Thirteen TAFE Western students studying Certificate III in horticulture started digging trenches for a replacement irrigation system, which will be installed in the next two to three weeks.

Horticulture teacher Rob Barrett said installing an irrigation system was part of the students’ curriculum and after another group of TAFE students laid the footpath in the school’s 80-square-metre vegetable garden, Mr Barrett approached it about further work.

“The school uses the vegetable garden as a teaching tool. They work in the garden and link it back to the lessons they’re teaching, and they get the benefit of planting a seed, nurturing it and getting a product,” he said.

“We’ll be doing the installation ready for them to plant their spring vegetables.

“The garden’s a strong part of the school and we get to encourage that, and future horticulturalists.” 

The TAFE students have spent the past month conducting an audit of the school’s water volume and pressure, and designing the system based on its needs.

“Mainly, we’re looking at using inline drippers so the water is used the most effectively,” Mr Barrett said.

“The system they had was a misting system, which wasn’t doing the job of a drip irrigation system.

“The drip goes directly to the plants with no loss through evaporation or waste.”

Midwest Irrigation has donated the materials for the project.

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au