Joondalup Education Support Centre eNewsletter

Sustainability Corner

This term has seen much growth and student activity in our school vegetable garden. Several classes have planted seeds and seedlings and are looking after them as part of their HASS Geography outcomes. Their gardens have become special places they care for by creating sets of rules for their care and observing the growth and change of plants. They will then harvest and use the produce in cooking next term.

The after School Garden and Moorditj clubs have been very busy this term with general upkeep of the garden, along with planting and caring for the vegetables they will enter into the Perth Royal Show

Room 20 have continued to be the ‘worm experts’ by collecting organic food scraps, preparing them, feeding the worms and upkeep of the worm farm. Next Term will see another worm farm come into action as we endeavour to recycle most of our organic food scraps and move further along in our sustainability journey. If you have an interest in worm farming, then stay tuned as I have a planned information session coming up next term.

Our schools are entering 2 categories this year – the Sustainable Scarecrow and a wheelbarrow full of our produce. Come on down to the show and look what the Garden and Moordijt Clubs have grown and created. You can also vote for the people’s choice award. I am very honoured to have the dedication of a wonderful group of students, parents, grandparents and various staff members all contribute to these two projects. Stay tuned for photos from the show in the next newsletter.

This week the Garden and Moorditj club members for term 3 will harvest vegetables to make their own pizzas and celebrate a fabulous term of ‘teamwork’.

I will send home notes for term 4 Garden Club in Week 1 of next term.

Numbers are strictly limited to 20, so please return the form as soon as possible.

Woolworths has kindly donated a display box and raised garden bed for collection of these seed packs. The schools would appreciate any donations. Drop them down near the collection box outside the office. The Preschool ESC classes were lucky enough to go on an excursion to Woolworths to learn all about fruit and vegetables.

Once the seedlings are mature enough, they will be planted just inside the front school gates so you can observe the progress of the plants. Next term classes will have the opportunity to care and record their observations of growth.

Recycling Programs - located near the Front Office

Please continue to bring in:

Beauty products and hair care packaging
Batteries
Mobile phones and accessories
Dental hygiene packaging including toothbrushes
Coffee pods
Ring Pulls from cans of drink

I am pleased to announce that we now have a Grow Free Cart that is set up near the office. The cart has been painted by the staff from Room 21 and Room 21 students will become the custodians of the cart.

"How does the cart work?" We have a simple answer: you give what you can, and take what you need. There are no prices, no bartering, no trading, no value. Like you would with family and loved ones.

What can I put on the cart?

Homegrown or homemade produce: fruit, veg, herbs, preserves, eggs, etc. Preferably grown with organic principles, without toxins. Grown with love is a strict prerequisite! Seeds, seedlings, cuttings and rootstock (Please label all, and heirloom seeds are best, as they can be saved from) All things gardening, whether it be gardening magazines, planters, worm tea, jars , paper bags and small boxes for seeds or produce.

Finally, a big thankyou to Kylie Granville and Bev Shaw, 2 staff members, who have now volunteered to help with the after school Garden Club. I could not have run this as successfully without your help.

Happy gardening and recycling,

Sandra & Stacey – Sustainability Coordinators