The Horticulture Team, led by Tara Edmondson, manage a sprawling estate of edible and ornamental gardens at Government House, Tasmania.
The Team grow a deliciously diverse range of fresh produce for Government House and the local community all year round—donating much of the produce to people and community groups in need.
The Horticulture and Kitchen teams work closely with Tasmanian schools, encouraging students to get their hands dirty in the garden—and kitchen. The newly launched Kids to Farms Program has made this possible for several school groups during 2021; enabling students from across Southern Tasmanian to visit the gardens and discover how to grow and cook seasonal food at home.
On a glorious Autumn afternoon we joined Tara and her team for a tour of the garden and then met Executive Chef Ainstie Wagner, in the kitchen, for a lesson on preserving. We are pleased to support the kitchen staff with recipes and resources about what’s in season, you too can try our recipes at home—you can find them here.
The Kids to Farms Program, run by the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, supports primary school educators to engage and excite children in Food and Fibre Production Learning. This project is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, through funding from the Australian Government’s Educating Kids About Agriculture initiative.
