Term 4 Week 8

The students that pruned the roses during winter got to pick some flowers this week to give to their teachers or to take home for their family. 

Term 4 Week 6

Almonds

Kiwifruit

Plums

Pears

Apples

It has been a slightly crazy week with a 7.8 earthquake early monday morning and heavy rain on Thursday but we got down to the garden today to check on how the fruit were growing. Great to see a huge amount of young fruit and the roses the girls had pruned earlier in the year coming into flower!

Term 4 Week 4

It has been a quiet few weeks in the garden with some wet weather and students busy with other activities. We harvested and tasted a few of the first radishes and have spent plenty of time weeding the garden beds. The peas are growing well and the fruit trees have all flowered and are setting the new fruit well.

We had a busy week this week pulling out all the weeds after two weeks of spring holidays. Some of the boys also harvested their first lot of rhubarb to take home and are planning on making rhubarb muffins and stewed rhubarb. The pea and radish seeds that we planted last term have germinated well. 

Term 3 Week 9

We finished the last week of Term 3 with the year 7 students planting seeds and working out ways to keep there gardens watered over the holiday break. They planted seeds that will hopefully germinate in time for next term. It was great to see so many students enjoying themselves in the garden!

Term 3 Week 8

Week 7 was wet and cold so we didn't get out much but this week has been much warmer and the seeds planted a couple of weeks ago are beginning to show!
We found out this week that all Year 7 students will be planting veges as part of their science class next term so the boys have been busy building the paths and getting the ground ready for them.

Term 3 Week 6

The boys removing weeds

It's finally spring and it has started with 18-20 degree days! There is a daffodil flowering and the first of the fruit blossom is out.

The boys came to me this week with the garden rules that they came up with and have signed. My favorite was "Leave your attitude at the gate!" They both came back with great motivation and keen to get underway again.

We also planted the rest of the Rhubarb and the first of our seeds. We started with Radish's as the will hopefully germinate within a week and keep the enthusiasm high!

Planting the first seeds

Term 3 Week 5

Clearing the rhubarb bed

• We had a tricky week this week with two of the senior boys involved in setting up the garden arriving angry and taking out there frustrations in the garden and not following instructions. 
• I have spoken with them and told them we will not be returning to the garden until they can come to me with a written behavior contract outlining what behavior is acceptable in the garden. If i agree with it we will sign it with their dean and get back planting next week.
• I felt really let down by their behavior but hopefully putting the responsibility back on them will be a good learning exercise. 
• Good news is that we have had a good day of heavy rain to water the new plants!

Term 3 Week 4

Planting Rhubarb

• We had a good group of new students this week
• On Monday we managed to clear some weeds and added bark to the path as well as pruning some trees
• Thursday was our first planting day. We all planted a Rhubarb plant each.
• I was also approached by a couple of year 10 students this week who are keen to build a memorial garden for Phillip. They visited on Thursday to see what the area looked like and i will discuss their ideas with them more next week.

The team weeding the first beds

Term 3 Week 3

• First week in the garden! Had two lunchtimes with 3 year 10 students and took 2 boys down for a couple of hours on Friday as they weren't able to be in class. Mr Peseta came down to speak with them there and have a look around too. 
• Terra Viva nursery has given us some new seeds to trial and to then report back to them on how well they grew. 
• My boss at MacRae Landscape Design brought us 4 rhubarb plants. Id like to make sure we send photos of these being planted and again at harvest to say thank you.
• A number of year 7 and 8 students have seen us walking down with tools to the garden and have asked what we are doing. They are keen to join in with us. I have spoken to Sue about them and she is happy for them to join - i will let her know who is coming and how often.

Term 3 Week 1 and 2

• The Food farm proposal was put to the leadership team with positive feedback.
• I met with Leon Martin who has used an area in the existing garden for the past 10 years and who has looked after many of the old fruit trees. He is happy to share his knowledge with us. There are 2 other people who use parts of the garden and i will try to make contact with them too.
• I spoke to a couple of the science teachers and found that there are a few garden tools around the department that can be used. Stephanie has some tools and seeds we can have and could even help the students to make fertiliser from scratch.
• I wet with Pete and had a wander round the garden. He will organise a locked cupboard for us in the glasshouse for storing tools.