VCAL students at Narre Warren’s Foundation Learning Centre will soon be able to enjoy the fruits of their labour, launching their very own community garden on Friday 24 May .
Bunnings Warehouse at Fountain Gate assisted with supplies and materials to help the students build three garden beds, which were filled with a range of vegetable seedlings including spring onion, brussel sprouts, beetroot, carrots, celery and broccoli.
Learning & curriculum coordinator and educator Daniella Maloney said she endeavoured to set up the garden to teach the students about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
“With our students, they’re from low socioeconomic areas and often their breakfast consists of an energy drink, which is not ideal,” she said.
“So we really want to promote healthy eating, drinking water, being outside and also food waste and sustainability.”
“And it’s about getting them to experience the freshness of it as well.”
She said creating the garden would not have been possible without the help of Bunnings Warehouse Fountain Gate.
“Bunnings were amazing partnering with us and they donated so much stuff, and were here week after week as we went through the process.”
Bunnings representative Trine said the garden is a great initiative to teach the kids how to plant seedlings.
Ms Maloney said she hopes to create a food program alongside the garden, which would allow students to use the harvested vegetables to make healthy lunches.
Foundation Learning Centres in Narre Warren and Frankston provide education for disadvantaged students, on a not-for-profit basis.
