School gardens

PIZZA and pesto at Wembley Downs - Slow Food Perth committee member and chef Vincenzo Velletri [above] shows Wembley Downs primary school children how pizza dough is worked at the school’s garden open day on 17 May 2007. Photograph by Pauline Tresise.

SLOW Food Perth has a school gardens programme, working with students, teachers and parents, to develop children’s awareness of fresh food and seasonal cycles.

The programme encourages young children to learn about the source of food, soil health and the benefits and enjoyment of fresh food.

For two years the Perth convivium has been working with Wembley Downs primary school in Perth’s western suburbs and the children are now farming a thriving permaculture garden.

The students tasted the benefits of their work on 17 May 2006 when Slow Food Perth committee member and chef Vincenzo Velletri help them to make pizzas with pesto created from produce they had grown.

Perth newspaper The Post reported the event:

How do you get children cheerfully to eat green beans, brussel sprouts and spinach? Get them to grow it themselves.

Children at Wembley Downs primary school have established a garden growing cauliflower, chinese bok choy, peas, beans, brussel sprouts, potatoes, garlic, lemongrass, sage and oregano.

Teacher Ann Evans is the driving force behind the project, supported by Slow Food Perth, which raises funds to help start projects like school gardens.

Ann said she didn’t know much about gardening but through help, advice and lots of enthusiasm, the school now has a thriving garden and worm farm. The children learn about seasons, self-seeding, birds and insects, growing, cultivating and eventually preparing the food.

Next term Ann is planning some regular events where the children can cook a noodle stir-fry or make a spinach risotto.

Slow Food Perth co-leader Pauline Tresise says Slow Food Perth hopes to encourage and support other primary schools to establish food gardens.

See prizewinning drawings of the open day pizza-making event below.

More information
E info@slowfoodperth.org.au
T 08 9381 4519 Pauline Tresise