Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

GARDEN

ANZAC Day

Our lovely grade 5/6s made a wreath of natural items for ANZAC Day that was presented on April 25th at the Glen Waverley RSL.

Soil Testing 

The 3/4s tested soil from different areas of the garden. They invesigated what creatures were in it, the moisture level, the smell and the texture. They all agreed that the soil in our garden was rich and nutritious. 

International Compost Week

During the International compost week all the classes experienced how to make different compost, what is needed to layer the compost, what creatures play a role in breaking down the layers of "green & brown" and what to do if the compost smells. Each group made a small compost pile of food scraps, egg shells (greens), shreaded paper and autumn leaves (browns) in a plastic see through container to moniter across the month and record what changes they see. 

World Bee Day

World Bee Day is May 20th. The garden groups have been investigating all things Bees,  making bee hotels and watering stations.

Mark the Beekeeper 

Mark the beekeeper kept the whole school engaged with his interesting discussion on bees, beekeeping, honey, bee jokes, and how important bees are to our lives. Mrs Dennehy modelled the protective suit that is worn to check the bees/hives and we learnt the "waggle dance" that bees do to tell each other where the good flowers are. All the students tasted four different types of honey and voted on which one they thought was the best.

KITCHEN

We have had a busy few weeks in the kitchen, enjoying recipes made fresh produce from the garden. This week we have made a roasted vegetable salad drizzled with Henley Honey,  generously donated to us from Mark our beekeeper. Fresh bread rolls from the oven with butter and honey were also delicious. 

The 5/6s have continued to explore what meals looked like 100 years ago, during WW1, the 1920s, the Drepression years and WWII. We cooked golden syrup dumplings (some were surprised to find they were nothing like Asian dumplings!) vegetable croquettes, salads, vegetable and barley soup. We learnt that Vegemite, after being invented in 1923, was used in the '20s as a baste on a roast beef and to make the gravy. We used it in a pumpkin soup (it added a salty flavour) and in some Vegemite and cheese pizza scolls... yum!