Kai to Compost to Kai – Mana Ora Youth Resilience Grant

Food Tech in conjunction with Wastewise and Kaitiaki are thrilled to be one of the recipients of the Auckland Council Mana Ora Youth Resilience Grant. Our full-cycle project, Kai to Compost to Kai, will allow the students to be involved in a ‘hands-on’ project that is ‘device free’.

So what are we actually doing?
We are setting up raised macrocarpa garden beds in front of our Food Tech kitchens. The produce we grow will be utilised in the kai we cook in our Food Tech programme. The vegetable waste will be composted in our compost bins. We have acquired two pre-loved worm farms to work alongside our Kai to Compost to Kai project.

We already have a fabulous three bin system – Food Waste, Recycling and Rubbish (landfill). Plus we recycle our paper and Wastewise holds frequent Clothing Recycles. Our food waste is utilised by a pig farmer, and our larger worm farm. However, our Kai to Compost to Kai project will provide the opportunity for students to personally be involved in a full-circle project.

Kai to Compost to Kai will be embedded in our Year 10 Food Tech programme, with leadership from our Wastewise and Kaitiaki students. Our project has some great cross-curricular links, with a requirement of the grant to collect data, as well as the process of composting (decomposition) and horticulture skills.

Students from Wastewise and Kaitiaki attended the Mana Ora launch; Maeve Gooder, Lilian Pouwhare-Mackie, Archie Crayford and Eljay Paisley. At the event were other students from other schools who were recipients of the grant. We were excited to hear their plans, and share their passion for the environment and sustainable practices.

Marie Hickey – Wastewise TIC, Food Technology and Learning Support Teacher