Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden 

Bianca Tondo 

Garden Specialist

Hello Kingswood Community,

Well it has certainly been a cold and wet start to the term! I spoke too soon about not having any rainy lessons! Despite the weather, we've made the most of our time indoors, engaging in creative and productive garden activities. 

Our Year 4 students have been embracing their creativity by making yarn butterflies with popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, and colored wool. You can see a few of these beautiful creations hanging in our bear fruit trees in the SAKG garden. This activity not only fosters creativity, but also instils a sense of pride and accomplishment in our students, encouraging them to be inspired and engaged.

The Year 3 students have been busy planting a mix of seeds in tubs in the shed, specifically for our chickens to feast on. They've been harvesting the shoots and then replanting the mix. Additionally, they've been recycling paper to make and decorate seed packs. Some students have taken these home, while others have kept them to share at school. These activities embody our value of inspiring others to dream, learn, do and achieve more, as students take initiative and engage in meaningful, sustainable practices.

On a particularly cold and wet day, the Year 6 students worked together to build a scarecrow. They broke into groups, each responsible for making different parts – arms, legs, heads, and the frame. This project was a fun and interesting way to foster teamwork and collaboration. I am very impressed that our scarecrow has withstood the wild and rainy weather since being placed in the garden, a testament to the student's hard work and determination.

Despite the weather, we have been busy harvesting beetroot, lemons, oranges, broccoli, and cauliflower. Although it's too cold to plant much right now, these harvests have provided plenty of opportunities for students to engage with and learn from the garden. We've also been doing a lot of weeding, digging, and looking after the chickens. These maintenance activities keep our garden thriving and teach students the importance of caring for our environment.

Happy Gardening!