Munsieville school gives food project a boost on Arbour Day
“The food garden is not only yielding wholesome food, but it is also providing us with an opportunity to educate our learners on the need for sustainability during our outdoor lessons."
It’s been just over five months since Munsieville Primary started its very own food garden.
The school decided to celebrate Arbour Day, not by planting trees, but rather by adding much-needed vegetables to their existing crops.
The school educates underprivileged learners from the nearby township and in many cases, the food learners receive at break-time is the only nutritious meal they will eat for the day, which is why the sustainability of its organic vegetable patch is so important.
To assist with the Arbour Day celebrations, 40 green-fingered Grade 6 learners along with their educator, the school caretaker and volunteers from Silverstar Casino helped plant green beans, sweetcorn, green peppers, tomatoes and peas. This will make a healthy addition to the current harvest which is already used to cook nutritious meals for pupils in need.
“The food garden is not only yielding wholesome food, but it is also providing us with an opportunity to educate our learners on the need for sustainability during our outdoor lessons.
In addition, some of the vegetables harvested are being used to raise funds to build a greenhouse so that we can extend the benefits of our food garden to more pupils, and generate extra income for the school,” said Principal of Munsieville Primary School, Judith Mkhize.
“A healthy diet has been proven to enhance the behaviour, academic performance and well-being of children of all ages, which is why we are so passionate about helping to create and maintain a sustainable feeding scheme at Munsieville Primary. A food garden not only ensures that pupils return home from school with food in their stomachs, but they are also given the opportunity to learn about the environment and how to grow vegetables for their own families,” added Director of Operations and Complex General Manager at Silverstar Casino, Shane Collinson.
Sowing additional vegetable seeds on Arbour Day would seem to guarantee that Munsieville Primary will have a brighter, healthier future. With volunteers from the school’s Community Work Programme supporting the food garden and creating their own compost from organic waste, the school is setting an excellent example of sustainability for learners, parents and the greater Munsieville community.
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