Newsletter Term 4 Week 10

Lambs

It is with much sadness that we will say goodbye to Lola and Luigi. They will be going back to their farm sometime over the next two weeks. I know the baaing will be missed by many. 

Cooking

As we finish off the year we have been relishing the opportunity to cook the final products from the garden. Year 1 have been making tabouleh, spinach dip and beetroot dip. Kindy had a potato hunt and dug up their planted potatoes. The smell of cooking potato pizza was the envy of many in 5/6S. It has been a busy year of cooking with lots of yummy food. 

Sign

You may have noticed a new sign has been installed in the garden. This is the Year 6 gift to the school, which they will present at Presentation Day. They are still putting the finishing touches on the letters which will be attached soon. If you are around feel free to have a look at the progress of the garden over the years as displayed in the cabinet. 

THANKYOU!

As we approach the end of another busy Eco Garden year a massive big thankyou from the school and committee to all that have been involved and shared the journey of 2014; parents planting and cooking, animal caretakers, sausage flippers at BBQ fundraisers and labourers at the many working bees. All this help adds up to make the garden what it is today! 

From all of the Eco Committee and members we wish you a safe and happy holiday! Stay tuned for another exciting year of digging, planting, cooking and growing!

Potato Pizza with Kindy

Year 2 - Beetroot & Spinach Dip

Year two made a colourful beetroot dip and spinach dip. The beetroot dip turned out to be the winner, prefered by 3/4 of the class.

Recipe Beetroot Dip

• 4 (about 600g) beetroot bulbs, unpeeled, roots and stems removed 
• 1/2 cup herbs
• 125g sour cream
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper

Place beetroot in a microwave dish. Microwave for 5min or until soft. Wearing rubber gloves to avoid staining your hands, peel beetroot and coarsely chop. Place beetroot, herbs and  sour cream in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper. 

Recipe Spinach Dip

• Bunch spinach
• herbs
• 125g creamed cheese, softened
• 125g tub sour cream
• packet spring vegetable soup mix

Place spinach, cream cheese, sour cream and soup mix in a food processor. Process, scraping down sides occasionally, until almost smooth.

Newsletter Term 4, Week 4

Bushland Fair
Eco Garden was looking its finest for the Bushland Fair with bunting made by the children decorating the gardens. Many visitors were treated to a visit with our resident animals as well as some guest rabbits. A big thanks to the Fisher, Becchio and Lanske families for the loan of your pets.

New Seats
Over the past few weeks some new seating has arrived in the Eco Garden providing new areas for children (and parents) to sit and enjoy the gardens. The students have definitely enjoyed sanding and painting the seats. These were made from a tree collected from Mrs Montgomery’s house last year.

Cooking Equipment
During the holidays we purchased a range of cooking equipment as part of a ‘Live Life Well Grant’ we received earlier this year. Among the new products is saucepans, blenders, electric woks and mixing bowls. We are looking forward to using the new tools to make some amazing foods with all of the garden produce.

Meeting:
Do you have any suggestions/ ideas for the school gardens, an interest in being involved or just hearing what is happening please feel free to join our monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is on the 28th October, at 7:00pm. If you are unable to make the meetings but would like to be involved please email Rhonda French.

School Fair

Eco Garden Stall

Thank you to everybody who helped with setting up, helping with the stall and looking after the animals.

Newsletter Term 3 Week 10

5 Year Celebration
A wonderful day was had by all on Saturday at the 5 year celebration. Mr Matt Kean attended the event and cut the cake. The gardens were beautifully decorated by bunting and decorations designed by the students. The day was a celebration of the development of the garden over the past five years. A big thank you to all of the people who attended, especially the bakers and makers for a yummy afternoon tea.

Garden Produce
As we are fast approaching the holidays the gardens are blossoming and full of lovely green produce and time for school use is running out. If you are looking for something extra to add to your meals please visit the gardens in the afternoons this week and take a sample home. Fresh home cooked vegies make for delicious meals!

Lambs
We are very lucky to have two cute baby lambs that are looking for some carers in the holidays. If you have a few spare days and would be happy to come to school and take them for a walk and give them some food for the holidays (please note they will be off bottles) please contact Briony Scanlon. I know that the lambs love visitors and it’s a great opportunity for you too!

Meeting:
Do you have any suggestions/ ideas for the school gardens, an interest in being involved or just hearing what is happening please feel free to join our monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is on the 7th October, at 7:00pm (please note change of date due to holidays and upcoming fete). If you are unable to make the meetings but would like to be involved please contact Rhonda French.

In The Bush Telegraph: 5 Year Celebration

Eco Food School Garden at Hornsby Heights PS Celebrates its 5th Birthday

The Eco Food Garden at HHPS celebrated its fifth birthday on Saturday 13th September with Matt Kean MP attending the event and cutting the cake. The Eco Food Garden team is made up of parents and teachers who volunteer their time and support to help the garden grow. Over the past five years they have installed 8 raised garden beds, planted 20 fruit trees, built seating areas, chicken coop, lamb enclosure, frog pond, bush tucker garden, and an outdoor classroom with built in BBQ and sink facilities. The garden is becoming an ever increasing integral part of our school community.

We aim to have every class involved in planting, harvesting, cooking and eating our produce. The list of meals that have been prepared and shared is quite long and extensive. By July this year, every class had already cooked at least once. We have even harvested three bunches of bananas this year! This was a great opportunity for the school community to celebrate and thank the volunteer parents, especially Rhonda French, who has been instrumental in this project’s vision from the start as well as teachers, principal and local businesses for their support. In 2009 the Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE Outreach program offered a free course held at the school on Permaculture. This is when the dream garden plans were made, and five years on almost all of those original plans have become reality.

Article in The Bush Telegraph