How does our garden grow?

Farm news

WE WON the ‘Victorian Schools Garden Award’!

 

St John’s is extremely proud to announce that we have been awarded for ‘Most Engaging Student Garden for Learning Wellbeing’. This award acknowledges how St John’s is able to demonstrate participation and engagement in a garden for classes, wellbeing learning or children’s group activities. 

 

Over the past year, Haley has been accumulating videos and photos of our children utilising the farm space. Alongside our very creative Bess, Haley submitted footage of how St John’s engages with place at the Farm, to the annual Nursery and Garden Industry competition for schools across Victoria. 

 

We would like to congratulate Haley, Andrew, Eileen, and all of our dedicated staff, children and families for their exceptional devotion and commitment to maintaining our beautiful farm space, and utilising it for all it’s learning potential.

 

Please check out the Virtual Award Ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNQbCIzn55A&ab_channel=Nursery%26GardenIndustryVictoria (Play from 8:02)

 

 

        

How does our Garden Grow

 

Dear Families,

 

Not long ago, the fence that separates the convent from the farm was completed, and everyone has happily resumed the maintenance such as watering, weeding and other tasks. Not many plants have needed to be harvested, but we look forward to the farm brimming with delicious fruits and vegetables for everyone to enjoy next year! 

 

The cubbyhouse where children played has been repaired and cleaned so that kids can continue to enjoy it in the future. Thanks to the help of volunteers from classes assisting Andrew, it is now as good as new. 

 

Due to past technical difficulties, the QR codes made to give people more information about the plants in the farm were delayed. They hopefully will soon be released and everyone can learn interesting facts about the plants and trees at our farm. 

    

Recently, National Pollinator week was celebrated. The week was created to appreciate the life and other necessities these creatures give us. Pollinators such as bees, wasps, birds and butterflies are perhaps the most important beings on the planet. They take nectar from one plant to another, feeding it in a sense, and without them all plants would eventually die. 

 

The mascot of this years pollinator week: Rita the Reed Bee 

Here’s some fun bee facts you might like to know: 

- To make a normal bee a queen in specific hives, they feed a bee a type of honey called Royal Jelly. 

- Wasp nests can be used for paper (Though we don’t recommend it)

- Bees can come in a variety of colours such as yellow, blue, red and others!

-The reason bees are so noisy is because they beat their wings 11,400 times in one minute!

-A bee hive will fly over 55,000 miles to make 1lb of honey and can create 100lbs of honey in a year.

 

Pollinator joke:

What do you call a jealous wasp? A wanna-bee!

 

Because the end of the term comes nearer, we hope to enjoy as much time at the farm as possible. As this is most likely the last farm newsletter for the year, we hope you all have a safe and happy holiday.

 

Kind Regards,

Leni, Anh Van and Kelly

 

A special thank you to Leni, Ahn Van and Kelly for their regular and informative Garden newsletters each fortnight over the year. 

Haley 🌱