Fresh yoghurt made with milk from the school’s herd of cows. Native honey harvested straight from the school hive. Quiche made with eggs from the school chooks and spinach picked fresh from the garden.
These are just a few examples of the incredible lunchbox creations students came up with for last year’s Grow Your Own Lunchbox Challenge at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market.
The event, now in its third year, is on again this Friday, and coordinator and Mullum Farmers market manager Allie Godfrey said she and the judges can’t wait to see what schools have instore for this year’s challenge.
‘We’re always blown away by the hard work, creativity and passion for growing and cooking that we see from each school’, she said. The whole community is invited to attend this Friday at 9–11am to see some of the amazing things happening in local school gardens, and to cheer on local students as they compete in the Lunchbox Challenge.
Seven schools – Ocean Shores, Wilsons Creek, Shearwater, Crabbes Creek, Mullumbimby Public, The Pocket and Main Arm – will be competing in this year’s event.
Then it’s time for the main event – the Lunchbox Challenge – in which each school is given ten minutes to prepare a lunchbox main, snack and drink that’s nutritious, delicious, and made using produce they’ve grown in their school gardens.
Last year, more than $3,000 in prizemoney was divided between the seven schools that participated to help continue their garden programs.
Market manager Allie Godfrey said Grow Your Own Lunchbox gave students and teachers a chance to share their garden stories with each other and the community, to have some fun and to be inspired. ‘We’re so lucky to have so many fantastic teachers and volunteers who are teaching our students about food and where it comes from,’ she said.
The Grow Your Own Lunchbox Challenge will be held at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market this Friday 3 November.
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