Happy Christmas and Summer Holidays!

 "Peace on earth and goodwill to all!"

 

Christmas in Australia means Summer holidays, so it is time to pack up and leave the school gardens for a while and enjoy all that nature has to offer in the wider community!

Spreading the Good News!

When Mr Mark Taylor MP, visited the revamped garden at St Bernadette's Primary Lalor Park recently, he was impressed with the knowledge and enthusiasm of the Environment Leaders. Discussion revolved around Aloe Vera (used in creams and tissues!)Sunflowers (for oil and seeds!) Cherry Tomatoes and Flat Leaf Parsley (for making tabbouleh!) Sensory Gardens (can you detect the lemon scent?) a Saint Mary MacKillop Callistemon (named after Australia's first saint!) Mint which tastes like Chocolate and Composting! Mark also shared with the students his knowledge of State Parliament and the responsibilities which his job entails! He explained that the essence of a good speech was to have three specific points to present and Emma (Stage 3) followed Mark's advice when she thanked him for taking the time to visit and appreciate the tasty delights of a school garden!

Movement, Colour and Fun!

Use wooden salad bowls to make Toadstools!

 

Paint pots to add colour!

 

 

Adorn pots with Garden Art to stimulate interesting conversations!

Add a Chalkboard to encourage creative designs!

Provide a Birdbath for Native Birds

Youth Eco Summit!

 

Environmental Leaders from St Bernadette's Primary, Lalor Park travelled in the Nagle College bus to attended Y.E.S. at Homebush on 21 October 2015. They experienced first-hand sessions involving Rubbish Rehabilitation, All Things Green, Field to Fibre and Silk Worms. They now know that to have Silk Worms you must have a Mulberry Tree and that Felt is made from wool!

 

"Whoever Owns Seeds, Owns Life!

Richmond Tweed Regional Library Branch technician Linda Bell, St Joseph’s Primary School student Tom Gresham and gardening authority and author Julia Hancock with some of the seeds now available at the new library.

The region’s first seed library was officially launched at Murwillumbah Library last week, enabling residents to ‘borrow’ and share seeds to grow their own fruit, vegetables and other plants.

Gardening experts and enthusiasts joined with Tweed Shire Council, library and school representatives to celebrate the launch of the seed library, which will be based at Murwillumbah Library to promote a sense of community sharing, sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Richmond Tweed Regional Library Branch technician Linda Bell said it was the third seed library of its kind in NSW and the first in the northern rivers.

‘Almost all the seeds have been donated by gardening groups and other locals, for plants which are already grown successfully in this area,’ Ms Bell said.

‘The seeds can be “borrowed” for free and taken home, just like a library book, and come with instructions on how to plant and look after them.

‘People are encouraged to let some of the plants go to seed, then harvest and bring those seeds into the library so someone else can borrow them,’ she said.

Tweed Area Librarian Colette Stapleton said the seed library was spawned by a suggestion from one of its regular customers and, after considerable public consultation to guide its implementation, was a great example of the library responding to community needs.

Tweed mayor Katie Milne, gardener and seed contributor Kathy Booth, with the garden toolbox she won as part of the launch, and gardening authority and author Julia Hancock at the opening of the seed library.

A guest speaker at the opening, gardening authority Julia Hancock, said seeds were the precious epicenter of our world and an important asset for the community.

‘Whoever owns seeds, owns life,’ she said.

Tweed mayor Katie Milne told the launch she was continually amazed by the wonderful work and variety of services provided by the library staff.

‘It’s one of the best services council provides and is used by around 50 per cent of our residents,” she said.

For more information, contact Murwillumbah Library on 6670 2427.

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Kitchen Garden Resources for Schools!

Ideas for inspiration!
Tools for Teachers!

 

Growing Oral Language Skills!

Oral Language skills as well as plants grow in the garden! Just listen to this:

 
“Which sunflower seed did I plant?” “Oh there it is!” “Teachers and parents 
like to visit the garden too!” “My book has a sunflower on the cover!” “The snails ate the mint but it grew again!” “Is this a bean?” “I can see a tiny green tomato but we have to wait until it turns red, before we can eat it!” “Why do plants in pots need to be watered more often than those in the ground?” “I remember painting that fruit crate with Ryan, now it has some compost from the Compost Bin in it!”