Vegetable garden and outdoor classroom

Vegetable garden and outdoor classroom


I have moved the garden and bird platform challenge across to this page so we don't forget about it.

Here is the information I included in the blog from last week.



Garden and Bird Platform Challenge

Kia Ora all

Rain, rain go away, come back another day -  I say.

This morning I went out and took some photos of our garden area, which includes our raised vegetable / flower / weed plots, and the native garden that we use as an area for reading and relaxing.

Here they are below.

Our 5 raised vegetable / flower plots

So far we have 2 lettuce plants and one parsley

It's a start but it is looking very bare - looks like there will be a bit a of a fight over who gets to eat the lettuce leaves when we have a shared lunch

Our AWESOME native garden - reading for summer time reading

Now, wouldn't it look fantastic if there were a bird platform on top of this stump? Imagine the sounds of birds chirping whilst you read outside in the fresh air

Now here is the CHALLENGE

It is in TWO parts.

Challenge ONE

 - PLAN THE VEGETABLE / FLOWER  GARDEN

Mr Muller and I need your help with the vegetable / flower garden.

We know that if you plant seeds or seedlings in the ground, water them and watch out for frosts, then there is a good chance that they will develop into edible vegetables. The only problem is that we are unsure which vegetables to plant and also how far apart we should space them, and which ones can be planted next to each other, and which need to be away from others.

Wow! There are so many factors to consider - but I know you are up for the challenge.

So, we are looking for your help in the layout of the raised vegetable / flower plots.

Your task is the following:
[1] Find out which vegetables are suitable for planting now. Remember that we would like to have a shared lunch towards the end of term where we can eat these vegetables.
[2] Find out how we should plant them - by that I mean, should they be spaced 10cm, 15,cm, 20cm apart? Should we plant certain vegetables next to others so that they have a better chance of growing? Are there some vegetables that can't be planted next to others?
[3] Plan the planting of one raised vegetable / flower plot - do this on paper, labeling the vegetables you have chosen.


To help you with this I have included some links to websites that give you some advice.

http://www.gardengrow.co.nz/

http://www.yates.co.nz/vegetables

http://www.tuigarden.co.nz/gardenersdiary/vegetable-gardeners-diary-october

http://www.tuigarden.co.nz/page/planting-calendar

http://www.yates.co.nz/kids-gardening

Good luck.


Challenge TWO

 - DESIGN THE BIRD PLATFORM


Wouldn't it be nice to have the sounds of birds chirping as you sit in our Rising Stars outdoor classroom reading a really interesting book?

Well, you can experience this, by taking part in this challenge.

We need you to design a simple bird platform that can be built onto the stump in the middle of our native garden.

Your task is the following:

[1] Use the internet / friends and family to gather ideas for a bird platform.

[2] Design your own  - do it on a piece of paper that you can bring to school. Make sure you label everything.

We will choose the 'favourite' design as the one we will build.


To help you with this I have included some images of designs that you might like to consider.

So there you have it.  Are you up for the challenge?