School’s Green Thumb Team enjoys growing success

There’s a growing interest in environmental stewardship and sustainability at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School at Deloraine.

Staff and students have increased their focus on composting and cutting food waste, with help from thousands of wriggly worm farm inhabitants.

Photo Caption - Get growing: Students Alice, Beatrice and Matilda tend to a worm farm at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School, Deloraine. Photo supplied: OLOM

The hard work has paid off, not only with a successful environmental program and healthier garden beds but also with a prestigious award.

The school, with just under 100 students, won the primary section of the Waste Not Awards, an initiative of Circular North, and received a trophy and $500.

Principal Mary Bennett said the program linked to a number of curriculum areas, including science, as well as community service and the Laudato si’ teachings of Pope Francis in his encyclical on ‘care for our common home’.

Vegetables grown in the school garden are cooked and eaten by students, given to parents or shared with the community.

“The bigger plan is to disperse excess produce to the needy via Deloraine House in the future,” Ms Bennett added.

Teacher Deb Jones has been a driving force behind the project. She explained how the award came about: “Our application for this award was based on the sustainability initiatives we’ve implemented since the beginning of the year, particularly our work with composting and reducing food waste through the creation of 14 active worm farms.

“These worm farms have become a central part of our school's environmental program, and they are maintained by a passionate group of students known as our Green Thumb Team.

“The team works diligently to collect food scraps, maintain the worm habitats, and monitor the production of rich compost.

“This compost will then be used in our school garden beds to help grow herbs, vegetables, and flowers, creating a full-circle system that highlights the value of waste reduction and natural recycling.”

Joanne McCullagh, from Circular North, said the awards celebrate individuals, schools, businesses and community groups in Northern Tasmania who are taking meaningful steps to change how they manage waste.

“Our Lady of Mercy’s project is an excellent example of how a regional school or community can take action to reduce their waste, even when some waste services are not locally available,” she said.

“By taking full responsibility of their FOGO [food and garden organics], the school has not only enhanced student learning through their kitchen garden but will also share the benefits throughout their community by supporting chemical-free gardening.”

Mrs Jones said the Green Thumb Team plays a vital role in fostering environmental awareness in the school.

“We are excited for what lies ahead and incredibly proud of our students for their commitment to creating a greener world, one worm farm at a time,” she added.

Circular North is a regional initiative comprising eight local councils and NRM North, providing advice, funding and education to better manage waste and recycling in Northern Tasmania.

Meanwhile, former students from as far afield as Queensland are returning to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School on 28 November, when it marks 130 years of Catholic Education.

By Wendy Shaw