An idea conceptualised and developed late last year by principal Manolis Vogiatzis and school estate manager Charles Ingman, it came about as a way to help their local community and student body.
After Ingman and his team of workers began digging up the hard ground that would become the garden, they were able to organically develop what he refers to as, “the most fertile soil I’ve ever seen”.
Soon they built an unorthodox, but fully functional, irrigation system above the garden and were able to gate off the area, eventually giving full responsibility to a group of grade 8 and 9 students to look after the various crops which include onions, cabbage, beetroot and carrots.
“The students’ responsibility now is from seed to harvest,” said Vogiatzis.
He said the garden would not only become an added activity for students who want to get involved, but the vegetables grown will be sold at a sale later this year, with the profits going towards Hyde Park High School students who are in need of assistance.
Vogiatzis added, “Education is not only what can be done in between the four walls of a classroom, but should also be able to branch out into the world.”
With the vegetable garden prepared for hands eager to work, the school hopes it will become an ongoing project, with older students teaching the lower grades.
