Time to Harvest!

A return to school means it's time to check for fresh produce and the Easter rains meant there was plenty to harvest! Cherry tomatoes, which were grown using seeds squirted from over-ripe tomatoes ... (a fun thing to do) peas, which were only planted before the holidays, and some carrots (one rather large) hiding amongst the nasturtiums, were a joy to discover! The two green strawberries will be watched carefully as they turn to red! The potatoes which were cut and planted in a sack have made good growth! A broccoli has appeared and it must be from one which went to seed last season!

Stone steps needed sweeping, beans needed to be staked and composting worms needed to be placed back in the bin ... a busy time all round but as always, time to greet the animals and welcome three lambs ... unfortunately the duck met its fate but Maria (a Year Six student) says her mother has two ducks to donate to the farm, a generous and welcome offer, even though one duck is lame!

Time to Rest!

As Term One 2011 concludes, the garden and the animals take a well earned rest! Strawberries, beans, peas, corn and chinese cabbage have been planted, watered and mulched and Nugget and Butterscotch quietly wait just outside the Cottage gates, for the return of eager farm girls and language group students!

Rose Cottage!

A little house is now a feature of the Kitchen Garden at St Patrick's Primary, Blacktown. It sits proudly amongst the pots and awaits some furnishings and a name! The Language Group students will hold a 'naming competition' in Term Two ... they have promised to put their thinking caps on over the Easter holidays.Watch this space!
"Rose Cottage" it is!

St Andrew's Primary

A recent working bee at St Andrew's Primary Marayong, was successful in upgrading the school garden by paving, planting, mulching and adding scarecrows! An old filing cabinet has been flipped on its side and used as a 'no-dig' garden ... very creative and a good recycling tip! 

Pita Rabbit!

A creative idea for celebrating Easter was to make Pita Rabbits, using pita bread for bunny ears, but pancakes were found to be more shapely, so 'Peter Rabbits' were made instead ... just as much fun and very tasty!

The Easter Bunny comes to Blacktown South!

The Nagle College girls guided the Language Group students around Nano Cottage Kitchen Garden in search of Easter Eggs and the White Rabbit from the College farm, joined in the fun! Spontaneous conversation was the order of the day as students discussed hiding spots and quantity collected! More Easter goodies were discovered by the St Michael's Composting Team at lunchtime, much to their delight!

How Living Things Grow and Change

The unit 'How Living Things Grow and Change' has prompted Year Two students at St Aidan's Primary Rooty Hill, to start a Kitchen Garden. The area is small but excitement is mounting, as plans are made to turn the barren patch of earth, into fertile ground which will produce fresh,edible vegies... watch this space! A generous donation of seeds ... beans and peas, by a parent at St Andrew's Primary (SAP), was joyously received by the students with the idea that they will commence their own garden at home during the Easter break!

Starting from Scratch!

At St John's Primary Riverstone, 'Garden Buds' (the newly formed environmental group), planted sweet peas along the front fence line, on St Patrick's day ... traditionally this is the day to plant them! Andrew's mother organised a working bee to plant a native garden. Zhan,who is the Sustainable Resources Officer, from Blacktown City Council, is coming to the school and bringing a compost bin and a worm farm, so ... 'From Little Things Big Things Grow!'

                           

This story writtten by the 'Garden Buds'