Empire Bay Public School

Part of sustainability at EBPS is the kitchen-garden program. There are raised gardens beds for every classroom allowing children to grow, maintain, and harvest vegetables and then cook with their produce.
We are very excited about our newly planted Bush Tucker Garden. With the help of our parent community, we have designed and built a beautiful bush-like space using 100% native Australian plants. The garden is in a central location for all to use and admire. Children are learning about sustainability when we look at Aboriginal traditional practices. We discuss native plants and why they are more sustainable and have been used by Aboriginal peoples for many different purposes and for thousands of years.
Our Frog Pond is an example of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems and a talking point for life cycles and food webs.
Most of all, the frog pond is a peaceful place and a nice change of scenery.
Compost bins are scattered throughout the school grounds and a 3-bay system operates at the back of the school. We have 5 worm farms so that each class can learn about and care for the worms for a term.
We have 10 chickens enrolled at EBPS and children learn to care for them and see an excellent example of a sustainable practice. It has become a much-loved place if children to take a break, reset or just need to cuddle a chicken.
In an area of the school used mostly by our youngest students, we have recently begun designing a sensory path. It will be situated beneath our very special heritage listed Norfolk Pine. Children have helped to design this space using sustainable materials and native plants.