From Garden to Table

From planting seedlings and caring for crops, to harvesting, preparing and sharing meals made with seasonal produce, students at the School of the Nativity experience the full cycle of sustainability in food while growing healthy habits and a sense of community.

Integrated Learning At Its Core

The school follows the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program—a practical, hands-on approach to learning experienced through gardening and cooking lessons. Deeply grounded in ecological responsibility, the nationally renowned program offers thoughtfully designed cooking and planting lessons which fit seamlessly into key curriculum areas such as English, Maths, Science and even Art.

Fostering Ownership and Independence

Spending two lessons a week, the students develop their understanding of food origins and how food connects us to the world while nurturing their soft skills in collaboration and responsibility. As students take ownership of the garden and the meals they create, a deep sense of independence and pride is built. At Nativity, the school promotes a strong commitment to building positive relationships with food and equipping students with lifelong skills.

Cooking Up Care and Compassion

But it’s not just in the garden, the school is committed to all aspects of the ecological cycle by composting kitchen scraps, collecting seeds to use again next year, and even selling leftover produce to the school community. Recently, students cooked soup for donation to the Sister Janet Mead Adelaide Day Centre which offers care, comfort and food to people experiencing homelessness. By embedding these values early, the School of the Nativity is nurturing a generation of environmentally conscious, health-aware individuals who are empowered to see food not just as fuel, but as a way to care—for themselves, their community, and the planet.

To find out more about the program, join a tour of the school and discover what’s on offer at the School of the Nativity, go to nativity.catholic.edu.au

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