Undaunted by the chilly midwinter’s morning, groups of year six kids at Tasmania’s Moonah primary school are digging out last season’s sweetcorn plants, sieving compost, planting seedlings and harvesting vegetables for a shared lunch. Meanwhile in the warmth of the kitchen, aprons on, young minds are focused on preparing broccoli balls with zesty lemon dip, pea and leek tart and vegetarian dumplings. Guided by their kitchen and garden specialists, the students are engaged and confident, quietly chatting as they work on allotted tasks.
The group are among the 2,000 students in 24 primary and high schools across Tasmania who are part of 24 Carrot Gardens, a kitchen garden program for low socioeconomic schools founded in 2014 by Mona artist and philanthropist Kirsha Kaechele.
