With school just back and many community groups having their first get-togethers for the year, young people will be reminded about the foods that thrive in winter, with the launch of the Yates Junior Landcare Challenge – Winter Vegie Growing Journey.
The Challenge, which opens for registrations on 3rd March 2014, is a new take on the annual campaign run by Yates and Landcare Australia, which since 2008 has been encouraging young people to learn about growing their own food through hands-on experience. This is the first time the focus has been on winter vegetables, with entrants asked to write about their experiences and engage online through photo and story submissions.

Yates Communications Manager and prominent gardening expert Judy Horton, says the winter challenge should show how gardening can be easy as well as fun. “We are excited to be engaging young people and reminding them that winter is a wonderful time for growing foods they can enjoy seasonally,” she says.
Landcare Australia CEO Tessa Jakszewicz says: “Maintaining the productivity of our land for future generations is central to Landcare principles. We not only hope to spark interest in children about where their food comes from but also spur them on to create meals from their garden.”
The vegetables participants can choose from are: carrot, lettuce, radish, broccoli and spinach. When registering, participants will be asked to choose which vegetable they would prefer to grow – but part of the fun may lie in the more popular seeds being taken and kids having to get creative with the humble spinach!
The packet of seeds of their choosing will be sent out to all participants, who will plant their seeds and upload photos of their growing journey and stories to the dedicated campaign website.
Resources will be included on the website, such as handy tips and fun games to build on the on-ground experience. In addition to vying for the major prize, each month the best photo and story will be awarded a special prize.
The challenge is open to all children living in Australia, under 17 years old. People can enter as individuals, or as part of a family, school or community/ youth group. Registrations to enter the Challenge will be taken between 3rd March and 4th April 2014. Submissions via the competition website will close on 27th September.
Further information and resources can be found from next week at www.juniorlandcarechallenge.com.au.