A primary school on the far north coast has gone one step further in its sustainability ethics by teaching the students to grow their own food as a way of being self-sufficient when pocket money is a bit tight.

Murwillumbah Public School principal Robyn Edwards says the students are learning about the economics of sustainability.

“We are hoping that our children will be able to grow their own food if the recession hits,” Mrs Edwards says.

According to Year 6 student Jake S, the project (which collected several awards this year from Tweed Shire Council) all began with six chickens and a chook pen built by his teacher, Brad Davis.

“That one small gesture has taken on a life of its own,” Jake says.

“The chickens needed feeding so the canteen and each class were given a scrap bucket. The chooks now have a plentiful food supply and we have less rubbish in the bins each week,” he says.

“The chickens make fantastic fertiliser, which seemed sinful to waste, so each class created their own gardens. We now have a bush tucker garden, a drought-tolerant native garden and vegetable garden with a few petunias to keep Mrs Edwards happy.”

A rainwater run-off tank, which also supplies water to the chickens, was also installed along with a worm farm and composting bins.

Mrs Edwards says the gardens produce strawberries, pineapples, tomatoes, snow peas, beans and herbs, carrots, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, shallots and boast a few fruit trees.

The students harvest the fruit and vegetables and give them to the canteen to use in the salads each day. The eggs are sold at $3 a dozen to the canteen, parents and teachers.

“This money buys the grain for the chickens so it’s very sustainable,” Mrs Edwards says. “We try to show the children that you don’t always have to have a lot of ground to grow your own food.”