Greenhouse program helps students grow more than just food at Pacific Pines State High School
Students at Pacific Pines State High School are growing their own food in a high-tech greenhouse as part of a program to tackle food insecurity and disengagement. The program has been shown to increase attendance rates and teach students valuable life skills.
It's warm, it's green and, for these students at Pacific Pines State High School, it's definitely not a typical classroom. Inside this high-tech greenhouse, the class is caring for rows of lettuce, herbs and vegetables.
Pacific Pines is one of nine south-east Queensland schools to benefit from a greenhouse program run by not-for-profit Food Ladder. The organisation has 68 school greenhouses operating across Australia.
The program aims to tackle food insecurity, but research suggests that learning to grow food could help a student learn maths and science, and even give them a reason to come to school.
From greenhouse to classroom
Year 8 student Lilly Anne Robins said growing produce had given her a new perspective on its value.