TOORMINA Public School has officially opened its Food For Thought Garden, following a year-long collaborative effort involving students, local businesses, families, friends, and sponsors.
Driven by the school’s P&C Project Co-creator Christey Ferreira, the garden came about after parents noticed rubbish and chip packets floating around the school playground. The garden is the result of a year’s work.
Ms Ferreira, a recently qualified horticulturist, bush regenerator, and small “green” business owner, chatted with other school parents, which planted the seed of an idea.
“We decided it was time to teach the kids to spend more time outdoors, care for the country and grow what they eat,” she told News Of The Area.
“I am passionate about growing greener kids; children who discover joy in the outdoors, appreciate fresh wholesome foods, and grow up caring deeply for our beautiful country.”
The group successfully applied for a Junior Landcare grant to kick off the project.
They chose a sunny position and beautiful space on the front lawn of the school, underneath the shady turpentine and blackbutt trees.
“We constructed a 10m x 10m flat pad on the hillside with two retaining walls and drainage, and topped it with beautiful, donated hardwood bench seats, so kids and community could gather and share the gardens.
“The groundworks, drainage and retaining wall were a team effort by kids and community [involving] shovelling, raking, tamping and digging, complemented by rented and borrowed machinery.”
The group chose aesthetic, easy-to-build modular raised garden beds from MODBOX, made from sustainable Calitrus cypress, which the children put together with little adult instruction.
“They loved the building process,” Ms Ferreira said.
“Then it was shovelling, bucketing, planting and mulching.”
To date $7500 worth of services, hire, materials, and food for working bees has been provided by the community.
Local permaculturist Peter Lewis helped the team set up a native beehive, which has gone so well that the hive is being split in two.
A children’s drawing competition was also launched to find a design for the newly constructed “welcome” sign.
Toormina Public School Principal Paul McPherson thanked the P&C for gifting the students and community the “Food For Thought Garden”.
“This space has grown far more than fresh produce; it has nurtured confidence, curiosity, and meaningful connection,” he said.
“Through the tireless efforts of our P&C, and the generous support of businesses across the Coffs Harbour district, our school continues to flourish.
“This garden stands as a reminder that when many hands plant with kindness and purpose, an entire community can truly bloom.”
The school’s P&C President Alana Dunning said, “Seeing the kids flock to the gardens on the bell every afternoon to find and share food is so heartwarming.”
By Andrea FERRARI
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