BACKGROUND

The Kitchen Garden has long been one of the most loved parts of our school. What many people don’t know is that it has been run by a very small handful of volunteer parents. We’re looking for more volunteer parents who could form part of a team that would share the knowledge and responsibility of keeping this programme alive. We’re lucky in that some of the original volunteer team are still with our school and can help us get up to speed.

We’re looking for up to 8 people to join either the kitchen team or the garden team. If we have a committed group of at least 4 people per team this will probably be a time commitment of a half day each month. At this stage classes are likely to be held from 9am - 11am each Thursday, but this may change over time. The responsibilities are listed below, but rest assured we’re not looking for professional chefs or gardeners (although if you’re one of those we’d be excited to hear from you!). We’re looking for home cooks and people who love to tend the garden, help children learn and enjoy the Kitchen Garden programme.

It’s very simple approach - relaxed hands on cooking and garden experiences that allow the children to learn a little about food, science and nature.

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

KITCHEN LEAD VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES X 4

  • Be part of a small team that together plans and leads the cooking programme for K-6 in conjunction with the garden team

  • Be comfortable leading a class of approximately 12 students in cooking a simple recipe using ingredients from the garden or might involve science (e.g. savoury scones, making butter, ricotta triangles)

  • Able to keep the kitchen supply stock levels clean and in good order

GARDEN LEAD VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES X 4

  • Be part of a small team that together plans and leads the garden maintenance and seasonal planting in conjunction with the kitchen team

  • Be comfortable leading a class of approximately 12 students in harvesting, weeding and enjoying the garden

  • Able to keep the garden in good health, ensuring soil levels are maintained, regular watering and developing a relationship with the school maintenance person.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: I’M NEW TO CROWN STREET, HOW DOES THE PROGRAMME WORK?

A: As part of the school programme each year group takes a session in the kitchen garden once a year. The class splits into 2 groups and the first week one group visits the garden and the other cooks in the kitchen. In the second week those roles are switched. Parent volunteers are invited to join the children attend the programme and also lend a hand on the day.

Q: WILL I HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT WE COOK AND WHAT WE PLANT?

A: If you have some ideas and experience that’s great, we welcome your ideas, but you don’t need to have all the answers. We have a collection of recipes we use and a planting guide. It will be a collaborative approach where we’ll work together.

Q: I’M INTERESTED BUT I’M NOT SURE I CAN COMMIT LONG TERM OR WHAT HAPPENS IF MY SCHEDULE CHANGES LAST MINUTE?

A: We’d value any interested and willing parents as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles, retired neighbours or friends who might be keen and available. The idea is if we can build up a team of leads we can all flex and help each other when needed - whether that’s through illness or needing to attend our day jobs last minute. While we are looking to build a sustainable team, we’re also super flexible.

Q: WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT?

A: We estimate the commitment to be 4 hours each month if we have enough volunteers. To lead a class in the kitchen is probably 2 hours plus prep like planning and checking for ingredients. The garden has more flexibility in hours spent but a class would be delivered once per week every week in term.