Kitchen Garden
From Jill & Simone
LA7C
LA7C are a grade 3-4 class who were in Kitchen Garden in week 9 of term 3.
Thursday 10 September
In the second-last week of term 3, we welcomed LA7C back to Kitchen Garden to do their cooking week.
On Thursday we picked a huge leek from the garden as well as lots of leafy greens and herbs to make Rainbow chard, corn and cheddar tortes. The class used corn that was picked in term 1, when Kitchen Garden wasn’t running, and frozen for later. Each table picked their own mix of herbs, and the class used combinations of parsley, thyme, lemon thyme, oregano and mint.
First the pastry was made then left to rest while LA7C got on with the filling. (The stems from the rainbow chard were separated from the leaves, and the stems cooked first with the leek, then the corn and leaves added at the end. The herbs were stirred through after cooking, along with an egg.)
Then the pastry was rolled out and the filling added. 3 tables decided to make individual tortes, and 1 table made one big torte which was then cut up into wedges to serve.
The class was able to wash up & tidy up while the tortes were cooking, then it was time for eating!
Friday 11 September
Today there was crumble on the menu! Apple and rhubarb crumble, using some rhubarb from the garden. Some of it was frozen by previous classes, when the rhubarb plants were looking like they would die off over winter, ready to use in Spring.
There was lots of peeling and chopping and mixing and creaming butter into flour. Lots of different jobs all happening at once certainly kept all the tables busy. And we were so impressed with how well everyone worked together. There was some really great teamwork happening on each table.
The apple and rhubarb had a quick cook on the stove, then it was into the pan, sprinkled with the crumble mix & into the oven.
While the crumble was baking, we put our apple peels to good use and made apple peel and lemon verbena tea, a really lovely combination, with freshly picked lemon verbena leaves.
Thank you LA7C, it was great to have you in Kitchen Garden!
LA1
LA1 are a prep class who were in Kitchen Garden in week 1 of term 4.
Friday 8 October
Today we were joined by LA1 for their very first Kitchen Garden class. It was such a lovely day we started outside with an Acknowledgement of Country under the trees in the garden. It is the Eastern Kulin season of Poorneet, tadpole in the Woi Wurrung language, and Jill brought in some books related to Poorneet from East Melbourne library. After talking about how the Wurundjeri have sustainably cared for Country for hundreds of generations, we turned the discussion to some of the many ways we embrace sustainability at RWPS including keeping as much rubbish as we can out of the storm water drains where it will make its way to Birrarung (the Yarra).
After a garden tour & exploration of the garden, we discussed what was found and the last of the broad beans were harvested along with silverbeet, rainbow chard, carrots and beetroot. Everything was washed and the greens and root vegetables were refrigerated. We blanched the broad beans then the beans were podded and the jade green pieces frozen, ready for LA1’s kitchen session next week. After lunch it was back outside to fertilise all edible plants with a seaweed tonic.
Friday 9 October
LA1 were doing two garden days this week, and again, we commenced the day outside, joined by some of Victoria's student helpers. LA11 students gave Acknowledgements in Norwegian and Mandarin, inspiring some of LA1 to offer Acknowledgements too. Following our discussion about the importance of a healthy Birrarung on Thursday, Victoria read Miracle at Christmas Creek, the story of the rescue of a platypus puggle who was successfully released back into the wild after recovering at Healesville Sanctuary. In preparation for the Birds in Backyards bird count we then explored the birds living in our grounds including a crow, rainbow lorikeets and a trio of very noisy miner chicks. Jill shared the experience of seeing the neighbourhood peregrine last year. If all the birds in our gardens suddenly fly away in one direction, LA1 will know where to look to see who has frightened them.
Next on LA1’s to do list was a discussion about composting and soil health and a visit to the compost tumblers, which was not as exciting as the promised visit to the worm farms where everyone was able to hold a worm or give them their favourite banana peel treat. All worms were gently handled and many questions about their role in the environment and their contribution to soil health were answered. Well done to all students who overcame their initial fears and handled a worm. After lunch was some seed identifying & looking at fresh broad beans, LA1 were able to identify the parts of the seed.
Thank you, family helpers Margaret, Amy, Nicole, Coral, Lucas, Aileen & our wonderful weekly volunteer Maureen K for coming to help us. The kids always love to have you join us in Kitchen Garden!
Thanks also to Victoria’s student helpers for joining LA1 for their first gardening classes, and to Snow, Keira, Candy, Tiffany, Noor and Abdi for helping with maintenance and watering on a hot day.
If you have an Envirobank 10c container bag at home (even if it’s empty) please return it. The next collection with our sustainability partner has been booked. We’re also happy to accept old mobile phones and tablets to send to Melbourne Zoo to help their work with the Gorilla Doctors in Africa.
Citizen scientists please note, the Birds in Backyards bird count is happening 19 - 25 October and it’s Australian Pollinator Week 7 - 15 November.
