Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Heaven and Nature Sing!

Time to close the gate on another productive year ... 2011! With grateful thanks to all who helped to make the 'Kitchen Garden' programs flourish, in many schools in the Parramatta Diocese!

 

 

A Gift from Imelda!


Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Santa visits Nano Cottage!


If there is one jolly big man in red guaranteed to have students entering into conversation, it is Santa Claus ... even if it is a blow up version! Thanks to the generosity of Imelda, (St Michael's Parish Blacktown South) who along with Sylvia, brought joy and gifts to the students who were enjoying their end of year Christmas Party!


Happy Christmas and Holidays to all!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Tips & Tricks
www.bankofideas.com.augreat online newsletter
http://www.freecycle.org/group/AU/   … free of charge. Free community recycling rehoming
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/education.htm lists all the competitions available
www.daleysnursery.com.au (fruit trees)
www.perryrunners.com.au (strawberry runners)
www.livewellatschool.nsw.edu.au NSW Dept ED and Communities
www.crunchandsip.com.au  Live Life Well (Crunch and Sip)
www.gardenate.com (also have ipad/iphone app. Aussie site)
www.seedsavers.net
www.diggers.com.au
www.milkwoodpermaculture.com.au 
Scoop it – Google
Use www.snapfish.com.au or similar programs, to make colourful books to place in the school library
    
iPhones, iPads and laptops have ‘evernote’ – good to use for  recording audio and visual  data, Lisa Nash at LEX, is happy to run training sessions
Use visuals to compile small readers - something like the PM readers which students can read often
Vegie bags – contact Lisa Brown at Jarara
Grow cultural foods and invite families to give a history of their origins
Invite Costa Georgiadis to speak to students, teachers and parents
‘Kitchen Garden Bus Tour’, take the tour or be a ‘host’ school – contact Clare to make a booking!
Bush tucker plants – contact Erin Rowe erowe@greeningaustralia.org.au
Promote school gardens on school websites and link to Kitchen Garden blog – http://kitchengardensinschools.blogspot.com/label/search/ … then name of school garden e.g SPKG for St Patrick’s Kitchen Garden – contact Lisa Nash for more details!
Posts for the blog i.e. photos and a blurb, can be sent to Clare or a suitable time arranged for a visit
MCain’s annual competition … collect
Barcodes for garden products

Write to another school, the ‘Composting Team’ at St Michael’s, Blacktown South are writing to the ‘Green Thumbs ‘at St Mary’s in North Dubbo – you may need to put up a mail box in your garden!
Seed save and have students set up a stall to fund raise for seedlings and garden products ... this activity is a great way to develop practical language skills and  ... it is especially easy to gather seeds from sunflowers!
Visit other Schools /Early Learning Centres, e.g. Glenhaven State school, Abbotsleigh College, 'Mia-Mia' Macquarie University, to see exciting and practical ways to use the outdoors as a learning space!                                    
Stingless Native Bees
     
AConversation Circle
Source plants with your school's name, e.g. St Patrick's Rose


Put water plants in a wishing well e.g. yellow flag water iris

Plant two olive trees to ensure success!
Look for vegies which grow in strange places and discuss how they came to be there?

Form an environment group such as Nano's Nature Nurturers and invite all interested parties from the school community ... engenders great discussion and ideas!

Keep an eye out for the next Youth Eco Summit and take students for a great day out of hands on learning!