Grow Your Own Backyard Sunshine! Seed of the Week Giveaway!

Did you know that inside every tiny black-and-striped seed hides a giant garden-superhero waiting to burst out? Sunflower seeds are super-snacks packed with power, they are loaded with protein to build strong muscles, healthy fats for long-lasting energy, and superhero nutrients like Vitamin E and magnesium to keep your heart happy and your brain focused.

But sunflowers aren't just great for you; they work hard for Planet Earth, too! Their giant yellow faces act as bustling cafes for hungry bees and butterflies, while their seeds become a natural feast for birds in autumn, and their deep roots even help clean up the dirt.

You can easily grow your own sky-high giant by poking a small hole about two centimetres deep in a bright, sunny spot, gently tucking your seed in with a soft blanket of soil, and giving it a gentle drink of water every couple of days until it shoots up toward the sun!

Sweet News from the Sweet Potato Patches!

Exciting things are happening in our school garden as our sweet potato patches take centre stage! Over in Patch 1, we are thrilled to see vibrant new sweet potato vines sprouting and spreading their fresh growth. Meanwhile, Patch 2 has been undergoing a massive transformation over the past four weeks thanks to a mountain of organic biomass. Raking up enough leaf litter from the playground was a huge effort, but our hardworking garden crew pulled it off!

To make Patch 2 even better, we recently received two fantastic donations of fresh lawn clippings from Luke B and Christian C in 4W. Adding these green clippings to our heavy leaf litter creates the ultimate compost mix, packed with nutrients that will break down into rich, healthy soil for our next crop. A big thank you to Luke, Christian, and everyone who helped gather leaves. Our garden is thriving because of your hard work!

Learning and Growing in the Garden!

Gardening is full of wonderful surprises, but it also comes with a few bumps along the road! Back in autumn, we tried taking cuttings from our existing Rosemary, Lilly Pilly, and Lavender plants. Unfortunately, a combination of winter cold and too much damp moisture meant those little stems didn't make it. But in the Garden Club, every hiccup is just a chance to learn, adapt, and try something new! We are bouncing back with a brand-new propagation experiment using fresh Geranium and Lavender cuttings. This time around, we are skipping the humid greenhouse to prevent rot, and we gave the bottom tips of each stem a quick dip in natural honey before planting! Honey acts as a fantastic natural shield; its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties protect the fresh cut from soil diseases while helping to seal in vital moisture. We can't wait to see how this sweet new trick works as our new cuttings begin to strike!

When is the Garden Club?

Garden Club happens on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, right after the gates open. We meet at the bubblers on the Churchill Avenue side of the school.

Garden Club is completely FREE to join! It's a great opportunity to learn to be a lateral thinker with limited resources, get first pick after a harvest, and see some fascinating creatures.

The information shared here is based on our experiences and knowledge, but we are not gardening experts. Think of it as friendly advice from one garden lover to another. Please remember that all gardening activities should be done with adult supervision and that you're responsible for your own safety and decisions.

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