Sunshine Beach State School has embarked on a meaningful project that brings together students, local businesses and the community in a shared effort to promote sustainability and healthy eating.
The Cup to Community initiative, spearheaded by Year 4 students, focuses on cultivating microgreens in the school’s permaculture garden. Guided by specialist outdoor educator Di Seels, the students successfully grew lentil, chickpea and pea microgreens in eco-friendly, compostable cups provided by local café, Sunshine Social.
The initiative began as part of the school’s ongoing commitment to environmental education, providing hands-on experiences for students to understand where their food comes from and how it can be grown sustainably.
“The project connects our students with the community while teaching them about sustainability,” said Di Seels.
“It’s been a wonderful collaboration with Pick of the Crop, Sunshine Social, Peregian IGA, and Slow Food Noosa.”
In just nine days, the microgreens were ready for harvest, and the first batch was delivered to Sunshine Social at the end of August. The café will sell the microgreens over the coming weekends, with proceeds going to local charities such as You Turn, which supports homelessness in Noosa.
The project demonstrates how small actions can make a big impact in the community.
“The Cup to Community is important because it gives back to the community and promotes sustainability,” said Year 4 student Oscar, who was excited to be part of the project.
Beyond learning how to grow and harvest the microgreens, the students explored the many health benefits and culinary uses of these tiny plants. Microgreens, packed with vitamins and antioxidants, can be added to a variety of dishes, from smoothies to salads, tacos and even pizzas. This knowledge also ties into the Slow Food movement’s values, which advocate for food that is good for people, fair for producers, and respectful of the environment.
The Cup to Community initiative showcases Sunshine Beach State School’s dedication to sustainability education and fostering strong community connections. With discussions underway to sell the microgreens at Peregian IGA, the project is set to grow, with even more opportunities for the students to support local causes and gain valuable life skills.
