Rob Champion is on a mission to instil in young people a love of gardening and healthy eating – starting with Melton’s foster care children.
With colleagues, the Salvation Army chaplain last week started work on a community garden at Westcare Fostercare in Melton South after receiving funding from Melton’s Bunnings Warehouse.
Captain Champion hopes the garden will grow into “something big”.
“The idea came from my passion for nutrition and making kids appreciate the need for a good diet,” he said.
“It’s also really good to get them interested in growing a variety of foods.”
He said the community gardeners would start with whatever was in season at the time, but he hoped their raised garden beds would, eventually, become a vibrant space.
The foster children, who will be encouraged to start their own, smaller garden at the same Westcare site in Melton South, are excited about growing fruit, vegies and herbs.
Captain Champion predicts a worm farm could become part of the set-up.
“It’s all about the science, discovery of trying different things, physical fitness and teamwork,” he said.
“I remember one day seeing a picture of an elderly lady in a garden with a quote: ‘Grandma survived the Great Depression because grandma knew how to grow stuff’.”
People wanting to help with the community garden can call 9747 8310.
