Garden

Gardening Program Update

What we planted and is currently growing in our garden

Tomatoes
More capsicums
Green beans
Popping corn
Cucumbers
Zucchini
Sunflowers
Basil
Rhubarb
Marshmallow plant

What We Harvested

Snow peas
Carrots
Garlic
Rocket

What We Cooked and enjoyed eating!

Loads of snow peas
Kale chips
Rice pudding
Sataraš (capsicum, tomato, onion and garlic dish we cooked and froze during summer)
Strawberry & rhubarb jam
Carrots
Rocket pesto
Red lentils & mint soup
Peppermint tea

Recipe for our Red Lentil and Mint Soup

Unusually cool and wet, Spring gave us the lush herb garden. The mint spread like a wild fire, so we decided to use it in a recipe that requires lots and lots of mint. It was enjoyed by all the student and staff, even those who weren't too keen enjoyed a bowl with toast!

Here's the recipe just in case you'd like to make it over the holidays :

200 g red lentils (about 1 cup)
1.5 l chicken or vegetable stock stock (we used Massel veg)
2 medium onions, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped mint leaves
1 teaspoon\ paprika

Method

Rinse and drain the lentils
Put all the ingredients except paprika and mint into a large pot
Simmer for 1 1/2 hours
Stir in paprika and mint and simmer a further 5 minutes.
Enjoy with some crusty bread or toast

Pollinators Week 8 - 16 November 2025

The world is suffering from major pollinator declines, but through education and events such as Pollinator Week, we can bring these usually-unnoticed insects to the forefront of peoples’ thoughts, with the goal of supporting and protecting their populations.

Students learned the importance of pollinating insects, especially bees in our ecosystem: No bees - no food! We're happy to report a very diverse pollinator population in our garden (see photos below).

Seedling Market

A big thank you to families supporting our gardening program by purchasing seedlings, produce and even flowers this term. We used the funds to buy the ingredients for our cooking.

Botanical Creations Nursery Rewards Program

Just a reminder that we have a loyalty program with our local business Botanical Creations. Please mention specifically St. Anthony's Garden Club 2025 if shopping there and we will get 5% of your purchase that we spend on new seeds or plants. This term we got two packets of seeds from accumulated points.

Plants and trees make a wonderful Christmas present, plus you're supporting our gardening program and the local business.

Thank you.

Vesna Simic

Learning Support Officer