Tauriko School near Tauranga is among six North Island rural schools to win a $2000 gardening grant from Rural Women New Zealand and Farmlands.Tauriko School is one of six schools to win a gardening grant worth $2000.

Rural Women New Zealand National president, Liz Evans, says: 'This is the third time that Rural Women New Zealand and Farmlands have collaborated to distribute the proceeds from the popular Farmlands Ladies Nights, which are held around the North Island during October.

'The resurgence of interest in eating fresh food and getting back to basics was reflected in the number of applications we received, with 113 rural primary schools applying for grants.”

The money will be used to buy equipment, seedlings or plants to start a vegetable garden or orchard, or further develop one already in place.

The schools will also receive gardening equipment from McGregor's Gardening, a gardening starter kit from Yates, fertiliser from Agrisea NZ Ltd and a copy of ‘A Good Harvest – recipes from the gardens of Rural Women New Zealand' so the children can put all their produce to good use.

The other successful schools are: Ohuka School, Wairoa; Tinui School, Wairarapa; Toko School, Stratford; Tomorata School, Wellsford School, Pukekawa School Tuakau.