Grants

Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant

During term 2, we applied for a Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant and were successful in receiving $1,000.00! In addition to this we were also awarded an additional $500.00 for projects that support bees. So what will this grant be used for?

"The aim of our project is toupgrade and expand our current vegetable patches to include an edible micro forest, that includes indigenous plants, native bees and insects. With an increased classroom interest in sustainability, the new edible micro forest will support our children’s knowledge and understanding and build links with our local indigenous community." We will also be holding an incursion for the Eco-Warriors about pollinators and how to best attract them to our school and surrounds. The Eco-Warriors will then help spread the word and teach other children all the knowledge and skills that they have learnt!

To begin with we have focused on upgrading the current vegetable patches. Ideally we would love to see these patches become 'wicking beds'.

So, what is a wicking bed? It’s essentially a giant “self watering pot” in the form of a garden bed. The idea is a garden bed designed to draw water up from a reservoir below, hence “wicking” through the soil directly to the roots.

But for the time being we have focused on weeding, planting and installing some 'Ollas' (pronounced oi-ya), an ancient watering method. Basically these are terracotta jugs filled with water and buried into the soil, with their necks protruding slightly. Once the porous terracotta olla is in contact with the soil, water begins to seep into the surrounding soil, directly to the rootzone of surrounding plants.

Being resourceful we found some old unglazed terracotta pots and created our own! Our Olla's will help support the vegetables in this patch especially over the summer period and holiday time.