Kitchen Garden program

The best way to keep up to date with upcoming session days and times for Kitchen Garden events is to follow our Eventbrite page, or through the Student Life Instagram and Facebook pages!

The Kitchen Garden is a cooperative community for all ANU students and staff, bringing us together to share connection with nature, each other and to enjoy fresh, healthy food.

Young people report high levels of loneliness, disconnection from nature and work/study-related stress. As well, young people have some of the lowest self-reported fruit and vegetable intakes across all age groups and can struggle to access affordable, healthy, fresh food. Healthy eating, access to nature and working together in community all contribute to improved physical and mental wellbeing.

The Kitchen Garden program offers ANU students and staff the chance to:

• work creatively and cooperatively, sharing skills, knowledge and experience and learning together;
• build confidence to grow and harvest food, to nurture and promote biodiversity, to learn about reducing food waste and circular economy approaches, and to prepare fresh, healthy, seasonal meals;
• create connections and networks with students and staff, and the broader Canberra community, in a safe, respective, and inclusive space - the Kitchen Garden Community;
• connect with nature and develop a deeper understanding ofour natural environment;
• develop and build on skills and capabilities beyond academic learning;
• engage in volunteer work and contribute to the local community and share a sense of purpose with others.

Each session is led by students working with and under the direction and supervision of the Kitchen Garden Program Coordinator.

As a participant

Anyone in the ANU community - students and staff- is welcome to come along to our regular sessions or events AND you really don't have to be a master chef or a green thumb gardener to attend! There's no ongoing commitment required: come once a Semester or every week, it's up to you! Participants can attend as many or as few regular sessions as they would like.

Registrations are essential for ALL regular sessions and other events. Registrations must be made through our Eventbrite page and can be completed up to one hour after the session or event begins.

As a volunteer

The Kitchen Garden thrives because of our committed and enthusiastic team of student and staff volunteers. Volunteering is fun and a great way to meet and work with other like-minded members of the ANU community.

Volunteers are supported with regular, ongoing on-the-job training in either garden or kitchen related skills knowledge and mentoring and are supervised by the Kitchen Garden Program Coordinator. You don't need to be a cooking or gardening expert, just enthusiastic, interested and willing to learn. We'll give you training and support!

Volunteers are invited to be part of the planning and creative development of the Kitchen Garden program and the gardens as well as helping with the day-to-day running of the program.

Volunteers are asked to make a commitment to the hour Kitchen Garden of at least 8 hours of volunteering per semester. This might be helping out with 4 Gardening Bees, or 3 Harvest-Prepare-Share lunch sessions or volunteering to water the garden once a week or feed the chickens on Saturdays. Volunteer hours can also be contributed by helping with social media, coordinating projects and promoting the Kitchen Garden Program.