Valkstone Primary School, Bentleigh East, Victoria
Valkstone Primary School situated in Bentleigh East has been awarded a grant as part of the BFA Organic School Gardens Leader Schools Program. Valkstone has an outstanding organic school garden model that the school community is regularly expanding. The non-profit community and schools initiative goes under the banner of Team Green Environment Group.
It is perfect example of school community working at its finest – everyone is involved; students, teachers, parent volunteers and school management! Principal Marilyn Koolstra, teachers and volunteers are passionately driving the organic school garden, encouraging its integration into school curriculum to ensure the garden is used as a practical and curriculum resource in many subjects including maths, science and art. One of the driving forces in the program is a parent of two Valkstone students. A qualified horticulturist, passionate organic gardener and supporter of organics, volunteers his time each week to provide program assistance, ongoing maintenance as well as class and lunch time activities for student garden enthusiasts.
Valkstone garden supporters are all behind organics. ‘We promote organic gardening because it reduces, reuses and recycles school waste productively. It is a proven scientific fact that children who eat well, engage effectively in their learning. With the increase in allergies, the less exposure to chemicals, the healthier our children will be.’ Says Principal Marilyn Koolstra.
Valkstone Primary School is leading by example. All years are involved via their environmental program with a dedicated Organic School Gardens Program focus for Preps with Wonderful Wednesday sessions, integrated units in Grades 1, 4 and 6, and ESL students also benefitting from a specialist gardening component. As Marilyn Koolstra upholds, “Integrating our gardening and environmental programs is stimulating and engaging education. It raises students’ awareness of environmental issues and global responsibility.” The children have really taken ownership of the program, some students are so engaged they have a voluntary lunchtime get together to work in the garden.
Valkstone's parent volunteer loves the BFA Organic School Gardens Program, “the fact that there is publicly available free curriculum for schools to use, is one the of best initiatives for starting the education in garden programs; all schools should be encouraged to follow some or all of the program. Childhood obesity is an epidemic, children need to understand where their food comes from, and once they do they love it!”
One other striking element of the program is the school garden community’s acknowledgment of the necessity to make the program financially sustainable. Valkstone is seriously proactive in this area. Last year, the students raised 800 heritage Tigerella tomatoes plants, and supplied an exclusive local restaurant over the summer. The younger years regularly grow beans from seed, and these plants and seedlings along with produce from the organic school gardens are sold at a regular Friday afternoon market after school.
It doesn’t stop there, Valkstone Primary School has grand plans for a permculture inspired orchard, vines along their fence lines as well as a pizza shaped garden for fresh ingredients like tomatoes, basil, oregano, and an Asian style bed complete with Japanese lanterns guarding their chilies, Vietnamese mint, Thai basil, and Asian greens.