St Finbar's Mountain Devils are joining the Kitchen Garden Blog!

St Finbar's Primary Glenbrook are keen to start a Kitchen Garden at their school and have come up with the name 'Mountain Devils'! A very appropriate name, as the flower is unique to the Blue Mountains area and the school is set in a very historic region, where rock carvings thought to be from aboriginal times, can be found on the school's grounds!
The worm farms are ready to go, areas have been chosen for planting vegetables and ideas floated about how best to create a garden which will suit the obvious seasonal climate and showcase the beauty of a school mountain garden.

            

A visual story of St Pat's Kitchen Garden - Blacktown

The following Slideshare was presented at the Parramatta Learning Community for Sustainability meeting, which was hosted by St Patrick's Primary Blacktown on 'World Ocean Day' - 8 June 2011!

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World Ocean Day - 8 June 2011

The fifth 'Parramata Learning Community for Sustainability' meeting was held on Wednesday 8 June at St Patrick's Primary, Blacktown where students took great pride in showing visitors around the Kitchen Garden and telling them the story of how it has grown!
Representatives from nine schools, Catholic Education Office personnel and one Parish Priest, enjoyed some delicious treats before gathering to reflect on 'The Parable of the Growing Seed'.
A powerpoint presentation told the story of St Pat's Kitchen garden and guests were invited to share what is happening in their schools, regarding 'A Naturalistic Approach to Language' ... however small! Ideas included Cooking with Comprehension, Numeracy with Nutrition and Early Settlement Gardens!
Luke Edwards, Acting National Director of Catholic Earthcare Australia, presented - 'What is a Sustainable Community?' ... one which has a Spiritual, Social, Ecological and Economical focus.
An imovie, featuring John Denver's 'Thank God I'm a Country Boy', which covered the Language Groups trip to the Hawkesbury Show, added to the joyful spirit of the afternoon!
Packets of Yates snow peas and dwarf and climbing beans were available for collection, thanks to the generosity of a SAP (St Andrew's Primary, Marayong) parent!
The Term Three meeting will be hosted by St Nicholas of Myra Primary, Penrith on Wednesday 31 August, 2 - 4pm ... all welcome!

 

  

Parents invited to attend!

This time the Nano Nature Nurturers' invited parents to attend the meeting which was held in the library. Two mothers came to join in the discussions on how best to promote 'care for our earth', at St Michael's Primary Blacktown South!
Ideas ranged from 'Reduction in Lost Property' and 'Climate Club' to 'Mobile Phone Muster'! The 'Friends of Our Earth Team' (the group responsible for contributing to the school Newsletter) will let parents know that shredded paper is available for collection from the student foyer to be used at home for composting or pet cages! The next meeting will be held at Nano Cottage on Monday 8 August at 3.15pm ... all welcome!

                                 

'From Little Things Big Things Grow'!

Visit by the Local Member for Chifley!

St Patrick's Primary Blacktown was privileged to have Mr Ed Husic, the Local Member for Chifley, visit the Kitchen Garden recently! The visit was prompted by a Year 4 student, whose grandparents have a long association with the school and can remember the beginning of the Rose Garden ... hence the name for Rose Cottage!
The Kitchen Garden program which began in 2009, focuses on the development of oral language skills for all students, especially those identified with specific oral language needs. The garden is a valued resource for all students and teachers at St Patrick's.

Mr Husic was greeted by the students and given an informative tour of the garden and surrounds.The students were able to identify and discuss the many kinds of vegetables and herbs growing in the garden, including the 'no-dig' gardens and the hothouse!
The group moved to Rose Cottage for a formal presentation of 'Certificates of Participation" and the gift of an Australian flag, to be raised on the flagpole near the cottage!