Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden 

Bianca Tondo 

Garden Specialist

Hello Kingswood Community,

It’s so nice to see the weather warming up except for Monday this week! Sonia and I have been eagerly planning what needs to be planted for Term 4. We can’t believe how fast this term has flown by!

We received another delivery of soil for our garden beds and students have been busy moving it from the huge pile into the garden beds. Their hard work has made a significant impact and I’ve attached some before and after pictures so you can see the progress each class has made. 

This activity has not only been a physical challenge but also an opportunity for students to practice persistence and teamwork, core Habits of Mind, that we encourage in our learning environment.

Our first crop of cauliflower has been harvested, with the leaves going to feed our chickens. We’re holding off on distributing our carrots for a bit longer. Around the carrots we’ll be planting silverbeet to finish off our menus for Term 4. The broccoli has all been harvested as well, but we’re leaving the plants in the ground as they will shoot off smaller heads of broccoli that we can use. This approach teaches students the importance of sustainability and maximizing the potential of what we grow.

The students have also been busy planting spring onions, which will be used in our menus next term. By the end of the year, we’ll have a wonderful variety of silverbeet, broccoli, spring onions, cabbages and pak choy to use. These collective efforts highlight all the hard work and dedication our students put into the garden and contribute to a shared goal to see the fruits (and vegetables!) of their labour come to life.

Our Year 3 students have been planting seeds specifically for our hens to scratch and eat once they start growing. During these sessions, we’ve discussed the importance of not compacting the soil but keeping it light and loose so that seeds can send roots down and shoots up. Watching these seeds grow into food for our hens will be a rewarding experience for the students. You can find the seeds in pots outside their classrooms.

On rainy days, garden students have continued to explore different crafts, starting the week with mindful activities like rock painting, which was a huge success. These activities foster creativity and community spirit, reinforcing our connection to the broader school community. 

Just a gentle reminder that our chickens have all the food they need in the bin inside the chicken coop. We ask all members of our community not to pick anything from the garden to feed the chickens, as we have specific uses or plans for everything we’re growing. The flowers outside the coop look lovely at the moment, however, the chickens won’t eat them. Your support regarding feeding the chickens is greatly appreciated.

As we continue to nurture our garden and our students, we see them embody these values in everything they do, from mindful crafts to teamwork in the garden. Let’s keep encouraging them to be curious, engaged and inspired as they learn and grow.

Wishing you a relaxing weekend.

Happy Gardening!