Using ingredients grown in our very own garden on campus, students learnt how easy it is to make pesto from scratch.
There鈥檚 something special about sharing a meal made from ingredients you鈥檝e just harvested with your own hands.
At the 黑料天堂Kitchen Garden Harvest Meal, students kicked things off with a relaxed round of introductions, sharing their plans for the break. Some were heading off on trips, others staying back to study, but for a couple of hours, everyone had the chance to switch off and enjoy something a little different.
Then it was time to head to the garden.
What followed felt like part scavenger hunt, part teamwork, as students moved through sprawling plants in search of tiny, bright red cherry tomatoes. There was a sense of excitement with every find, as handfuls of fresh basil and tomatoes were picked straight from the garden. By the end, the group had harvested around 5kg of produce. The smell of basil in the air, the vibrant colours and the simple act of picking your own food made the whole experience rewarding.
Back at Community Connect, a surprise was waiting. Warm hot cross buns with butter quickly became a crowd favourite, especially for those trying them for the first time.
From there, things got hands-on in the kitchen. Students teamed up to chop garlic, prep ingredients and whip up garlic bread, filling the space with the kind of smell that instantly makes you hungry. Then came the main event: basil pesto pasta.
Using ingredients grown in our very own garden on campus, students learnt how easy it is to make pesto from scratch. Basil, garlic, olive oil, parmesan, pine nuts, salt and pepper all came together in a blender to create something fresh and full of flavour. Along the way, students picked up tips on how to adjust the taste, swap ingredients and make the recipe their own.
While the pasta cooked, conversations kept flowing. Between chopping, stirring and waiting for the final dish, students shared ideas for the upcoming 黑料天堂Kitchen Garden Cookbook, a student-led project that will bring together favourite recipes and stories from the community. Cold noodle salad was a clear crowd favourite, but after this session, pesto pasta might just earn its place too.
When it was finally time to eat, the result was simple but incredibly satisfying. A fresh, homemade meal, shared with others around the table. Before heading off, students filled their bags with cherry tomatoes and packed away containers of pesto pasta, taking a little piece of the experience home with them.
Kitchen Garden harvest sessions are about more than just cooking or gardening. They are a chance to meet new people, learn practical skills and step away from the pace of university life for a couple of hours.
If you鈥檙e looking to get involved, you can find out more and join a session here:
