Sponsor: Coles

Summary

Peregian Beach Community College on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast used their School Garden Grant to fund a sustainable permaculture food garden.

The school used their $1,100 to purchase wheelbarrows, seeds and seedlings, a worm farm and worms, a garden shed and books on permaculture for their school library. The students used permaculture techniques such as companion planting to keep weeds down and control pests, as well as using species native to the area.

The school now uses food harvested from their garden in home economics and the project coordinator teaches students about sustainable gardening practices and growing and preparing your own food. Produce from the garden is also used in the school tuckshop.

The year one class even made a scarecrow as an elective. The school’s new permaculture food garden adds to the college’s existing environmental initiatives, such as using rainwater tanks and composting.