Nurturing young gardeners: Early childhood services shine in 2025 National Kitchen Garden Awards

Australia’s early childhood educators are demonstrating remarkable creativity in kitchen garden learning. This year, four early childhood services from the ACT, Victoria, and South Australia have been selected as finalists in the prestigious National Kitchen Garden Awards, reflecting their dedication to environmental education, wellbeing, and community engagement.

Chosen from nearly 500 submissions across the country, these finalists exemplify how kitchen gardens can foster rich learning and connection, even in early childhood settings 

Meet the Early Childhood Finalists

Clarendon Children’s Centre, Victoria

Recognised in the Recipe of the Imagination category presented by General Mills, Clarendon Children’s Centre impressed with its inventive approach to food and cooking. Their vegetable pleated bread using garden-grown produce underscore how play, creativity, and nutrition beautifully intersect in early learning.

Lucknow Kindergarten, Victoria

Finalist in the Art of Kitchen Gardening category (presented by MSP Compass), Lucknow Kindergarten has been acknowledged for its creative integration of gardening into children’s daily experiences. Their scarecrows made from recycled materials and their scarecrow paintings highlight how art, imagination and nature can come together to nurture both learning and wellbeing.

YMCA Children’s Centre (Gungahlin), ACT

Finalist in the Sustainable Solutions category (presented by Costa Group), this Canberra‑based early childhood service highlights ingenious practices such as recycling, composting, and food waste reduction. Their entry demonstrates how sustainable thinking becomes practical, everyday learning, even for the youngest gardeners.

Fairview Kindergarten, South Australia

Recognised in the Beyond the School Gate category (presented by Novo Nordisk), this early learning service demonstrated how kitchen gardens can reach beyond the classroom. Their community-oriented approach reflects how early childhood services can foster health, connection, and collaboration with local families and organisations 

These finalists show that kitchen gardens aren’t only for older students, young children engage deeply with nature, healthy eating, and community through hands-on projects.

From creative recipes to sustainability and community outreach, the award categories reflect how kitchen gardens enrich multiple dimensions of learning and wellbeing.

Inclusion among the 27 finalists nationwide places these services in the spotlight, acknowledging the value of early childhood practice in promoting food literacy and environmental stewardship.

Winners will be announced on 16 September, as part of Kitchen Garden Month. Each of the nine category winners will receive a prize pack valued at more than $4,000, including a cash grant, garden resources, program membership, and professional development opportunities.

Read the full award nominations here.