Next working bee this Saturday afternoon: On Saturday, March 2nd from 3-5pm, we will be planting out seedlings in Little Patch. All are welcome. Enter from the Heal Street entrance to the school and please sign up here if you would like to attend:https://signup.zone/HAvQuFD3kGCmX2nQj We have an abundance of basil, vietnamese mint, sage, rosemary and other herbs, which volunteers are welcome to take home. Taking inspiration from some of our school parents who took bouquets of basil for Valentine’s Day, we will also be making pesto in the tuckshop kitchen.

Erosion warriors: 

Our grade 5 students have been ‘erosion warriors’, working hard on implementing erosion mitigation strategies in the Beeston St garden for their science unit. On the undeveloped hillside they used the ‘chop and drop’ technique, which leaves the roots of weeds in place to secure the soil but sees the rest cut into small pieces to make mulch and build up the soil. This is a win-win, the weeds are dealt with and there are no needs for pesticides. 

On the more established hillside, they planted out some native shrubs, which were kindly donated by Vicki Howard’s team at Brisbane City Council. The students also moved the rich piles of compost that had gathered around the drain area, shovelling it back onto the garden to enrich the soil. Refreshed areas were covered with tea tree mulch and secured with coir netting. Thanks to the students for their excellent work, and to the teachers working with the Habitat Group to make outdoor learning fun, embodied and practical!

Gardenlife before-school program: Do you walk your child into school on Wednesdays or Thursdays? Would you like to join us in the Little Patch garden next to the tuckshop from 8.30-8.45am? No gardening experience is required. This activity is an opportunity to be with other parents and students to enjoy our edible garden. Last week, for example, we collected faded sunflowers for our students studying life cycles so they could brush and save the seeds.