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 – 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 – 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 – 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!
- Gardening for Insects – Let’s explore 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.
- Garden Rejuvenation – 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.
- Worm in Schools -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!
Garden Incursion registrations in 2024 will occur in two stages, one for both the first and second half of the year.
The second round of registrations, for the months of July to December is now open, allowing schools who were not selected in the first round or new schools to the program the opportunity to join.
By clicking on the link provided, you will have a chance to receive a Free Garden Incursion in the second half of the school year.
To receive the VSGP enews with all VSGP program announcements, go to ‘contacts‘ and add your details.
