S A K Garden

Liz Scott- Stephanie Alexander Garden Specialist

What’s happening in the ‘Patch’?

This term we have welcomed 3 new chickens, the children have enjoyed time in the enclosure petting them to get them use to the children before we let them out into the garden during class time.

We have been pruning back the lemon tree, harvesting a whopping 67kgs of lemons.

As part of our discussion we focused on the Citrus Gall Wasp. The wasp is a pest that can lead to the end of your lemon tree if left untreated. The Gall Wasp is a tiny wasp that lays its larvae in the soft new shoots of citrus trees predominantly lemon. The children were able to see what the gall wasp does to our tree; the infected area is swollen and has tiny pin holes once the larvae have left. We also discussed how we have yet to come up with a way to eradicate it. To help keep our tree remain healthy, it is up to us to prune out the affected branches and seal them in a plastic bag. In order for us to eradicate it completely in Australia, every person with citrus trees would have to prune it out and dispose of it appropriately on the same day. We ask what are the logistics of this actually happening?

Currently harvested from the garden are winter greens, herbs, lemons, spring onions, salad greens and eggs.

Our SAKG program is about exposing children to growing produce and sharing our harvest in the kitchen. As part of our contribution to the newsletter we will be adding a ‘Healthy Habit Tip’ where we can all become role models for children and our families.

Healthy Habit Tip

‘Replace one packaged lunch box item with carrot sticks. Carrots are a cheap and healthy alternative and are available all year round’.