It was wonderful to see The Garden to Table programme launch in the first of four Wellington primary schools recently, following a joint donation from The Tindall Foundation and The Warehouse Group Foundation. This funding is helping to extend the highly successful school gardening and cooking programme into the Wellington region, helping to educate children about the benefits of fresh food and healthy eating.

This is the first time the recently formed Warehouse Group Foundation has teamed up with The Tindall Foundation to co-fund a project. The first Wellington primary school to begin the gardening and cooking lessons was Cannons Creek Primary School in Porirua. A further three schools in the Wellington region will begin the programme later this year. Youngsters are taught how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food using purpose-built gardens and kitchen facilities in their schools.

The Garden to Table programme is helping to change the way children approach and think about food. The Trust behind the programme wants to see children right across New Zealand getting their hands dirty and learning how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal food.

Last year The Tindall Foundation Trustees approved a three year donation to establish Garden to Table in the Wellington Region in partnership with The Warehouse Group Foundation (TWGF), working with four schools close to Warehouse stores. The local Warehouse store will also partner with the schools to support them with volunteer labour for projects, support services and resources, assistance with fundraising for the school.

The Garden to Table trust was established in 2008 by food writer Catherine Bell. It is modelled on Australia’s successful and well documented Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Programme.

Ms Bell is delighted the programme is now available in Wellington.

“It is only with the very generous support of The Warehouse Foundation and The Tindall Foundation that we can expand in to our capital city,” Ms Bell says.

[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″] “They have promised cash support to the Garden to Table Trust during the next three years and The Warehouse team members are backing the scheme with volunteers, equipment and community support.”[/quote]

Read the media coverage here:
School hopes to grow a habit
Garden to table now serves the capital