Tammy Logan

Poowong Consolidated School's Chicken Home project is part of a bigger exciting project called Pathways to Possibilities. The Pathways to Possibilities project involves extending learning opportunities from our Indigenous Learning Stone area (a place for children and the community to reflect, make connections with each other and culture) by connecting four themed environments through paths radiating from the central learning stone. The four environments have been named 1) Adventure and exploration 2) Food production 3) Creativity, and 4) Rest and reflection. Our chicken home and associated food forest is a key part of our Food Production Space which will also eventually include bush tucker, herb and vegetable gardens and a rustic outdoor kitchen with pizza oven.


Photo 1: Smoking ceremony at the opening of our Indigenous Learning Stone area.

Our chicken home and food forest project is important because outdoor play and learning opportunities has been proven to provide significant benefits to individuals across all the areas of physical, mental, and social health as well as cultural and environmental intelligence. We want to better engage students who learn through practical kinaesthetic activities, improve student behaviour and attendance, promote connectedness and a sense of belonging, and create more opportunities for community involvement in our school. If you want to ensure our children grow into well adjusted citizens who make positive contributions to society, then please support this project.


Photo 2: The chickens are hatching in the Prep room this week.

A second aim of our crowd funding campaign is to demonstrate to students how communities can work together to achieve something that benefits many people. The decision to crowd fund is more than about raising our target amount, it’s about teaching students the power of one person’s contribution, exchanging ideas with the broader community and creating positive change. Please help us do this by discussing with your children, relatives and friends how crowdfunding works and how much you would like to give to the project – you can do this whether your child attends Poowong Consolidated School or not.


Photo 3: A well designed chicken coop for nesting and roosting will be included in our large chicken yard with fruit trees and other plants.

Poowong Consolidated School has done significant planning for this project. A committee of interested parents, staff and the Student Green Team will oversee the organisation of the project. We have appointed a staff member as the coordinator to ensure all 120 students participate in outdoor classes and the development of the Chicken Home and Food Forest. Other staff and parents will be invited to participate in working bees. But most importantly our children will be able to play freely in these environments and that is when the best learning takes place!


Photo 4: Example pizza oven that will be established in our Food Production space.


Photo 5: Example of the nature-based Adventure and Exploration area that will be developed in later stages of the Pathways to Possibilities Project.

 
Photo 6: Stone stacking and eco art will form part of the Art and Creativity space that will be developed in later stages of the Pathways to Possibilities Project.

Our Chicken Home and Food Forest Project will involve:
- Establishing a predator proof yard 20m x 10m, with 1.8m high fencing and a roof.
- Building a Chicken coop for roosting and nesting.
- Purchase of feeding and watering equipment.
- Planting fruit trees and other plants within the chicken yard.

The animals and plants will service each others needs.
We expect completion by June 2015.


Photo 7: Concept diagram showing the chicken home and food forest in the Food Production space of the Pathways to Possibilities project.

We believe that by appointing a member of staff to be the project coordinator and having a committee that consists of parents and staff we will be able to keep the project on track and successfully incorporate it into our curriculum.

The infrastructures that will be established in this project will be durable and sustainable and the design based on permaculture principles to make good use of ‘energy flows’; working with nature rather than accidentally against it.

By empowering children, parents and community throughout the process and maintaining communication they will develop a sense of ownership that motivates them to care for the space.

Poowong’s volunteering strength is well known within South Gippsland and in the neighbouring communities of Baw Baw Shire. We have a total population of 660 people and our ability to band together and advocate for things that are important to the community means that we continue to deliver high quality projects and events that benefit everyone.  We are sure that we can overcome anything.

We have the support of the local Play Group, Pre School, various Community Groups, and individuals connected with the school who are all willing to volunteer time, skills and resources to make it successful. This is more than a school project, it is a whole community project.