Incursions
The Victorian Schools Garden Program is now offering Victorian primary schools, the opportunity to have a free garden incursion at their school.
There are six garden incursion topics for schools to apply for. The incursion is free of charge, however, some materials/resources will be required for the school to provide.
3 Ways to Start a Garden – suitable for Year 2 – Year 6 students.
There are many ways to start a garden. In this session, we will learn 3 very easy and effective ways of getting a garden going in your school. Students will split into 3 groups and each group will learn in detail about a method of growing – from seed, from cutting and from root stock. To finish off, each student will make a wicking pot, which they will plant with some seeds to watch as it grows.
Compost – suitable for Year 2 – Year 6 students
There are many ways to compost, it can be done in many shapes and sizes. They all have something in common though… creating amazingness, from waste. In this session we will delve into a few ways which would be most suited for the home and school yard.
From Garden to Kitchen – suitable for Year 2 – Year 6 students
Explore and learn how to start a garden from things in the home kitchen. Very few people realise this, but we can start growing plants from food waste. Old potatoes, spring onion scraps, pumpkin seeds, celery offcuts, coriander seeds, sprouted sweet potatoes – from old food, we can grow new food!
Garden Rejuvenation – suitable for Year 4 – Year 6 students
Nearly every school has a garden… and many of these gardens are neglected. In this session we will be looking at how you can rejuvenate your garden spaces with a very simple method – No dig gardening or lasagne gardening. Who doesn’t love a good lasagne? Well, this lasagne isn’t your average one… It’s a garden bed layered with lots of different things to make your soil zing. Your school gardens will be humming along in no time.
Gardening for Insects – suitable for Year 2 – Year 6 students
In this session we will look into good insects and not so great insects. Some insects we love in our gardens, while others are not so welcome. In this session we will talk about companion planting in gardens and how it can help bring in good insects and repel the not-so-great ones. We will then plant some plants in your school garden that will bring in some good insects.
Worm in Schools – suitable for Year 2 – Year 6 students
Worms are amazing waste disposal units… they can eat their own body weight a day in organic matter! In this session, we will be looking into usual school-yard waste and the problems associated with it. We will then explore how you can dramatically reduce your school waste, save money for your school, create nutritious plant food and become the proud owners of thousands of amazing animals… Worms!
REGISTER HERE
For an opportunity to receive a FREE garden incursion click below in the appropriate year:
If your chosen month passes without contact, it means you were not selected, but you are welcome to reapply for another month.
To receive the VSGP enews with all VSGP program announcements, go to ‘contacts‘ and add your details.
Professional Development Workshops
The Victorian Schools Garden Program holds professional development workshops which educate and encourage teachers, parents and volunteers to make the most of their outdoor spaces.
These workshops are designed to help schools introduce or invigorate their garden programs. Participants are provided with the skills, knowledge and expertise needed to manage and increase the success of their gardening activities and explore ways to make outdoor learning a part of the curriculum.
VSGP - 2025 Principals' Breakfast
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Date: |
Monday, 15 September 2025 |
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Time: |
7.30am – 9.30am |
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Location: |
Kuranga Nursery – 118 York Road, Mount Evelyn |
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Cost: |
$80 (includes breakfast, coffee/tea) $5 discount for two or more attendees |
Join us for a joyful and inspiring Principal’s Breakfast: Celebrating School Gardens and Their Champions, where we’ll showcase the transformative impact of school garden programs on student wellbeing, learning, and community connection.
This year, we’re also shining a well-deserved spotlight on the dedicated School Garden Specialists who bring these spaces to life with passion, creativity, and care.
Come along to learn for yourself, or bring along your school garden specialist, and enjoy a delicious breakfast among peers, hear compelling stories of growth and achievement, and leave with fresh ideas and renewed energy to support thriving garden programs in your school.
Guest speakers include Principals, school garden specialists/teachers and academics from across the state as well as special guest, Costa Georgiadis. These speakers will share their stories, successes and failures and how gardens are an integral piece to everything they do.
Click here to find out more or to book your place.
VSGP - Little Garden Ideas..Big Impacts
Date: | Friday, 13 June 2025 |
Time: | 9.30am – 3.00am |
Location: | Bellarine Secondary School – 43-71 Peninsula Drive, Drysdale |
Cost: | $180 includes morning tea & lunch |
Join us for a day centred around the benefits of school gardens and how garden specialists can turn little ideas into big movements. Not only for their students and staff, for the school community, broader community and maybe even further afield.
Bellarine Secondary College is home to the award-winning Farm My School pilot project as well as Bellarine Landcare and a school farm as a part of their Ag/Hort program and home to sheep, goats, horses, ducks, chickens and a vineyard
We will look at:
- All 3 facilities and how it relates to the curriculum, provides tangible learning for the students and benefits the local community.
- What your school is currently doing within specialty areas and year levels and how some of these could be enhanced by utilising your school garden.
- The key curriculum strand of Sustainability and how it can be central to your garden.
- How your school can save money and even make money through the garden.
- How your school can get assistance to transform your garden to aid your curriculum and the wellbeing of students.
Click here to find out more about the workshop and/or to book.