Edible wall garden wins invention award for students

A school in Perth's south-eastern suburbs has won the Young Re-inventor of the Year Award by re-using waste materials to build a vertical herb garden for food technology classes.

  • Carey Baptist College wins Young Re-inventor of the Year Award

  • Vertical garden from re-used plastic containers provides food to school and keeps waste out of landfill 

A school in Perth's south-eastern suburbs has won the Young Re-inventor of the Year Award by re-using waste materials to build a vertical herb garden for food technology classes.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the entry from the 2015 Year 11 students at Carey Baptist College in Harrisdale was the outstanding project among the 111 other contenders.

The students built the garden with plastic milk containers from the school cafe and wooden pallets collected from nearby street verges.

Mr Jacob today presented the students with a $1,500 prize pack, including composting bins, worm farms, re-useable sandwich wraps. The students will also be able to attend workshops on composting and worm farming.

"I am encouraged that these students were able to realise their vision for this clever garden," he said.

"Through this project they have looked after the environment and delivered so many benefits to their school.

"By participating in this project, young people were able to learn how to create a more sustainable environment and reduce landfill."

One of the judging criteria was the entries used items that were routinely thrown away.  Judges were impressed that the students' vertical garden invention was made from milk cartons from the school and the food from the garden was used in food technology classes.

The finalists for the Young Re-inventor of the Year Award included:

  • Primary school finalist:  Coco Hasler from St Denis School in Joondanna
  • High school finalist:  Darcie Watts from Exmouth District High School
  • Community and individual finalists:  Ben Salter from South Yunderup and William Catchpole from High Wycombe
  • Switch your thinking finalist:  Jillian Kien from Rossmoyne Senior High School. 

The award is co-ordinated by the South East Regional Energy Group, with support from the State Government through the Western Australian landfill levy.

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