10-Year-Old Starts School Farmers' Market to Fight Waste

When Georgia Turner noticed her neighbor's mandarin tree dropping perfectly good fruit to rot on the ground, she didn't just feel bad about the waste. She did something about it.

The year 5 student at St Catherine's Catholic College in the Whitsundays had just watched an episode of ABC TV's War on Waste. The connection clicked immediately.

"Even when they ate them all and gave some to us and their friends, there were still more," Georgia said. "Most of them just got mouldy and fell on the ground."

With encouragement from her mum, the 10-year-old put together a proposal for her deputy principal, Samantha Hinton. She suggested starting a farmers' market where families could sell excess backyard produce instead of letting it go to waste.

Mrs Hinton said yes, and Georgia's little idea turned into something much bigger.

Today, the school hosts a vibrant farmers' market every second Friday morning. Students, parents and staff gather from 8am to browse stalls packed with fresh eggs, honey, baked goods, seasonal fruit and handmade crafts.

But the real magic happens in what students learn along the way. Kids must handle every step of bringing their products to market, with parents only helping to set up and pack down stalls.

Students design their own marketing materials and price tags. They calculate change, practice eye contact and learn to speak confidently with customers about their products.

Monica Falconer has watched her daughters Alice and Lucy transform through running their own produce stall. "As a parent, I've really enjoyed seeing my daughters' people skills improve," she said. "They show initiative too."

The preparation has become a family highlight. "I just love how excited they get," Ms Falconer said.

The Ripple Effect

Mrs Hinton says Market Day has become one of the most anticipated events on the school calendar. The markets connect classroom learning to real-world skills in math, literacy and sustainability.

The next phase will teach students even more about running a business. Mrs Hinton wants to help students understand costs by having them reimburse parents for ingredients and supplies.

Georgia hopes other schools will start their own markets to tackle food waste in their communities. Her advice? "You just need a supportive school and a teacher that will wake up early for markets."

What began as concern over rotting mandarins has grown into a movement teaching children that one person's simple observation can spark real change.