The Patch Primary School student, nine-year-old Grace, helps prepare the school’s garden for its upcoming festival on 24 October.
By Russell Bennett
Students from Prep right through to Grade 6 have established a garden at the school over the past three years.
They’ve been involved in every step of the process from planning and designing through to putting the plants in the ground and maintaining them.
The culmination of the project has come in the form of this week’s Garden Festival – held alongside the Dandenong Ranges’ SpringFest.
“This Sunday, on 24 October, we’re going all out to share our garden and get people to come in and learn about what we’ve been doing,” Environmental Education teacher Michelle Rayner said.
“This has continued on from last year when it was part of the Inspiring in Spring Dandenongs festival.”
“That was about getting people to come back into the hills after Black Saturday because a lot of our tourist attractions were losing numbers.”
“We were part of the activities last year and used it as a chance to showcase our school.”
The Patch Primary School held an open day on 15 October last year to display their centerpiece. This Sunday, they’re repeating the effort.
“The garden has got so many features that have been created by different people involved with the school,” Ms Rayner said.
“There was even a dad who came along and said ‘I make pizza ovens, do you want me to make you one?’.”
“It’s really great.”
“For us to be a part of SpringFest means we can tap into a bigger project that’s getting people coming from beyond our school gates and beyond our direct community.”
Seven Network weatherman David Brown visited the school last week to film a segment for his School Days segment on Seven .
“My day here has been terrific,” he said.
“In fact this is one of the best gardens I’ve been to, and with the passion of the kids, it’s just phenomenal.”
“It’s great to see that they treat it as if it’s their own patch and it is.”
“It’s brilliant and the pizza is sensational.”
The Patch Primary School’s 2010 Garden Festival will be held on 24 October from 10am to 4pm.
Entry is a gold coin.
