School vegetable gardens in Thailand

Some of the students at work

"I enjoy working in the vegetable garden. Thanks to this project, I have learnt about vegetables, how to grow them and to look after chickens. My family now ask for my advice and help and I know I can contribute," said Weerayut, one of the students from the Ban-Daeng school.

The Ban-Daeng school in Mahasarakham, Thailand, has more than 150 students and serves five neighbouring villages. The school, local farmers and Plan have developed a project aimed at introducing sustainable agriculture whilst improving the nutrition of its students and their families. During this project the students are taught in Thai and English.

Some students being taught about local herbs and how they are used in traditional medicines for headaches and stomach upsets. Photo: Michelle Gilbert

Through the management of the school vegetable garden and a small farm, the students learn how to raise livestock and grow vegetables. The fresh produce is used to prepare nutritious lunches for the students, reducing the malnutrition rate amongst children in the area from 10% to 5%. The remainder of the produce is sold to market sellers and community members, generating additional income for the project.

Last year, the students got an idea on how to apply their maths lessons to the project with the support of their teachers. They calculated the frequency of the chickens' feeding and measured the most appropriate temperature, thus increasing the number and quality of the eggs.

Learning how to produce and use organic fertilizers  Photo: Michelle Gilbert

In addition, the parents and the students also learned how to produce and use organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are produced from kitchen waste and crop residues, fermented with molasses and microorganisms. Apart from improving the soil, parents have seen the saving made by using organic fertilizers.

The project, implemented entirely by the students with the support of the teachers, won an award from the province authority for education and sustainable agriculture.