Rural Women NZ and Farmlands announce gardening grants

Rural Women NZ and Farmlands announce rural school gardening grants

Eleven rural schools have been selected as the lucky winners of $2000 gardening grants. The popular grants are a joint Rural Women New Zealand / Farmlands venture, aimed at helping schools develop vegetable gardens and orchards.

“This is the fourth year we’ve given out the gardening grants with funds from the Farmlands Ladies Nights,” says Rural Women New Zealand national president, Wendy McGowan.

“It’s a great way to help schools teach children how easy it is to grow food and what makes a healthy diet. In past years the gardening grants have been used by schools to build tunnel houses, composting systems, buy seeds, plants, fruit trees and gardening equipment.”

This year 52 North Island schools and 38 South Island schools applied for the grants.

“The entries were colourful and enthusiastic, and in some cases included videos created by the children showing what they hoped to achieve in their gardens.”

The lucky winners are:

Otamarakau School, Bay of Plenty
Paparoa Primary School, Northland
Te Horo School, Kapiti
Wharepapa South School, Waikato
Norfolk School, Taranaki
Patoka School, Hawke’s Bay
Lauriston School, Mid Canterbury
Seddon School, Marlborough
Clutha Valley Primary School, Otago
Lake Brunner School, West Coast
Waianiwa School, Southland

The cheques will be presented to the schools at the beginning of the new term.

The schools will also receive fertiliser from Agrisea NZ Ltd and a copy of ‘A Good Harvest – recipes from the gardens of Rural Women New Zealand’ so the children can put all their produce to good use.

Farmlands’ chief executive, Brent Esler, says the company is proud to continue its support of Rural Women New Zealand and the rural school garden grants.

“As a rural co-operative it just makes sense for us to support schools that make up the hubs of the rural communities we service.”

Ends

© Scoop Media