Well it’s been a pretty wet 'n' wild old winter, and the school grounds have been a haven for recess and lunchtime water channelling activities.

The children from Class One and Two have been borrowing hand-trowels to create a myriad of little aqueducts in the sandpits.

The gardens have also been very soggy and difficult to weed.

This hasn’t stopped the garden teams from surging forward with other activities…. the big patch below bamboo village has had silage laid down on all the pathways, the Class 3 garlic patch has been weeded and fed, the orchard is pruned and woodchips have been spread around all the trees.  Class 2 have spent some time down by the creek rehabilitating some bare areas with endemic native species (supplied, with thanks, by Bill Hollingworth).

Class One harvested their first crop of potatoes... good as finding gold they reckon, and we cooked some in the field and ate them with olive oil and salt!

Class Three had a wok stir-fry of broccoli, garlic and kale with a dash of tamari.

When the produce is harvested so fresh, and the preparation kept really simple, the children get to really taste flavours that a biodynamic garden is capable of producing.

I can’t wait to see the orchard spring to life this season.  Being fully covered for the first time, I’m expecting an abundance of fruit.  This will be used in cooking, eaten fresh, and excess fruit  (if there is any after the children have finished!) will go to the P&F for fund-raising.

Class Four have persisted with planting out seasonal vegetables, despite the 'rabbit raids'.  Three times we re-planted the beds only to find the seedlings gone the following week.  With some good detective work, we discovered rabbit scats and have re-fenced the whole patch.  Gardening can be a lesson in persistence , that’s for sure!

Class Five are now well into their main lesson 'botany', and by all accounts thoroughly enjoying the journey toward the study of the flowering plants.

Class Six have been asked to find or generate a recipe using seasonal produce that we will cook in gardening classes.  The recipe needs to be completed in one hour (including prep and cooking time).

Term four will involve a garden building project for the class, so if any of the Class Six parents have building skills, or materials, please let me know.

Enjoy the seasonal change!

Neal