A Townsville school is helping students grow fresh food and future-ready skills through its school garden made possible through Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s Pick of the Crop initiative.
The Willows State School has brought its garden to life through Pick of the Crop (POTC), with a plan centred on three key elements of the program: teaching and learning, healthy school environments, and grower and community connections.
By weaving POTC into the school’s technologies curriculum, students are getting their hands dirty while building practical skills through real-world learning. From the garden bed to the classroom, the program is helping students connect healthy eating, food production and technology in a meaningful and engaging way.
Digital Learning Specialist and technologies teacher Tim Menzies is leading the school’s involvement in POTC and helping drive the innovative approach to learning.
He has embedded sustainability practices into the curriculum, alongside initiatives in the school garden to reduce water use and food waste through composting, worm farms and the OzHarvest FEAST program, adding POTC has reshaped how he delivers food specialisations in the Version 9 Technologies Australian Curriculum.
‘(POTC) has made it real world and authentic and meets the needs of all the learners in my classroom,’ Tim Menzies said.
‘Having the different grow systems has helped students to understand that food production processes happen in multiple ways and the advantages of each one. They enjoy seeing the effort they put in and the rewards of watching the journey of the plant reach their plate.’
The Willows began planning its POTC garden in Term 2, 2025 and started growing in Term 3.
The school’s Principal Michelle Donn said she was grateful for the opportunity to develop the school garden, sharing that students had embraced every aspect of the project.
‘Students of all age groups across the school are absolutely enthralled when engaging with all stages of the planting, growing and harvesting and happily volunteering to participate in Garden Club at lunchtimes,’ Michelle Donn said.
‘The garden has become a key highlight and feature of our school community, with parents actively engaged in volunteering their time and resources to the garden.’
According to the Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland, in 2024, 96.9% of Queensland children did not meet the recommendation for daily vegetable consumption.
Health and Wellbeing Queensland Chief Executive, Dr Robyn Littlewood said POTC is helping schools create positive, lasting experiences for children through gardening, food and hands-on learning, with the goal of eating more veggies.
‘Pick of the Crop gives students the chance to get their hands dirty, try new foods and learn more about where fresh produce comes from,’ Dr Littlewood said.
‘What we’re seeing at the Willows State School is how combining a school garden with technology can spark curiosity, build confidence and give students practical skills, while also helping them develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime.’
POTC is designed to increase children's interest in vegetables through hands-on learning, food experiences and school garden activities. Since launching in 2021, it has reached 300 schools and more than 70,000 students.
The primary school healthy eating initiative developed by Health and Wellbeing Queensland, aims to increase the opportunities for Queensland primary school students to learn about and eat more vegetables and fruit.
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Health and Wellbeing Queensland is the state's prevention agency. For more health and wellbeing news, visit hw.qld.gov.au.
Contact details:
Catherine Gale-Stanton, Senior Media Advisor, Health and Wellbeing Queensland, 0439 599 210 or [email protected]