Sowing more vegetable seeds on Arbour Day
Munsieville Primary School gave its sustainable food project a boost on Arbour Day.
While most schools and organisations planted trees to celebrate Arbour Day, Munsieville Primary School, a school located between Magaliesburg and Krugersdorp, celebrated the day with a significant twist.
Five months ago, the school started its own food garden which served underprivileged learners during break-times.
Silverstar Casino kicked in with their support on Arbour Day, not by planting trees, but by adding much-needed vegetables to the school’s existing harvest.
To assist with the Arbour Day celebrations, 40 green-fingered Grade 6 learners, their educator, the school caretaker and volunteers from Silverstar Casino helped plant green beans, sweetcorn, green peppers, tomatoes and peas, which will make a healthy contribution to the current crop which is already used to cook nutritious meals for the learners in need.
“The food garden is not only yielding wholesome food, it is also providing us with an opportunity to educate our learners about the need for sustainability during our outdoor lessons.
In addition, some of the vegetables harvested are being used to raise funds to build a greenhouse so that we can extend the benefits of our food garden to more pupils, and generate extra income for the school,” said the Principal of Munsieville Primary School, Judith Mkhize.
Director of Operations and Complex General Manager at Silverstar Casino, Shane Collinson, weighed in too, saying, “A healthy diet has been proven to enhance the behaviour, academic performance and well-being of children of all ages, which is why we are so passionate about helping to create and maintain a sustainable feeding scheme at Munsieville Primary School.”
He added, “A food garden not only ensures that pupils return home from school with food in their stomachs, but they are also given the opportunity to learn about the environment and how to grow vegetables for their own families.”
By sowing additional vegetable seeds on Arbour Day, it would seem that Munsieville Primary will have a brighter healthier future. With volunteers from the school’s Community Work Programme supporting the food garden and creating their own compost from organic waste, the school is setting an excellent example of sustainability for learners, parents and the greater Munsieville community.
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