THE Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project and Food Ladder celebrated the launch of two innovative greenhouse and healthy food growing systems alongside funders, volunteers and the school community, on Wednesday, May 20.
The Food Ladder’s greenhouses, located at Gowrie Street Primary School and Mooroopna Park Primary School, are creating new opportunities for students and schools to thrive through healthy food and hands-on learning.
“The potential was immediately clear this was about far more than building greenhouses. It was about tackling food insecurity, improving student wellbeing, and creating meaningful learning experiences that could shape future pathways,” said Amy Robinson, Executive Officer of the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project.
The project was made possible with funding support from the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program and combined grants from local Rotary Groups including Shepparton Central, Shepparton and Shepparton South. Local service clubs, including Kiwanis and Rotary along with local businesses and amazing community volunteers assisted Lighthouse and the schools with site preparation and construction of the agri-tech and greenhouse infrastructure.
Both primary schools already run highly successful breakfast and lunch programs to ensure students are nourished and ready to learn. The Gowrie Street Grade greenhouse also links to a First Nations edible garden which was co-designed, planned and planted by Grade 5 and 6 students, under the guidance of Auntie Lisa Lynch.
“The addition of the greenhouses will strengthen our food programs by producing more than 250 kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables annually, while also providing surplus produce for families to take home.” said Gowrie Street Acting Principal Tim Davis.
Additional funding has now been secured through the Vic Health Growing Healthy Communities Grants program to expand the model into Greater Shepparton Secondary College through Lighthouse’s ‘Reimagining a Sustainable Food Growing System at School’ project.
