The sprouts are growing beautifully and went into the tuck shop on Wednesday. From all reports they have been enjoyed by everyone who has had them. The zingy taste from the radish and the fenugreek has been a hit. far better than the plain old alfalfa sprouts.
One Year 5 class was so concerned about their sprouts, they sent them home with their teacher over the weekend. They were well looked after. Mrs Johnson gave them their own lounge chair to stretch out on, kept their fluids up and made sure they had a weekend to remember. Here's a photo of our laid back sprouts. I'm convinced that's why they have so much flavour.
We are starting to get a stockpile of fruits and vegetables that we can replant into the garden once it is established. Seed potatoes are available at the moment so I have collected some of those. They will be the first vegetable to be planted into a no dig garden. I use an easy harvest method to grow my potatoes, so I'll put it in next weeks blog. It is a great way to grow them especially if you're short on space. The other advantage is that you don't need to use forks or shovels, so it is a very safe activity for children.
I've also got some raspberry canes for planting against the fence. These will have a dual purpose. One is that we'll get some great fruit once they are mature and two, they make a great deterrent against intruders.
There has been a lot of paperwork to be done this week. There are risk assessment tasks to complete, Agriculture Operations and Animal Welfare and Ethics policies that must be strictly followed, and various checklists made. Once completed and implemented, you’ll have the comfort of knowing that your children will be working in an outdoor environment that has met all safety standards set by the relevant government departments.
As I walk through the school, the interest shown by the children is amazing. Kids from all year levels are asking about both the garden and the kitchen. Down in Year 3 the children have been learning the art of persuasive writing. I spent about 40 minutes listening to some very compelling arguments as to why we must grow tomatoes in our vegie garden. These children had done their research and knew the health benefits, and the needs and requirements of tomatoes. Going by their eagerness and knowledge I am feeling confident that the gardens will be in good hands.
Until next week,
Take care and enjoy life
Ross T
