What is Kids Edible Gardens Nelson?
Kids Edible Gardens Nelson (KEGs for short) aims to support primary schools to teach students about edible gardening and how this relates to waste minimisation, healthy eating, physical activity and environmental awareness in general. Links are also made to the current NZ Curriculum.
Why edible gardening?
It is widely accepted that edible gardens are a great way to get kids interested in the natural world – how things interact, where our food comes from, where our waste goes… When kids are involved in growing and cooking their own food, they are more likely to take an interest in eating more healthily, plus they get the benefits of the physical activity.
 |
How does it work?NEC has employed a registered teacher to coordinate the KEGS programme in 2011. The coordinator is facilitating the programme in two schools and working with Lead teachers in four schools. Lead Teachers work closely with the coordinator and are encouraged to “take the garden into the classroom” to support the kids’ learning. NEC also provides some tools, seeds and other equipment. Each school operates the programme slightly differently, to best suit their own school culture. KEGs aims to not only help maintain these gardens, but also to embed them into the school culture. Doing this enables all students to have the opportunity to be involved and helps build strong relationships within the school and with the wider community. NEC has purchased resources from the Organic Garden City Trust to help schools use the gardens as a ‘living link’ to the school curriculum. KEGS is also supported by the 'Get Cooking' Programme.
|
Which schools are involved?
The following schools are involved in 2011:
- St Joseph’s School
- Victory Primary School
- Auckland Point School
- Tahunanui School
- Nelson Christian Academy
- Nayland Primary School
If you are interested in helping your local school with the KEGs programme, we encourage you to contact them!
Who is supporting the programme?
Nelson Environment Centre could not run the KEGs programme in Nelson without the valuable financial support of:
- Prometheus Foundation
- Nelson Marlborough District Health Board’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Programme
- Nelson City Council
- NZCU South
- WWF
Thank you sponsors!
And a big thank you to Marlborough District Council for their support during the establishment of the programme here!
Check us out in the News!
Where to from here?
A KEGS Teacher workshop will be held at the NEC on 12th July. Please contact Lindsey Fish or the NEC for details.
Nelson Environment Centre hopes to work with our sponsors and other partners to strengthen and expand the KEGs programme in 2011/12. We would love to support the development of Open Orchards in schools and encourage local communities to be involved in the school gardens.
Early Beginnings
The Organic Garden City Trust in Christchurch first developed the Kids Edible Gardens programme in 1995 and developed a set of resources for schools to use, based around the primary school curriculum. Marlborough District Council has also run the programme for several years.
