Coles and Junior Landcare celebrate 1000 school garden grants

March marks an exciting milestone for Coles and Junior Landcare who are celebrating funding 1000 school and community group garden projects since the program commenced in 2008.

To celebrate, the 1000 schools and community groups who have received a grant have been invited to participate in a fun photography competition called “My favourite thing in the garden”.

The competition opens on 15 March and closes on 1 May 2011 and is open to three age categories – up to 7 years old, 8-12 and 13-18 year olds. There is also a People’s Choice Award and the Australian Geographic’s Choice Award. Competition entrants have the chance to win fantastic prizes, including a digital camera and printer, Wii, iPhone and iPad.

How to enter

To enter, students/community group members take a photo of their favourite thing in the garden and upload it to the competition website with a brief description of their photo. Students, friends, parents, teachers and others can also get involved by voting for their favourite photo (People’s Choice Award). For more information, visit the competition website at www.1000gardens.com.au

About the Coles School Garden Grants Program

The Coles School Garden Grants Program launched in conjunction with Junior Landcare in 2008.

The program is funded through the sale of reusable shopping bags sold at Coles, and in March the number of schools and community groups to receive a Coles Junior Landcare grant reached 1000.

Successful grant recipients receive up to $1000 to help establish a community garden and learn more about the environment. The program encourages students to get involved and get their hands dirty by helping to prepare soil for planting to harvest their garden’s crop.

So far many schools have established native and water-wise gardens and many of the fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs that have been grown are used in school kitchens and cooking classes.

Schools, kindergartens, day care centres and youth groups looking to start their own garden program can apply for a Coles Junior Landcare School Garden Grant by registering with Junior Landcare. Visit www.juniorlandcare.com.au or www.coles.com.au for more information.