Edible garden on the way for Oakey students

The Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) is offering the grant through its ‘Dirty Gloves in Schools’ program thanks to sponsorship secured from Total Tools.  

Total Tools Toowoomba Managing Director David Bosman handed the first of the $1,000 grants over to the school enabling students to plan, construct and nurture a large herb garden in their Ag Centre. 

“Agriculture is such a big part of our region and Total Tools sees the value in promoting and developing an interest among young people in growing their own food and getting hands on with garden projects,” Mr Bosman said.

The school’s Ag Science teacher Deb Goudie said the edible garden concept was driven by the Student Council’s Environmental Committee Chairman, Olivia Berlin, who asked the school to support projects that had an environmental benefit.

“Traditionally our work in the Ag Centre was centred on curriculum activities such as experimental propagation but this grant has given us the chance to shift that focus to the design and development of a sustainable garden where students can grow their own food and prepare meals,” she said.

“We were also inspired by visiting international students who have a fascination for kitchen gardens and a real interest in where food comes from. There’s no doubt we have the soil and space to grow pretty much anything,” she said.  

The new garden should be complete by the end of the school year with students studying agriculture, construction and home economics all playing a role in its development.

QMDC Education Officer Shelley Purser said QMDC and Total Tools have opened a second round of grants to secondary schools in the Eastern Darling Downs.

“In the last few years the numbers of grants available to schools has really dropped off, so it’s exciting to have Total Tools on board as a grant program sponsor to cater to environmental or sustainability projects and fill the gap for secondary schools wanting to get such worthwhile projects up and running,” she said.

Secondary schools can apply for up to $1,000 for projects based on sustainability such as vegie patches, the purchase of irrigation and energy efficient appliances or school ground biodiversity.