Wagga High students grow vegetables for Carevan

The green-thumbed students have been getting their hands dirty at the Riverina Environmental Education Centre, where they have been growing pumpkins, butternut squash, and melon for Wagga's Carevan.

One of the gardening gurus is year 10 student Lainee Jacobs, who said she always looked forward to their gardening trips.

"We do all kinds of things when we go out there," Lainee said.

"We had to use straw and make little garden boxes and put dirt in it and plant some seeds."

Year 12 student Fatema Rahimi said she was happy to donate the vegetables to Carevan, saying she felt satisfied knowing they would be eaten by somebody in need.

"Helping people who are homeless, people who have cancer. We can help make them happy," Fatema said.

"They come back to normal life. I hope the government can help them find a job."

Wagga Carevan founder Lynne Graham said the pumpkins were very impressive, saying that they would make for excellent pumpkin soup to keep their clients warm in the winter.

"It's wonderful. we've got some of them in production today," Ms Graham said.

"It's going to be a great asset to us moving into the wintertime because pumpkin soup is going to be one of our best recipes, especially the butternut the kids have grown."

Teacher's aide Phil Pellow said he was proud of his young proteges for their horticultural efforts and for breaking out of their comfort zones.

Mr Pellow said their disabilities did not get in the way of helping others.

"I think it's good that the kids get the opportunity to do this because it teaches them some life skills and to be self-sufficient and sustainable later in life," Mr Pellow said.

"Giving to Carevan is a great opportunity for them, who have all benefitted from support themselves, to be able to support someone else, to pay it forward."

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