Students’ wheelbarrow gardens on path to Show

Thirteen VET students have sprouted four wheelbarrow gardens that they will enter into the Royal Darwin Show next month.

The high school students, who are part of the VET Delivery to Secondary Schools program, are studying for a Certificate I in Agrifood Operations at Charles Darwin University.

Horticulture Lecturer Robyn Wing said the students worked hard on the project.

“The Henbury School, Palmerston College and O’Loughlin Catholic College students have learnt about propagation, potting, safety and plant hygiene,” Ms Wing said.

“They came up with the design and built the wheelbarrow gardens, and did a fantastic job. It’s the culmination of months of hard work.”

The themes for the wheelbarrows are “Jumanji” an African jungle, “Outback” Australian bush, “Hot Men” fire and “Mulligah” an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural meeting.

Ms Wing said the students, who have a learning disability, also worked on a section of the vegetable garden on Casuarina campus.

“They started their section from scratch and are now harvesting produce such as bok choy, capsicums, eggplants, zucchinis and lemongrass,” she said.

“They’re sharing the fruits of their labour at home and school.”

O’Loughlin College student Romone Lewin said he enjoyed being outdoors and working on the projects.

“I want to become a park ranger or work with wildlife when I finish school,” Romone said.

CDU’s Certificate I in Agrifood Operations is an entry-level qualification to prepare people to enter the agriculture, horticulture and conservation, and land management industries.

It allows students to develop basic skills and knowledge to prepare for work.

For more information on VET courses visit W: cdu.edu.au/cdu-vet