Paddock to Plate excursion 2022

During last week, the year 12 VCAL students went on the Paddock to Plate excursion to local businesses and enterprises. We were very lucky as we got to meet extraordinary people making/producing amazing products just minutes away from the school. Three key words to sum up these inspiring business owners, Passion, Enthusiasm and Talented.

First we met Miek from Ket Bakery just 5 minutes away on Grubb Road Wallington. Miek and her team have been quietly baking award winning pastries and bread for the past 4 years. It’s not uncommon to see a sold out sign outside her business by 10.30am. A real ‘can do’ successful individual. Next we went to Tuckerberry Hill Farm and Lard Arse butter factory in Ocean Grove. Monica and her staff at the diary factory are so popular and talented that they supply all the diary products to the politicians at Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne. Lastly we returned back to Wallington and spent time with the amazing folk at Wattle Grove Honey producers. A wealth of knowledge, this team have been harvesting honey from their 400 hives for more than 50 years. They also make honey / soy candles, lip balm and other honey based products. What a team.

It was such a great trip. We learnt a lot about locally produced products, quality control measures, Workplace Health and Safety, marketing, point of sale and business strategies. We’ll take all this knowledge with us when we start our own businesses in the future.

Regards

Ava Jolley on behalf of the year 12 VCAL students