Bringing backyard gardening to kids

Want to teach your kids a how to grow their own food?

Experienced teacher and gardener Vincent Heley is set to kick off his after-school gardening lessons where the whole family can learn the basics.

“It’s an opportunity for children to learn gardening and I don’t think anyone in Ballarat or Victoria, or even Australia offers after school gardening classes,” Mr Heley said.

“So many people don’t know anything about even simple gardening skills, particularly children.”

Operating from the comfort of participants own homes, Mr Heley and his team plan to show children and their parents how to harvest their own veggies by setting up their very own patch in their backyard.

“There are some costs associated with setting it up, but we try to keep it to an absolute minimum, obviously they’ll need to have a garden bed or area to put the veggie garden,” he said.

“People are realising more and more that we need to look after ourselves and COVID-19 has reinforced the fact that gardening is very important to people.”

A primary school teacher for nearly 20 years, as well as an avid green thumb with his own gardening business on the side, Mr Heley said he’s keen to put his expertise to good use.

“I’m a fun, energetic, very patient teacher who really likes kids to get out there and have a good time,” he said.

“Come along to the information sessions either 30 or 31 January or 1 February and have a listen to some of the introductory information and learn about what we will get up to through the term.

“Both the classes and information sessions will be COVID-compliant so it’s great if people can book in and contact me prior via Messenger to let me know which session they would like to attend.”

For more details on the classes or to book a spot in one of the information sessions, contact Vincent Heley’s Facebook page.