Piwakawaka Planting

 Scratch, scratch, scratch the shovels scratched the long grass away from the soil. We are digging holes for the plants we had donated to the class, thanks Mrs Phelps. These are all native plants that included little rimu trees, lancewood, toetoe, broadleaf and mahoe.

It is nice to think that in years to come we will be able to see the results and there will be more habitat for the insects. 

To plant you need to loosen the soil around where the plant is to go in, dig a hole slightly deeper than the root  ball, place the plant in the hole and refill it with dirt. Finally you have to compact the soil around the plant root to ensure it stays straight.

We will need to make sure that the long grass is kept away from the plant so it does not get suffocated.

Sustainable Planting

 On Friday Weka and Weka Tēina planted some kōwhai seeds. 

We wanted to do some sustainable planting. This means that we could use seeds from plants that we found in our own school gardens.

We spent some time with the tamariki in Piwakawaka collecting seeds from trees around our school and then seperating them from their pods. 

First, we had to put them in boiling water for 24 hours because the shell was too hard and it needed to soften. 

In peers, we got a seedling tray and we filled each little part halfway with soil. 

Then we got 2 kōwhai seeds and put them in each part. 

Next, we put more soil over the top of the kōwhai seeds. 

We then made sure the seeds were in the sun and gave them some water. 

Assembly Presentation

 Rhys from the Kaniere Crusaders gave an update on the Enviroschools activities the group had engaged in so far this term.

If you would like to catch up with what the leaders have been up to just follow the link to our presentation.