Submitted by marcelle coakley (not verified) on November 14, 2007 - 05:50.
I am a dedicated follower of a Alice Waters and what she has achieved it just blows me away to think what an impact a simple garden has on a whole school community and even the greater community. We have only started our school garden 9 months ago and we put in 20 raised bed tanks and used our old kindy area which had an undercover sandpit that is now our herb patch. I am so fiercely proud of this garden and what an impact it has had on our little community, we live 1,500kms from the nearest city and 300kms from the nearest banking centre. We have a breakfast program for all staff and students and our cooking program since the garden started has got the whole town talking and pretty much every main player here has contributed as they have seen the impact it has had on the children. We have seen the crime rate drop as most of our community especially indigenous were almost suffering from malnutrition as opposed to the obesity epidemic experienced in the metropolitan regions, children would often break into homes to steal food and loose change. We have also experienced the general health especially skin related disorders drop significantly in the children since its beginning.
We are going to add to our garden and make one for the general community that will be a healing garden and place for the elders of our traditional land owners to come and watch there grandchildren and share their stories with us all and just a place to all feel safe without prejudice.
Thankyou for letting us get a glimpse of the wonderful things you are all doing over there it has inspired many and will continue to do so.
Our little garden in outback Australia
Submitted by marcelle coakley (not verified) on November 14, 2007 - 05:50.
I am a dedicated follower of a Alice Waters and what she has achieved it just blows me away to think what an impact a simple garden has on a whole school community and even the greater community. We have only started our school garden 9 months ago and we put in 20 raised bed tanks and used our old kindy area which had an undercover sandpit that is now our herb patch. I am so fiercely proud of this garden and what an impact it has had on our little community, we live 1,500kms from the nearest city and 300kms from the nearest banking centre. We have a breakfast program for all staff and students and our cooking program since the garden started has got the whole town talking and pretty much every main player here has contributed as they have seen the impact it has had on the children. We have seen the crime rate drop as most of our community especially indigenous were almost suffering from malnutrition as opposed to the obesity epidemic experienced in the metropolitan regions, children would often break into homes to steal food and loose change. We have also experienced the general health especially skin related disorders drop significantly in the children since its beginning.
We are going to add to our garden and make one for the general community that will be a healing garden and place for the elders of our traditional land owners to come and watch there grandchildren and share their stories with us all and just a place to all feel safe without prejudice.
Thankyou for letting us get a glimpse of the wonderful things you are all doing over there it has inspired many and will continue to do so.