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  • About

    Young people thrive in a positive and connected food culture.

    Child holding some freshly picked vegetables, including pumpkin and broccoli

    24 Carrot Gardens is a food education program of Material Institute Lutruwita / Tasmania. We work with 24 schools around Tasmania to establish and maintain kitchen gardens and living classrooms to support young people to build a positive relationship with healthy food. With the aim to inspire their families, friends, and communities to do the same.

     

    This seed-to-plate approach builds practical skills while fostering curiosity, creativity and connection with food and one another.

  • Our Approach

    Children with an instructor examining gardening materials

    24 Carrot Gardens promotes an inquiry-based learning model to improve students’ food literacy and health while building positive social and cultural connections. The program also provides a multitude of opportunities to connect with the national STEAM curriculum.

    Gardens are collaboratively designed with staff and students to meet the needs of the school community. Materials are chosen for their beauty and sustainability, with artfulness integrated into every project to spark inquiry and inspire learning.

    Staff and children outside a greenhouse raking a gravel path

    While no two gardens are the same, common features include:

    • outdoor classrooms for gathering across the seasons
    • a range of edible plants from vegetables and herbs through to orchard fruits
    • native bushfood plantings and flowers to attract pollinators
    • compost systems and worm farms to cycle food waste back into the soil
    • outdoor cooking facilities such as pizza ovens and barbecues

  • Our Impact

    children enjoying activities at the 24 carrot carnival

    24 Carrot Gardens is a place-based activation to drive long-term systems change.

     

    The challenges of low food literacy and limited access to locally grown, nutritious and affordable food won’t be solved overnight, but through an engaging learning model we can start to change cycles of disadvantage and promote more positive and healthy trajectories over the span of a generation.

    People serving themselves fresh vegetable dishes in a communal table setting

    Our program, which is centred around inquiry and enjoyment, equips young people with practical skills, positive habits and an appetite for lifelong learning. Over 260 hours of hands-on learning takes place in the garden and kitchen every week, led by 41 skilled and passionate educators.

     

    For information on our impact, view the UTAS-issued evaluation summary of our Clarendon Vale Kitchen Garden program here (or read the full report here).

We are proud to garden alongside these 24 schools in Lutruwita/Tasmania.

  • Austins Ferry Primary School
  • Bayview Secondary College
  • Brighton Primary School
  • Clarendon Vale Primary School
  • East Devonport Primary School
  • East Tamar Primary School
  • Glenorchy Primary School
  • Goodwood Primary School
  • JRLF - East Derwent Primary School
  • JRLF - Gagebrook Primary
  • JRLF - Herdsmans Cove Primary School
  • JRLF - Senior School
  • Kingston High School
  • Kingston Primary School
  • Montello Primary School
  • Montrose Bay High School
  • Moonah Primary School
  • Ravenswood Heights Primary School
  • Risdon Vale Primary School
  • Romaine Park Primary School
  • Springfield Gardens Primary School
  • Triabunna District School
  • Warrane Primary School
  • Windermere Primary School

Our Team

  • Andy Rushton

    24 Carrot Gardens High School Program Manager

    Andy Rushton

    A high school teacher before joining our ranks, Andy loves getting out into the garden with students, teaching lifelong practical skills outside the classroom.

  • Kristina McCarthy

    24 Carrot Regional Program Manager

    Kristina McCarthy

    Covering the state's north and drawing on her many years’ immersion in all things school kitchen garden, Kris delivers support for 24 Carrot school programs and professional learning for program staff. From her new base on the beautiful north west coast, and with her twin passions for building gardens and community, she travels the state to serve 24 Carrot.


  • Minna Bright

    Partnership and Project Lead

    Minna Bright

    Steward of our network of partnerships, donors, suppliers, service providers and community advocates. Also works on the project side, spreadsheeting up a storm to support new and ongoing initiatives.

  • Reuben Parker-Greer

    24 Carrot Gardens Operations Manager

    Reuben Parker-Greer

    Likes to help things grow strong and healthy, whether it’s plants, landscapes, people or community: loves the lot. Works directly with schools and students to create their gardens, from shared vision to nurturing plants in the ground.

  • Sarah "Sharky" Betts

    Southern Primary School Coordinator

    Sarah "Sharky" Betts

    Focused on nudging the flows of people and plants toward optimal growing conditions. A wild gardening enthusiast, wilderness walker, wild cider-maker, and the friendliest shark we know.

  • Tamas Oszvald

    24 Carrot Gardens Program Manager

    Tamas Oszvald

    Trained woodcarver and carpenter—as well as the senior project manager for our southern primary schools—Tamas designs and builds outdoor furniture for our school gardens. Also has a PhD, runs a family theatre group, and the rest.

Stay in Touch

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