The Growing Patch

The Growing Patch Report

The new grades 4s have been introduced this term into the growing patch program. The first couple of weeks are teaching the students the basics needed to work in the kitchen and the garden. Reading recipes, weighing, knife skills washing up are all taught. In the garden we talk about tools names and use, garden rules and the vegetables growing.

We have been harvesting lots of veggies including eggplants, lettuce, beetroot, carrots, capsicum and spring onions to make a few. We have made chocolate and beetroot muffins, San Choy bau and homemade pasta with an eggplant and tomato sauce. All the students have loved sitting down to eat with their friends discussing what they have done in the garden and kitchen.

If you would like to try any of the recipes, please find them attached.

This term we are planting a couple of new vegetables for our students to try, ready for the winter, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, and kale. We are also learning about taking cuttings and seeds from existing plants to garden sustainably.

The big news is that we have successfully hatched 4 quails. The students have been fortunate to be able to watch the process in the library, they were in an incubator and once hatched they were transferred into a brooder. They will stay in the brooder until they are strong enough (about 6 weeks) So there will be lots of opportunities for the students to meet theme to watch them grow. When ready the Quail’s new home will be in the Growing Patch. They will live in a specially made walk-in coop which will enable supervised students to get to know them. We are hoping the Quails will lay plenty of eggs so we can use them for the Growing Patch cookery lessons each week. 

None of this would be possible without the amazing generosity of the Sok-Kloth family who have provided our school with the eggs, incubator, brooder, and they are also making Lyndhurst the walk-in coop the Quails will live in. Thank you so much we are so grateful for the wonderful experience you are giving our students. 

See attached a cute video we have made about the Quail

https://youtu.be/6nXbDQEMmpg    -    Quail video

The Wellbeing team