Sustainability
Kitchen Garden - Prep
Over the past three weeks the Prep students have participated in the kitchen garden program. On the menu was Banana Coconut Muffins with Sunflower Seeds. The students enjoyed mixing all the ingredients, in particular mashing the banana! They used measuring cups to make sure the correct amount of flour, sugar and coconut was used. Our garden activity involved sowing sunflower seeds into a recycled yoghurt tub, which needs to be planted in a larger pot or directly into the garden.
The students really enjoyed their time cooking and gardening, and quite possibly enjoyed the eating part the most. Please enjoy these photos:
Kitchen Garden - year 4
Over the past two weeks during their Stewardship time the year 4 students participated in their Kitchen Garden program. Like Prep, muffins were on the menu, however this time they were Very Berry Muffins. The year 4 students were mostly left to their own devices to follow the recipe themselves and work cooperatively. This was achieved with great success, and the students enjoyed the reward when it was time to eat!
Our garden focus was on harvesting and maintaining the garden but mostly it was on creating a solution to deter pests using material that would otherwise end up in landfill. Using plastic lid caps and plastic straws, the students created holes and thread string to create lengths of decorative, colourful wind chimes that blow in the wind and can help to deter birds from eating at the garden. These can be strung from garden stakes along the garden bed. In a creative twist we have decided to create a door screen that can serve both as a deterrent for pests and also add colour to an otherwise bland entry way.
We will try using the door screen on our outdoor kitchen. This might help keep the chickens out and flies and bees when the doors are open. At the very least it will add colour and interest to our outdoor kitchen.
A better way to recycle drink containers in Victoria
On 1 November 2023 Victoria’s container deposit scheme, CDS Vic, commenced. The scheme rewards Victorians with a 10-cent refund for every eligible can, carton and bottle they return.
It is part of important work that is transforming Victoria’s waste and recycling system. Hundreds of refund points are now open across Victoria, and more will open in the coming weeks. By August 2024 the network will grow to more than 600 refund points.
I invite you to visit the website (https://cdsvic.org.au/) to learn more about this initiative and encourage your children to earn pocket money and help our environment at the same time.
