Heathmont College Community Garden

School Introduction Heathmont College is a co-educational secondary college which is  located at the corner of Waters Grove and Marlborough Road. It is easily accessible by train and bus, and provides the ideal setting to deliver excellence in all facets of the education provided to our students. The VCAL program at Heathmont College aims to educate students through hands-on learning. There are currently 40 students enrolled in Intermediate & Senior VCAL. Students attend the College on Monday and Tuesday where they study all four strands of VCAL: Work Related Skills, Literacy, Numeracy & Personal Development Skills. Students are also enrolled with ATEast and have a School Based Apprenticeship in their chosen trade. Therefore on Wednesday’s Heathmont students attend TAFE and Thursdays and Fridays they are in their work placement gaining experience for their apprenticeship.

Student Involvement At the start of 2014 the school had several portable classrooms removed from the property. This left vacant land serving no purpose. The initial set up of the garden had several aims: engage students in hands on learning – VCAL students would design, cost and build the garden from the ground up address sustainability issues – student’s will need to overcome the problem of turning an ugly unused plot of land into a working, sustainable garden the garden will grow produce that will be used in the school’s food technology curriculum service the wider school community through having an attractive outdoor space to hold meetings and concerts in

Original site of proposed vegetable garden, early 2014. There were originally four portable classrooms on this site. The site is between the staff car park and the main school building.

Student Involvement VCAL students were tasked with the job of designing the garden, budget for the garden and fundraising for the garden. The winning design came from a Year 12 VCAL Student, Emily Georgiadis .

VCAL Students taking delivery of soil and construction of garden – July 2014

VCAL Students taking delivery of soil and construction of garden

Lettuce from the garden ready to harvest. Student Involvement Students were in charge of sourcing all materials as well as the construction of the garden. Students were encouraged to consult with the school’s canteen and food technology department to cater the vegetables to their needs. Tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers were planted as well as two lemon trees. At present growing in the garden is cabbage, spring onions, leeks & an assortment of herbs including parsley. Lettuce from the garden ready to harvest.

Student Involvement Fundraising for the garden was lead by the VCAL students and included: A whole school free dress day with a ‘green theme’ A fundraising BBQ for students at lunch time Donation of two garden beds from the local Bunnings in Bayswater

VCAL Students planting crops, September 2014.

Parent/Teacher/Community Involvement VCAL students asked the school’s SRC to assist in the fundraising and the free dress day became a joint venture All five VCAL staff adapted the VCAL curriculum to use the garden to meet student outcomes Partnership with the school’s art development began over the creation of the mosaic pathway.

Parent/Teacher/Community Involvement One of the art teachers had received a grant to create mosaic art for the school. The VCAL students were keen to create a mosaic pathway to add colour to the garden. All VCAL students and Year 9 & 10 art students began working and creating designs for the pathway on mosaic pavers. This project created a school community feel of ownership over the garden. The pavers were completed and installed in November 2014.

Laying the pavers in 2014. The School’s Logo “H” is one of the designs.

General Appearance & Use of Gardens The gardens have been harvested by VCAL students and the produce is regularly used in the school’s canteen.

General Appearance & Use of Gardens In 2015 the VCAL students used the tomatoes from the garden to create their own Passata sauce which was sold to staff. This was a trial and it is envisaged that the students will plant more tomatoes in 2015/2016 and the sauce will become a small enterprise.

Students using the food technology rooms to create the Passata sauce.

Special Features One of the surprising elements of the garden is that it has become a lovely space for students to gather and spend time sitting and talking together at recess and lunch. Many students who have had no direct involvement in the garden often help to water the garden at lunch times.

New Developments In 2015/2016 the VCAL students will be collaborating with VCE Business Management students to turn the Passata sauce trial into a social enterprise. VCAL students will grow, harvest, cook and package the sauce. The VCE students will market, distribute and sell the sauce to the wider community. A market garden night is planned for the end of Term 1, 2016. Other departments in the school will participate in the evening which will be held in the garden space. The gravel pathway will be completed by November 2015.

Grounds Facilities The garden has taken a bland, unused space and turned it into a thriving project that has engaged students in class as well as the wider school community. We are excited at the possibilities that the students can create from the garden in the near future. Visitors to the school have expressed their delight at the outcomes students have achieved with this garden. One of the by-products of creating the garden was the VCAL students renovating and repairing tables and benches that had been neglected and were rarely used. Students found these tables and benches in another part of the school and painted them so that they were integrated into the garden area. Students now use these every day.

The garden as it looks August 2015.