No Dig Food Gardens

Students learn about sustainable gardening practices through investigating the natural layers of the rainforest, creating compost using nature’s own method. Students will participate in a hands-on activity in planting their own no-dig garden.

What happens?

  • Explore ways we can reduce waste through composting
  • Explore the natural cycle of creating humus through storytelling and a walk
  • Plant your own no-dig garden to take home
  • Understand how mini beasts and fungus work to feed plants in a fun game

Curriculum links

Themes: Sustainability, waste

  • ST1-9ES: Identifies ways that people use science in their daily lives to care for the environment and the Earth’s resources
  • ST1-2VA: demonstrates a willingness to engage responsibly with local, national and global issues relevant to their lives, and to shaping sustainable futures
  • ST1-1WS-S: observes, questions and collects data to communicate and compare ideas
  • ST1-2DP-T: uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity
  • ST1-4LW-S: describes observable features of living things and their environments
  • ST1-5LW-T: identifies how plants and animals are used for food and fibre products ST1-5LW-T
  • EN1‑11D: responds to and composes a range of texts about familiar aspects of the world and their own experiences
  • EN1‑12E: identifies and discusses aspects of their own and others’ learning
  • EN2‑1A: communicates in a range of informal and formal contexts by adopting a range of roles in group, classroom, school and community contexts
  • ST2-11LW: describes ways that science knowledge helps people understand the effect of their actions on the environment and on the survival of living things
  • ST2-2VA: demonstrates a willingness to engage responsibly with local, national and global issues relevant to their lives, and to shaping sustainable futures
  • ST2-5LW-T: describes how agricultural processes are used to grow plants and raise animals for food, clothing and shelter
  • ST2-2DP-T: selects and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity
  • ST2-4LW-S: compares features and characteristics of living and non-living things
  • ST3-10LW: describes how structural features and other adaptations of living things help them to survive in their environment
  • ST3-2VA: demonstrates a willingness to engage responsibly with local, national and global issues relevant to their lives, and to shaping sustainable futures

Booking information

Minimum students: 15

Maximum group size: no more than two groups of 30 students per day

Please note: no education bookings are available on Fridays.

Class size will be limited for certain activities ​due to safety considerations and staffing resources.

Please book at least two months before your visit.

Use the button on this page to request an excursion booking, or call us during business hours on (02) 4227 7667.

If your request is accepted, we'll send you a booking confirmation letter, risk assessment, garden map and instructions for your visit (including wet weather plan).

Excursion cost is $14 (incl. GST) per student per day, and includes two activities. Carers and teachers are free.

In line with new Education Department policy, we are requesting the pre-payment of your attendance by credit card. This will be emailed to you as soon as we have confirmed your education date and you have confirmed your numbers. (Please note we cannot amend numbers after an invoice has been generated).

If payment before attendance is not possible you will be required to send us a PO number so we can send the invoice to EDConnect, to be paid prior to attendance.

Once your payment is made we will issue a confirmation, along with Council risk assessments covering safety for garden excursions.

Please meet at the Discovery Centre, located at the north eastern corner of Wollongong Botanic Garden.

Buses can drop students off at either the bus bay located at the University of Wollongong on Northfields Avenue or at our Murphys Avenue car park.

If your activity is being held at one of the Garden Annexes, such as Mount Keira or Puckeys Estate, please meet at the designated located specified on your booking confirmation.

We have a minimal waste policy and ask that packaging of food items brought to the Garden are minimised​​​​​.

Most activities can still go ahead in light rain. In this case, please make sure students, teachers and accompanying parents wear appropriate wet weather clothes and shoes.

Our activities may need to be cancelled in heavy rain or high winds.

Please call us on the excursion day to confirm whether the program can continue or if your excursion needs to be rescheduled.