New kitchen a class act

By Melissa Donchi
THE winter chill hasn’t stopped the students from Wesburn Primary School from attending their new garden classes.
The classes are part of Stephanie Alexander’s Go For Your Life Kitchen Garden Program and have been running for about 13 weeks.
Kitchen garden coordinator Sharyn Morrice said the kids were enjoying their time in the garden.
“They particularly like the physical tasks like digging, raking leaves and shovelling soil into beds,” Ms Morrice said.
“But they have also been learning a great deal about organic vegetable gardening and permaculture.
“Wesburn now has an established series of garden beds with fresh vegetables and herbs almost ready to be harvested in time for the completion of the new kitchen classroom.”
Ms Morrice said the help of volunteers and local businesses had been invaluable.
“We’ve had a really dedicated team of volunteers working hands-on with the kids as well as some sponsors such as Bowebird Timber and Warburton Timber,” Ms Morrice said.
Other help has come from Kleenheat in Wandin which sponsored a hot water service for the kitchen and local artist Shirley who designed some tiles.
“We’ve also just got a grant of $6000 to do more improvements with the garden as well as another grant to put in outdoor furniture,” Ms Morrice said
“Thanks to a wonderful partnership with the Swinburne Institute in Croydon, the kitchen should be ready by the end of this term.”
Wesburn Primary School principal Anne Stenhouse said the school intended to register the kitchen as a community resource to be used by a variety of interested groups as a training venue.
“When it all comes together it (the kitchen) will look absolutely fantastic and will be a real credit to the Kitchen Garden Program and the school,” Ms Stenhouse said.
Those who would like to inquire about the Kitchen Garden Program at Wesburn Primary School or volunteer for the kitchen classes for next term can contact the Kitchen Garden coordinator at the school.