School garden branches out

By Bridget Cook
THE kitchen garden program at Hallam Primary School had another growth spurt with a donation of 10 fruit trees from Fleming’s Nursery.
The school was one of four chosen from those around Victoria that run a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.
Peter Todd, from Fleming’s Nursery, handed over the trees at the school on 22 July and gave a demonstration on handling, pruning, planting and watering bare-root trees.
Julie Buzasi, the garden program’s co-ordinator, said the donation would have a huge impact on the supply of fruit in the coming years.
“The generosity of Fleming’s donation and the knowledge they impart to the students will add a further dimension to the knowledge of growing food,” she said.
“The program is ultimately about growing all the food you bring to the table.”
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program kicked off at the school at the beginning of term two.
Children from Years 3 to 6 spend a minimum of 40 minutes a week in the vegetable garden, working alongside Year 11 and 12 students from Hallam Senior College in helping to maintain the garden.
The students saw the fruits of their labour last week, when they took to the kitchen for the first time using rocket grown in the garden as the main ingredient for a salad.
The schools are seeking volunteers to assist with the running of this program in both the kitchen and garden. Anyone interested in becoming involved can contact Julie Buzasi at Hallam Senior College on 9703 1266 or Linda Dullard at Hallam Primary School on 9703 1536.