Kids get taste for gardening

Age is no barrier when it comes to growing vegetables - just ask the pre-primary students at Kojonup District High School.

Last week, they invited members of the Kojonup Vegie Group to see what they and the rest of the school had been up to.

Each class has their own garden and there are already plants in the ground in a specifically Italian and English garden. There are also plans for bush tucker and Maori gardens.

The school is also working hard to recycle and become waterwise, both of which have been incorporated into the curriculum, while involving the local community.

Older students have made worm farms, using old school desks, second-hand shade cloth and polystyrene boxes, as well as compost tumblers from recycled materials.

Pre-primary teacher Holly Parker said the students visited the farm once a week.

"It gives them a chance to plant and pick what they have grown and to taste it raw and cooked and take some home," she said.

Last week the students were picking spinach, beans, broccoli and cabbage and also making a hot spinach dip.

Among those picking vegies was Brodie Hills who loves carrots, raw and cooked.

Classmate Terehia Potaka-Osborne's favourite is tomatoes, especially in a salad.

And top of their priority list is being able to pick vegies and climb on hay bales.

Co-ordinator of the Kojonup Vegie Group, Cathy Wright, said it was great to see the enthusiasm of the students and what they were learning.

"It's great for the community to be able to see the enjoyment children get by getting their hands dirty and growing food," she said.

· To join the group, email Cathy on cathywright614@gmail.com