In our Garden
Wild Weather
The last two weeks have seen some weather extremes with storms and fires impacting our communities. Luckily our garden escaped mostly unscathed, though things did wilt on those scorching days. We continue to see interesting bugs, this week's notable insect was a prominent praying mantis. Here's a great link from the Australian Museum.
Praying mantises: Order Mantodea - The Australian Museum
Gardening Overview
Our classes have been busy with late summer garden activities like harvesting seed from our flowers, veggies and herbs.
So far we have collected Coriander, Silverbeet, Calendula, Nigella and Parsley. If you would like some seed from our garden, let your students know to ask as we may have some saved to give away.
We have also started sowing garlic and onions as well as some open hearted lettuce and been doing our best to keep on top of seeding grass weeds.
Grades F,1&2
A highlight was starting our potato harvest - it's always a big hit and the grownups enjoy it too! 1/2 Students also very carefully helped to trim those herbs that have been getting a bit leggy.
In the very hot weather we work inside and this week students helped to make Lemon Verbena cordial and we all had a try!
Here's a recipe for one that uses lemon too.
Lemon Verbena and Lemon Cordial - Food Wine Garden
Grades 5&6
Grades 5 and 6 were our main seed collectors, it was a great activity to do in the shade of our grapevines on a hot afternoon. Pro Potatoes from 5/6WP collected Calendula seed, Succulents harvested our Hill potatoes and Green Grass helped clear under the nursery benches.
Discussion Topic
This week we have been focussed on waste minimisation and all grades have discussed how we can behave in ways that reduces the rubbish in our school yard and maximised recycling. The two main points were. Take your rubbish and recycling home and Give food scraps to the chickens (no plastics!)
Here's a good link from the City of Greater Bendigo to help Kids learn what goes where!
Happy Gardening,
Sara