News

Vital volunteers – essential members of the kitchen garden community

Volunteers make up a huge and vital part of the Kitchen Garden Program, loved by kitchen garden kids, specialists and classroom teachers alike. Here are just a few who have made our lives richer through their dedication, enthusiasm and endless patience!

Alex and Kathy Stolarski, Coomandook Area School, South Australia

Whilst we have many dedicated volunteers who go beyond what we expect of them, we have a husband and wife team who are simply amazing. Alex and Kathy Stolarski are new to our school community this year and right from the word go they have been hugely significant in the development of our garden. They both have strong backgrounds in organic gardening and run a wholesale flower nursery from their farm. As well as donating hundreds (possibly thousands) of dollars of seeds and plants, they have also donated hours and hours of time. They come in most weekends as well as multiple times during the week to check on the garden and offer advice to Phil, our Garden Specialist. Kathy helps out with kitchen and garden classes as well. They initiated the pizza-oven construction and have encouraged other local community members to get involved in the Program. Today I have been working on a holiday watering schedule and Kathy has even volunteered to water the garden on Christmas Day!!! (Bec Shaw, Program Coordinator, Coomandook AS)

Judy Hasty, Eaglehawk Primary School, Victoria

Our star volunteer is Judy Hasty. Judy taught at our school for a number of years and was involved in the setting up of the Kitchen Garden Program. She loved it so much that, after her retirement, she volunteers very Friday to help with cooking classes. A special feature of Judy's volunteering commitment is that her granddaughter is in our Friday class, so Bella has special time with her ‘Judibub' (which is what she calls her grandmother). The children love seeing Mrs Hasty back in the school, as do the staff! (Mary-Anne Rooney, Principal, Eaglehawk PS)

Vicky Stevens, Wirrabara Primary School, South Australia

We have a volunteer who has worked tirelessly with our Garden Specialist to get the garden finished as well as work in the kitchen. Vicky Stevens is always ready to help out with any jobs. Vicky has filled wicking beds on her own (building a temporary ramp to get the wheelbarrow up there), shovelled a lot of horse manure, sawed sleepers, cut galvanised tanks and put them in position, made an awesome scrapbook of our progress, painted walls and pictures on the asphalt, came up with the idea of growing potatoes in tubes (two wire circles filled with straw) and made three, volunteered in the kitchen, helped to roll our rainwater tank into position, mulched garden beds and paths, trimmed trees .... The list is endless! (Liz Hughes, Principal, Wirrabara PS)

Thanks to all our wonderful volunteers across the country - we're glad to have you in our kitchen garden community!