Positive Food Experience

Pupils at East Tamaki Primary, Meadowbank Primary and Peninsula Primary schools are learning to grow and harvest fruit and vegetables with the help of the Garden to Table Trust Programme. Inspired by restaurateur Stephanie Alexander’s work in Australia, Catherine Bell founded the local trust in 28 with the aim of providing children with a pleasurable education about food, horticulture and their natural environment. “Children learn through positive experiences and so much can be gained by growing and cooking and enjoying fresh, seasonal food,” Alexander said. Each of the pilot schools has established an extensive fruit and vegetable garden which the students helped to design and build, together with a home-style kitchen classroom that operates sustainably. Gardening and cooking specialists have been employed to implement the classes.