Week 7 Update

This week we are finishing off making more planter boxes as well as creating a space for the 500 native tree seedlings that we are going to look after as part of our association with Eco-Action Nursery Trust. David from Eco Action will be coming in the next week or so to help us set up our nursery.

Check out the Eco-Action Nursery website for more details on what they do.

Garden Update

Over the last 2 weeks students from Tawhirimatea and Tangaroa have been working hard planting, weeding, making planter boxes and even eating Pak Choy and Radishes. Our garden is starting to look lovely again and a special thanks to Mr Redmond for all of his hard work.

What's Growing in My Backyard...

View the slideshow below to find out what's growing in the backyards of some students and teachers @Rāwhiti School.  Remember to leave us some comments on our blogs!

What's growing in Helen P's garden?

What's in my garden?  Pears, pears and lots of pears!

We have two large pear trees that always give us lots of pears.  Usually, we invite all our friends around to help clear the trees but this year because of the lockdown, my family bubble picked them all!

                              

I searched through my recipe books and on the internet for recipes with pears.  I baked tasty pear crumbles, pear cobblers, upside-down pear cake, and pear muffins. 

 

I stewed up pears to put into the freezer so we can make crumbles all through the winter.  I also made pear jam, pear & ginger jam, pear sauce, and salted caramel pear butter. 

 

I picked all the cranberries off the bushes in our garden and mixed them with pears to make a really yummy cranberry and pear chutney.  

               

We even drank fresh pear juice!  

I'm looking forward to picking all the feijoas that are just getting ripe now!  I wonder what I can make with them.  

What's Growing in Marilyn's Backyard?

What’s growing in my garden? Rapete looks  for veges in Marilyn’s garden.

Where are the baby plants? 

Rapete climbs up the beanstalk and the broccoli. He smells the flowers. 

Can you find a  cabbage, carrots,peas, and  cauliflower? 

Can Rapete eat apples, tomatoes and silverbeet? Where can birds drink?

What's Growing In Kathy's Backyard

What's Growing in My Backyard

We have an interesting backyard because our house is in the Port Hills, so there are lots of steps and terraces where lots of different plants grow. Being at home has been a bit of a blessing as we have been able to tidy up a bit and put lots of tired plants into the compost.

My favourite two plants just randomly appeared quite a few years ago. One is a Rosemary plant which just started growing out of a crack in a concrete wall. The other is an alpine strawberry plant which planted itself in a path. Every year it produces the most delicious little strawberries.

As you go up the steps, there are a couple of grapevines, a fig tree and two apple trees, though they are looking a bit naked just now.

Then as you get up to the top part of the section there are lots of trees that produce fruit- a pear tree, a grapefruit tree, two feijoa trees, a peach tree and two lemon trees. There is also a really large almond tree, which drops loads of almonds everywhere- but they are almost impossible to use, as the shell is rock hard.

And this is all that is left in our veggie garden, a couple of lonely beetroot plants. My weekend job is to buy spinach and silverbeet plants to keep them company.

Sharon's Not So Big Garden

What's Growing In My Backyard - Alison

To tell you the truth, my backyard is a bit of a mess! We have pulled out an old trellis and garden shed. It is a work in progress and we haven’t developed a lot of usable garden yet. The most exciting part is the plans I have in my head! However, we do have a small veggie patch and a few extra spaces. I have shared a video of the veggie garden. My cabbages had a narrow escape because I noticed white butterflies landing on them. On close inspection, there were about 50 eggs which would have developed into Hungry Caterpillars if I hadn’t removed them! I have also shared a video of my passionfruit vine which has produced about 55 passionfruit this year. This is a bit of a miracle as I don’t pay it any attention except for throwing some seaweed fertiliser over it once or twice in the summer. I think I am an accidental gardener!

My Veggie Garden!

      

My Passionfruit Vine

      

What's Growing in Your Backyard?

The CRT teachers are challenging you to share with us 'What's Growing in Your Backyard.'

Remember you can use Befunky to help create your collage.  There's instructions on how to use Befunky on Rāwhiti By The Sea.  You can be as creative as you like!

Post your photos/collage on your school blog or share this on SeeSaw.  If you have trouble loading photos onto your blog contact Elizabeth K.  If you want to see what's growing in my backyard click here.

Click on the image for a clearer view