MILLICENT Community Learning Centre students are leading the way in adopting natural lifestyles with the development of an innovative self-sustaining environmental project.
Students are constructing raised garden beds for a range of vegetables and herbs as part of an integrated learning program.
Centre wellbeing coordinator Bevan White said the garden project aimed to provide students with an understanding of environmental sustainability as well as providing real world work experience.
“We’re focusing on health and wellbeing and work ready this year and preparing young people to enter the workforce,” he said.
“We have utilised Neil Reilly’s construction expertise to help teach kids how to communicate on the job.
“It’s a good way to get kids working alongside other kids they would not normally be working with.”
Once complete, the multidisciplinary project will see students harvest their produce for use in their cooking program.
Mr White said the innovative construction design would ensure garden beds last up to a month without being watered.
“The wicker beds are self-sustainable so you can leave them for three to four weeks without being watered,” he said.
“It’s a good project for the kids to be able to do and learn new skills.
“Some of the kids have decorated recycled tyres and we are planning to plant herbs in there too.
“With our harvest, we’ll be using some produce in our cooking program, but we’ll also look at donating some to the community or to some of our kids.”
Participant Bradley Yates said he was enjoying the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in construction.
“Getting into a trade is something I’m thinking about,” he said.
“The skills I’m learning doing this are good for me for the future.
“It will help me learn the skills I need for a trade.”
