Council plants seeds of sustainability in local schools

Six select primary schools have received special deliveries, with Townsville City Council swinging by last week to deliver Seeds to Success start-up kits to the classes chosen to take part in the pilot program.

Dozens of students will now spend the remainder of the school year getting their hands dirty while learning about food, sustainability and the local environment.

Rolling out across the school year, the new Council-led program is designed to build ecological stewardship among young people whilst fostering an appreciation for connecting with nature, growing local food and reducing food waste.

The six successful schools were chosen through a competitive application process across two tailored garden packages, each valued at more than $3,000 and designed to support hands‑on learning in schools.

Through the program, Bohlevale State School, Ryan Catholic College and Willows State School will receive a two‑year membership to the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.

The Kitchen Garden Package supports food education with a focus on the flavours and health benefits of fresh, seasonal food, helping students better understand where food comes from and how healthy meals are prepared.

Oonoonba State School, Townsville South State School and Townsville Grammar School - North Shore will receive a Native Ecology Garden Package.

This package includes a mix of 25 local native plants grown at Council’s nursery, a native bee workshop delivered by the Townsville and District Beekeepers Association and a bee hotel for each student.

Each participating school will also receive a garden starter kit, including a raised garden bed with living soil and mulch.

Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto said the program was an investment in both the city’s future and our next generation.

“Seeds to Success helps our youngest Townsville residents learn where food comes from and how to look after the natural spaces around them,” Cr Dametto said.

“As the program develops, Council will keep working with local schools and the community on practical, affordable ways to make a real difference over time – including ideas that support sharing seeds, knowledge and gardening skills across the city.”

Divisional 5 Councillor Vera Dirou joined with Mayor Dametto to deliver the Kitchen Garden Package to Year 4 at Ryan Catholic College Primary School last Tuesday.

Cr Dirou said it was wonderful to see the excitement of the school kids who were raring to get growing.

“The enthusiasm of the children at Ryan Catholic College when we dropped off their garden starter kids was great to see – I know the school will put the Stephanie Garden Kitchen Package to great use as both a learning tool and also an opportunity to have some fun,” Cr Dirou said.

Ryan Catholic College, Year 4 Teacher, Michelle Fraser said opportunities such as the Seeds to Success program helped students to connect their learning to the real world and develop lifelong skills.

"As a Catholic school, we value Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si, in which he calls for Care of Our Common Home – our students will learn how valuable our job as caretakers of our earth is,” Ms Fraser said.

"We thank the Townsville City Council for initiatives like this, as it supports us as teachers by aligning the program with the Australian Curriculum, so it’s a win for our students and for us too."

Division 3 Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney stopped in at Townsville South State School alongside Council staff last Thursday to drop off the Native Ecology Garden Package to Year 1-2.

Cr Greaney said she was stoked to see dozens of native plants propagated and grown at Council’s nursery find their new homes in local schools.

“This package will see native gardens installed across three local primary schools, as well as hands-on learning provided to students about native bees and their role as pollinators – I know the students at Townsville South State School are very excited to get their hands dirty and make a start,” Cr Greaney said.