops for fresh eggs so I look forward to seeing what the students at Mansfield State School produce.'

The Kitchen Garden Foundation warmly welcomes the following schools to the Kitchen Garden Program. Congratulations - we can't wait to share your kitchen garden journey with you!

• Beerburrum State School
• Burpengary State School
• Carole Park State School
• Conondale State School
• Coombabah State School
• Currimundi Special School
• Dirranbandi P-10 State School
• Eungella State School
• Freshwater State School
• Ipswich West State School
• Logan City Special School
• Mansfield State School
• Mt Whitestone State School
• Nebo State School
• Peachester State School
• Pittsworth State School
• Two Mile State School