More kitchen gardens for north coast schools

THIRTY school kitchen gardens in Northern NSW have received a boost with $15,000 of support from the Live Life Well @ School Program promoting healthy eating and being active.

The joint initiative between NSW Health, the Department of Education, and Catholic and Independent Schools encourages children to make healthy food choices and be more active during the school day.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said she was delighted to support so many schools to start up or revitalise their edible gardens.

“Some schools are using the grants to grow bush tucker or to distribute or sell produce to the local community as a fundraiser,” Ms Saffin said.

“It’s great to see so many schools linking their gardens to Live Life Well initiatives, including vegetable, fruit and water breaks (Crunch&Sip) and the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy.”

The NSW Minister for Health, Ryan Park, said the school gardens fostered wellbeing.

“School gardens lead to increased fruit and vegetable consumption and can provide learning opportunities for students and the wider school community.” School garden grant recipients include the Ballina, Bogangar, Byron Bay, Condong, Duranbah, Kingscliff, Lismore South, and Murwillumbah East public schools. Sathya Sai College Primary, St Finbar’s Primary School, and The Small School Murwillumbah also received grants. For more information and the full list of schools on the grant list, visit health.nsw.gov.au/heal/schools/Pages/llw-at-school.aspx