Getting green and dirty in the garden for G'bah students

AN outdoor classroom they helped build was an exciting prospect for Goonellabah Public School students.

Goonellabah School are learning to grow their vegetables.

AN outdoor classroom they helped build was an exciting prospect for Goonellabah Public School students.  

Members of the Northern Rivers Church of Christ and staff from Bunnings visited the school with supplies to begin construction of a garden and outdoor learning area.

Giving back to community   

Both groups saw it as an opportunity to connect with the community and to offer something back.  

Leisa Everingham from Bunnings said the children learnt a lot from the exercise.  

"They learn about gardening, sustainability, and bugs ... good bugs, and not so good bugs," she said.  

"We want to get the kids to help because then they have ownership, and they are proud of it."  

Learning about food

Chair of Elders at the Northern Rivers Church of Christ David Hancock thought they also learnt a lot about the food itself.  

"If you ever see a child eat a carrot from the ground, you will see something miraculous happen," Mr Hancock said.  

"The joy of watching something grow, and putting it in your mouth ... what a life lesson."  

Eager beavers

The children were just as enthusiastic. Ryan Millar, 8, and Cherakia Roberts, 11, were eager to start shifting dirt for the garden, while classmates Tandia-Jay Louis-Harris, 10, and Latysha Fay Smith, 11, were looking forward to tasting the fruits of their labours.  

"Because it's an outdoor classroom, it'll be more active, it will be more environmental ... and we get more food for the canteen," Latysha said.  

Tandia-Jay thought it would mean students would have more fun being active outside.  

"More fruit days, and more healthy days," they both cheered.