How a school garden is inspiring families

• Ashley Park Primary School’s Kitchen Garden Program is sparking healthy habits that extend beyond the classroom. 

• Students are learning practical skills in growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing fresh produce with their community. 

• Our partnership with Costa Group is helping schools link sustainability and food education to the curriculum. 
   

At Ashley Park Primary School in Doreen, Victoria, the impact of the Kitchen Garden Program is flourishing far beyond the school gate. 

“Many of our students get to try food they don’t normally eat. A parent told us their child never liked spinach, but now they eat it,” says Classroom Teacher Julie Bosevska. “Then, they go home and want to plant and grow a veggie garden. They feel like they’re sharing and teaching their family.” 

Ashley Park Primary School, located on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Taungurung Peoples, is one of 11 schools and early childhood services welcomed into our kitchen garden community earlier this year through a values-aligned partnership with Costa Group. 

Hands-on food education in action 

The school received a two-year membership to the Kitchen Garden Program and an infrastructure grant, enabling them to expand their kitchen and garden activities with greenhouses, a shed, fruit trees, seedlings, garden carts, and essential kitchen equipment like blenders and knives. 

“We’ve been doing more cooking because the kids are more engaged. Now that we have kid-friendly knives, the children are more involved in the process rather than just watching the teachers, and it’s so exciting for them,” says Julie. 

Herbs have been a hit — basil paired with tomatoes for bruschetta and parsley transformed into pesto. Students also grow capsicum, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and silverbeet, which they proudly take home to share. 

“I like pulling out weeds and checking for snails and slugs. I do it with my best friend, and we have fun doing it together,” says Emma, a Year 1 student. 

Some of the produce even makes its way to the school market, benefiting the whole community. 

A growing Kitchen Garden Program 

Becoming a Kitchen Garden Program member helps more educators link garden and kitchen sessions to the curriculum. 

“The garden is a really powerful medium for exploring many different curriculum areas and larger concepts that are harder to grasp, like sustainability,” says Julie. 

Other teachers have seen how much students love the program and are keen to get involved now that resources and support are available. “Some teachers didn’t know how to start — this program offers them guidance,” Julie adds. 

Year 1 students have proudly shared their garden and kitchen achievements during school assemblies, including how they received the grant and what they’ve learned. 

“The Kitchen Garden Program has really helped our students connect with each other, connect with their educators, and looking at the science behind how plants grow and healthy eating,” says Assistant Principal Emma Bainbridge. 

Our partnership with Costa Group 

Throughout our three-year partnership with Costa Group, there will be a total of 30 schools and early childhood services welcomed into our kitchen garden community across Australia. These schools and services are all based in areas where Costa Group operates farms, fostering connections between education, agriculture, their staff and the community. 
 
Earlier this year, we shared about Nairne Primary School and Unity College Murray Bridge, in South Australia. We look forward to sharing more stories from this collaboration.   

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation and Costa Group have partnered in a values-aligned multi-year agreement that ensures more children and young people from around Australia experience hands-on, pleasurable food education.