In 2025, ten regional schools across Australia will join the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program for the first time, following a new partnership between the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation and the Costa Group. This collaboration is part of a three-year initiative aimed at integrating 30 schools and early childhood services into the kitchen garden community nationwide.
The program is designed to support food and nutrition education by offering students hands-on experience in gardening and cooking. It aims to build understanding of plant growth, healthy eating, and environmental responsibility while contributing to student wellbeing. The focus is on schools located in communities where Costa operates farms, encouraging connections between local agriculture, education, and broader community engagement.
The first group of participating schools includes Atherton State Primary School and Mareeba State School in Queensland; East Devonport Primary School and Our Lady of Lourdes in Tasmania; Guyra Central School and Kelly's Plains Public School in New South Wales; Nairne Primary School, Nangiloc Colignan and District Primary School, Unity College, and Loxton District Childcare Centre in South Australia.
Each school or service will receive a two-year membership to the Kitchen Garden Program, which provides tailored guidance and support to educators. The program equips them to help children and young people develop practical skills in growing, harvesting, preparing, and sharing fresh, seasonal food.
In addition to program access, each site will receive an infrastructure grant to support the establishment or enhancement of kitchen garden facilities. This funding may be used for activities such as building or repairing garden beds, acquiring cooking equipment, or installing compost and irrigation systems.
The agreement between the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation and the Costa Group reflects a shared commitment to increasing access to practical food education across regional Australia, with the aim of equipping students with lifelong skills and fostering a greater connection to food systems.
For more information:
Costa
Tel: +61 (0) 3 8363 9000
Email: [email protected]
www.costagroup.com.au