Green thumbs training

By Lia Bichel
GREEN-thumbed teachers, parents and volunteers could be inspired to create and maintain school gardens with the help of a 13-session program starting in late September.
Participants will see hands-on demonstrations and visit the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) at Cranbourne and Melbourne during the course, which is run by The Royal Botanic Gardens in conjunction with Cultivating Community, a not-for profit gardening support organisation.
They will also visit various school garden sites around Melbourne to learn from teachers and RBG horticultural specialists.
RBG education co-ordinator Christine Joy said school gardens provided the perfect learning space for children of all abilities, interests and learning styles.
“Get children in a school garden and immediately a teacher is able to provide the perfect learning experiences around sustainable gardening, healthy food choices and bio-diversity,” Ms Joy said.
“An inspired teacher can take the experience even further, using the garden as a place to teach an integrated curriculum.”
Ms Joy said a garden for children also benefited the local community.
“A garden for children is not only about growing food but it is also about growing food for kids’ imaginations and it’s about growing our community so it’s open to members of the wider school community,” she said.
“Participants are able to apply what they learn quickly in their school setting with information from developing outdoor play spaces, understanding the role of nature as teacher, to food security, no-dig gardens and composting.”
The program runs from 28 September until 29 October and comprises three Thursday evening sessions from 5pm to 8pm and five full-day holiday intensives from 10am to 4.30pm.
Cost is $1000 per participant. The course is expected to fill quickly. For details call 9252 2358.