Fourteen new garden beds are being constructed and planted on school grounds.

Grade five teacher Adam Engert said the garden would serve many purposes.

The garden beds are made from wood from different sources, and the students will study the materials to see how long each lasts.

Mr Engert said the pupils would investigate what product was best after assessing longevity, cost and transport.

Pupils will also learn about sustainability.

‘‘We talked about the drought and how much water we would use,’’ Mr Engert said.

He said the school already had a small vegetable garden for the grade five pupils.

‘‘It’s a little idea that has grown,’’ he said.

Members of the school’s Parents Teachers and Friends Association have also contributed to the project.

‘‘The parents have been chipping in, bringing in equipment and doing working bees,’’ Mr Engert said.

He said employees from AXIS Worx were also involved.

AXIS Worx manager Bill Schmidt said he was pleased with the opportunity to work with the school.

‘‘Our supported employees cut and built the timber products, assembled them at the school and also assisted with filling the garden beds,’’ he said.

Mr Schmidt said he hoped to form more partnerships with regional businesses to do more off-site work.

Mr Engert said the next stage of the garden project would be planting fruit trees and building a chicken coop.

He said chicken manure would be used for the plants to continue a sustainable environment.

Mr Engert said the eventual plan was to use the produce in the home economic kitchens as the school expanded.

He said the children enjoyed taking care of the garden.

‘‘They have learned about ongoing responsibility,’’ he said.