This national programme recognises and rewards schools for their efforts to improve food security by the establishment of thriving food gardens in resource-efficient permaculture environments.

Schools are now invited to enter their sustainable food garden projects in the Woolworths Trust EduPlant 2008 competition by 30 May 2008.

It is hoped that Western Cape schools will have a strong showing in 2008. Last year, 13 Western Cape schools entered the competition and Rocklands Primary was again re?cognised for its advanced permaculture design and practices through the award of the provincial prize

Woolworths Trust EduPlant, in association with LandCare SA, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and SABC Education, is South Africa’s leading schools’ food gardening and greening programme.

In 2008, 5 200 educators attended free one-day Woolworths Trust EduPlant permaculture food gardening workshops held across the country. These inspiring workshops introduced educators to the permaculture system of sustainable living and enabled them to practically design and develop good food gardens at their schools.

The benefits of participating in the programme are widespread and ongoing. Participating schools implement practical environmental management designs that ensure that people can thrive within nature’s limits. Schools become hubs of environmental awareness and sustainable living.

Educators, learners and parents gain vital knowledge and experience of organic food production, water harvesting, soil improvement, natural resource mapping and recycling design.

Schools supplement their feeding schemes with fresh fruit, herbs and vegetables. They gain income from the sales of surplus produce and value-added products and they may involve the broader community in the food gardening effort.

EduPlant schools play an important role in promoting self-reliance and home-grown sustainability, thereby increasing their communities’ capacity to drive their own development.

The next step in the programme is for educators to enter their food gardens into the competition. Finalist schools present their permaculture food gardening projects to a panel of judges, attend educational workshops and network with other schools. Each finalist school will win a cash prize and additional prize money and resources.

. Entry forms from Joanne Rolt on (011) 803 9750, email joanne@trees.org.za or see Woolworths Trust EduPlant’s website www.trees.co.za .