A new project at Ulladulla TAFE is linking students with the Royal Botanic Gardens to create a new community garden at the Green Street campus.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Community Greening arm of the Royal Botanic Gardens has combined with Nowra and Ulladulla TAFE campuses to offer a Statement of Attainment in Access to Work and Training.
The program targets people who have disengaged with educations or been out of work for an extended period, and helps build their community engagement while being re-introduced to the education sector.
Paddie Lane, a Community Greening Education Officer at the Royal Botanic Gardens, said the program would help develop "good food security" among the students.
"It's a six-day traiing program to develop awareness on nutrient-dense foods," she said.
"We teach basic gardening techniques and ways to keep your food and flowers safe."
Ms Lane said the program initially started at Nowra, but they have "great infrastructure" to take advantage of at Ulladulla.
"There's a pothouse, a greenhouse, a shadehouse, and a number of raised gardens beds," she said.
"We have a group of five women, and we generally won't start a community garden without at least four or five people.
"They've already planted a lot of it, and they'll continue to grow things and raise some money to keep the garden going."
Ms Lane said the students would also look towards "meeting up with other local gardeners and exchanging produce".
Vasana, a student of the course, expressed her enjoyment of the program during a class on Friday, May 21.
"I enjoy the class because I'd like to know more about soil and manure and what seasons to plant certain plants," she said.
"The garden gives you a good community with friends, and you get to watch what other people are doing."
Once finished, the community garden will be open on weekdays.