Garden club plants many seeds of knowledge

THE Aloomba State School kids’ garden club is a little over six months old, but has already revamped the commemorative Anzac garden and established a vegie, herb and flower beds.

“The most recent donation from Bunnings Innisfail has really tipped the scales to give the students what they have been wishing for – their own little ‘patch’,” said club founder and volunteer garden co-ordinator Marin Haldane.

“Bunnings staff helped the kids build the beds and plant vegie, herb and flower seedlings. The Feed Shop in Gord- onvale donated straw to help protect our little plants and we might make a scarecrow too.”

Other donations came from B&D Garden Supplies at Edmonton, Cairns Mulch, Cairns Hardware, Town & Country AG Services in Gordonvale and a school family who pro- vided a $70 plant voucher.

Run by parents, the club has so far involved more than 20 of the school’s 88 students, who plant seeds, weed, prune and design new garden areas.

Principal Robyn Corbett said the club was a big success.

“From a teaching perspec- tive, students are doing literacy and numeracy even before the school bell rings.

“They write out plant labels, count and measure and problem solve together. There’s an element of discovery, whether its digging up a grub or learning how to use the hose timer.”