It was all smiles by Corowa Public School Principal Helen Duncan, Project Manager Christine Munro and volunteer helper Kerrie Ormond upon the school winning the national award for Sustainable Solutions.
Corowa Public School has won the Sustainable Solutions Award at the 2024 National Kitchen Garden Awards.
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The national award was announced on September 11 by Kitchen Garden Education Program’s Stephanie Alexander at Parliament House Canberra. Successful award winners for the nine categories were chosen from hundreds of entries from all around Australia.
Loving the results of Corowa Public School students, from left, Elizabeth Macartney, Albert Taylor, Raiko Diongco and Alishe Hyde.
The school ‘Sustainable Solutions’ entry highlighted the work of students and staff championing sustainable practices in the school gardens and waste initiatives. Continued commitment to sustainability through composting, recycling, and a comprehensive five-bin waste system has truly paid off.
Corowa Public School’s Year 4’s Meredith Rowe, Anna Le Lievre, Eddie Goodall, Year 3’s Bill Smith, Imogen Hicks and Elliot Daly being part of the extension group/the soil team composting, soil testing, worm management and making fertilisers. Sitting on the bridge in this beautiful Sunshine Garden and Worm Farm is the school’s project manager Christine Munro.
Corowa Public School’s Project Manager Christine Munro said the school’s sustainable gardening practices and passion to use natural resources has students composting, mulching, managing worms, propagating, planting, and harvesting.
“We make our own soil,” she told The Free Press.
“Students love experimenting with composting.
“We slow compost, fast compost, we use a compost tumbler and a compost bin. We use brown carbon (old leaves, straw, shredded paper, pencil shavings), manure (cow, horse, or chicken) and green waste (green leaves, weeds, grass clippings, food scraps) to build our compost heaps. Horse and sheep manure is used as a natural fertilizer.
“We make banana tea and nettle juice producing a wonderful organic fertiliser for our plants and gardens.
“Straw and sugar cane mulch is used on all garden beds to protect the soil, prevent weeds and retain moisture.
Preparing great soil conducive to growing vegetables, from left, Jack McLaughlin, Logan Clifton and Lillian Baker.
“Our five-bin waste system for general, recycled, glass, soft plastics and food scraps ensures waste is managed efficiently.
“Recycled waste is used in the gardens, takeaway coffee cups to plant seeds, cardboard for compost heaps, shredded paper for worm bins.
“Recycled glass jars are used for storage of seed collection, and art and craft supplies.”
Three worm bins and a sub pod are fed with all school food scraps. Worm bins provide nutrient rich worm castings and worm juice, excellent for healthy soil and plants.
No food waste goes into landfill. “Students have learnt that in landfill, food waste decomposes and produces methane gas, a greenhouse gas affecting air quality and contributing to climate change,” Mrs Munro said.
“This holistic, hands-on approach to composting and recycling not only supports the garden, but also educates students about environmental impact and waste management. The ‘Sustainable Solutions’ Award has reinforced our whole school commitment to support environmental sustainability and waste management practices throughout the school.”
Corowa Public School is incredibly grateful to Costa Group for sponsoring the award and is looking forward to receiving the amazing $5,000 prize pack.
The pack includes $1000 to advance kitchen and garden infrastructure; an Eco5 dehydrator; natural, organic garden solutions from Seasol; healthy cookware from Solidteknics; tree vouchers from Flemings Nursery; signed copies of Stephanie Alexander’s cookbooks ‘The Cooks Companion’ and ‘Fresh’; and a two-year membership ($1650) to the globally recognised Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.
Costa is a leading Australian grower of fresh produce, with farms in every state of Australia involving the sustainable growing, marketing and supply of a range of fresh produce.
Finding more sustainable ways to make fresh, healthy, and nutritious food available for everyone is one of the most critical issues of our times and we believe Costa has a vital role to play.
“We look forward to sharing our Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Education Program with the wider school community to promote sustainable gardening, healthy food choices and being waste wise,” Mrs Munro said.
As school principal, Helen Duncan said she couldn’t be prouder of the school for winning the “prestigious” Stephanie Alexander Gardens Award.
“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, staff and volunteers,” Mrs Duncan said.
“As the saying goes ‘from little things, big things grow’. Chris Munro took the seed of an idea and, over many months and years, with the help of volunteers and students, has developed the garden into an incredible resource for learning.”
That seed of an idea was ‘planted’ by school teacher Neil Ormond back in 2012 when he suggested to fellow teacher Nigel Creamer and Mrs Duncan that a garden should be created to replace the bare area of dust and dirt.
The creation and expansion of the magnificent Sunshine Garden and Worm Farm containing vegetable and flowers evolved to an Australian award 12 years after its beginnings.
The school principal said whether it’s a science project, learning sustainable practices, growing health food or cooking in the kitchen, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Graden Program is equipping students with tools for life.
“Not only are our students learning practical skills, but they’re also nurturing their physical and mental health while contributing to the care of our environment,” Mrs Duncan said.
“The garden is more than just a green space – it’s a living classroom and a hub for growth in every sense.
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