Hands On Learning

Spring is upon us which for me means an exciting time to grow vegetables. To share this passion with the Hands-on Learners we have been working on the construction of raised garden beds. Fortuitously we have an abundance of land with a northerly aspect, ideal for maximising sunlight, mix in some rich locally produced manures and voila.

The crew surveyed the site and used lasers to find a consistent level then set to work laying out the reclaimed sleepers to form our beds. This was challenging given the nature of the timber, size and length but with a lot of too and froing the design looks a treat. To raise lower areas, we settled old solid reds and then the sleepers. This was all held together by specially made sheet metal angle. Here’s a big thankyou to Rory Fynch for donating his time and materials for this. 

There was all manner of skills developed or explored during this project and the fun won’t stop there. To come we will fill the beds, sow the seeds, install an irrigation system, provide protective elements, nurture to maturity and finally prepare and plate. I feel when you have skin in the game success tastes all the sweeter.

We were also fortunate to have our Hands-on Learning Support Co-ordinator on site. Steve Schnider has many years of experience supporting those that support the students. We can all improve or learn news things and I feel especially lucky to have Steve guide me through the  Hands-on Learning program.

Amber: During Hands-on Learning today we had Steve come to our school and help us on the project that we are working on. Steve helps 25 schools with Hands-on Learning. We split into two groups, it was Lachlan and I, the other, Kaylee and Kayden. Brett helped Kaylee group and Steve helped ours. For lunch we had burgers with bacon and cheese.

Lachlan: Today in HoL Ayden, Amber, Kaylee and I made garden beds, we also had a visitor. Steve has helped 25 schools and was helping us today. Kaylee made lunch.

Kaylee: Today in Hands-on Learning Steve came, he is a man that supports 25 schools. We had a little talk and then we got to work which was finishing off what we started last week, which was making garden beds. It is so cool, we are almost finished. We just need one more plank and a few more screws. I was the cook today; I don’t know how to cook but Brett was there (thank you Brett). Anyways, what we had for lunch was burgers, cheese, bun, bacon and tomato sauce. It was your choice. They were so good, everyone was happy to eat them. Then we finished up with work, then Kayden and I had to do the seeds. After that we packed up, said goodbye to Steve and then back to class.

Kayden: Today in HoL, Lachlan, Kaylee, Amber and I finished the garden bed next to the shipping container. I done a lot of drilling and tightening bolts. For lunch we had burgers that Kaylee cooked, they were really good. We also sorted out the plants that we are going to plant.