Edible Gardens in Schools

Published on 14 November 2023

The Edible Gardens in Schools project is aimed at creating edible gardens within school grounds and teaching students about composting, worm farming, reducing food waste and sustainable gardening. The program helps establish positive attitudes towards organic recycling, since food organic waste makes up approximately 40 percent of our red bins.

Edible gardens create a practical teaching space where students are able to learn about organic recycling through hands on practical lessons. Students learn valuable lessons that can be taken home and shared with their families and friends.

This week, Clr Sarkis Yedelian OAM, the Mayor of City of Ryde, was invited to the Edible Gardens in Schools project celebration at Marsden High School.

"At City of Ryde, we are committed to promoting sustainable living, waste reduction, biodiversity of our natural habitats and resilience in our community."

"I’d like to thank Steven from Urban Grow, David Zhu and the students from the Environmental Group at Marsden High School, Dom Barnsley from UrbanVeg and the Council team for making this project possible and the great achievements in making Ryde community a more sustainable environment."

To participate in the Edible Gardens in Schools project, schools are required to:

• Provide a suitable space within their school grounds (minimum 2m x 2m space)
• Have a keen group of sustainability or environmentally conscious students (or be ready to set up a group)
• Be able to meet weekly or at a minimum fortnightly for 1 – 1.5 hours
• Have a champion teacher to lead and guide the student group through this project

If you think the Edible Gardens project is suitable for your school and would like to participate, please send an expression of interest by completing the form of the Edible Gardens project page. Submissions close at 11.59pm on Sunday 3 December 2023.