Actsmart Schools: Actsmart is a specialised free program which can support schools in how to set up or maintain school kitchen gardens with links to the classroom and can help Fresh Tastes schools achieve their growing food goals. There’s also a plant selector tool on their website where you can find the best plants to use in the school garden or at home.
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation: includes advice based on the Foundation's recipes, garden activities and vegie-growing tips. The Foundation also has resources called ‘Tools for Teachers’ which include units, lesson plans and activity starters linked to the Australian Curriculum.
ACT Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) scheme: solar panels are installed at every ACT public school. The excess energy generated by these panels earns the schools an income, as part of the ACT Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) scheme. Schools can re-invest this money into further sustainability efforts, such as setting up a sustainable food garden. To learn more, contact Infrastructure and Capital Works on 02 6207 8364.
Canberra Organic Growers Society: local society where you can find Canberra specific tips for starting or maintaining your vegie garden at home, and local gardening news and events.
Rodney’s PlantsPlus: their website has gardening fact sheets, local news and tips for the Canberra region.
The Green Shed: head out to their Mugga Lane or Mitchell locations to purchase cheap gardening materials and equipment to get growing at school and home. Schools involved in Fresh Tastes can get equipment and materials from The Green Shed for free.
Sustainable Gardening Australia: ideas for making gardens more environmentally friendly, along with information about growing edible bush tucker.
Primary Connections: Fully linked to the Australian Curriculum: Science, the Primary Connections ‘Watch it Grow!’ and ‘Plants in Action’ units will create a sense of wonder in students and an appreciation of plants as they investigate the process of germination, the stages in a plant’s life cycle and the things plants need for growth.
Australian Organic Schools: Australian Organic Schools is a free online education program that doesn’t just help the teachers and students at Australian Schools set up a garden – it teaches them the necessary food-growing knowledge and skills they’ll need to make the most of their new garden.
Kitchen Gardens: This website offers some brilliant tools and ideas for teachers and students looking to grow and cook their own food.