A Hamilton kura which turned its grounds into an organic garden and orchard is seeing the benefits well beyond the school gates.
Waatea News reports Rhode Street School has a commercial kitchen that processes the harvest into preserves, pickles and sauces which are sold at farmers' markets.
Principal Shane Ngatai says students are learning life skills and nutritional knowledge lost to their parents' generation.
She says their enjoyment of hands on learning is boosting overall academic achievement.
"They're learning stuff like hyroponics and their vocabulary and knowledge are improving," she says.
Ms Ngatai says other schools are picking up the gardening kaupapa.
