Perth Voice Interactive

ARANMORE primary school is greener than a Prius-driving Incredible Hulk.

The Leederville school has just been accredited as waste- and water-wise and for the past few years has been establishing a sustainable vegetable garden.

The garden now boasts a worm farm, apples and olive trees and herbs (that’s erbs for American readers).

Garden co-ordinator Lynn Raschilla says fruit and vegetables are on the way too.

“The garden is used for various lessons involving all year levels from kindy to year six with the children involved in planting, weeding and picking,” she says.

“Our little kindy children recently went on a mini-beast hunt and they were delighted with their discoveries.

“Year three classes have used the produce to cook herb scones and make orange slushies.
“The worm café has been established and food scraps from the crunch-and-sip program and the school canteen are used to feed the worms which then are added into our composting system to nourish the garden.”

Science coordinator Morgan Foster says the school sends ring-pulls to “Brother Ollie”, who uses them to build wheelchairs for kids.

“Once we get a crusher we’ll be able to send him the cans as well,” she says.

“The kids are all educated on recycling and after lunch put cans and plastics in the correct bins.

“Left-overs from the school canteen and kids’ lunches are put into the worm farm, but you need to be careful what you put in there—worms don’t like citrus and onions!”

The school also has half-flush toilets and taps that turn themselves off.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK