Organic Gardens and Mara Māori Create Opportunities For Children's Learning

Greenhithe School

Sustainable Organic Gardening was a very new idea for Greenhithe School. Teachers were behind the idea so I started organic gardening with my class and a small group of senior students.

Students from year 3 to 6 applied for the job as gardeners and gave up a lunchtime to work in the garden. Children were really enthusiastic and now we are just facilitating their ideas. Currently they are learning about companion planting and what to grow during winter!

A group of eight students planned the site and arranged for a fence to be built. Our garden was based on a "no-dig" approach – the easiest and most economical way in the school/class environment.

Daniel Nepia has been the Auckland region facilitator, which has been wonderful. Daniel has guided students' thinking and has clear understanding of organic gardening and companion planting. He has played a major role in the garden's development.

Children's understanding and knowledge about the garden and gardening have also increased. Students were a little apprehensive about worms, beetles, and dirt, but they can now see the importance of gardening and how this helps the Greenhithe environment – "Keeping the Green in Greenhithe".

We have also had a lot of community support. After a presentation to the board of trustees, members started talking to other people. Parents provided wood for the beds and carpet a weedmat. Our principal's husband kindly built our fence and compost bin. New Zealand Glass Environmental Fund has also donated money toward our gardens, worm farm, and composting systems.

This project will have long-term benefits for our students and their community and gives a functional purpose within the school. Our long-term environmental project will move beyond recycling to Adopting a Stream and becoming a Zero Waste School. This in turn will encourage further involvement with our community to Learn to Grow with us.

We are also a Primary Enterprise Programme school and hope to use our organic garden/worm farming/composting ventures for curriculum learning and development in the future.

Sarah Ventham

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