Rooms 9 and 10 at Onehunga Primary School started a vegetable and herb garden project after their previous attempt in tires was unsuccessful. The students designed the new garden and received help from volunteers to build it. They worked hard digging and planting with their parents. The students collect food scraps for worm bins to produce casts for the soil. They have harvested potatoes and made potato salad. A scarecrow was painted to keep birds away, and egg shells deter snails. The garden now grows a variety of vegetables and herbs and teaches students about sustainability.

1. Our vegetable & herb
garden
Onehunga Primary School,
122, Arthur Street
Onehunga,
Auckland

2. How & when did we start?
 Last year, Rooms 9 & 10 began a project to
grow their own vegetables and herbs
because it wasn’t working out well in tyres.
 The students created their own design and
were very excited to start.
 We had our plans but who do we ask for
help??

3. Reaching out to our
community
 We requested for offers to help and we
were extremely lucky!!
 Some kind & generous volunteers from a
local church offered to help the students
build the garden.

4. The students & parents helped with the same. It
was hard work and we got our hands dirty but
we had a lot of fun!

5. Using our worm casts to enrich
our soil
 Everyday the students collect banana
peels & apple cores for our two worm
bins. Worms love the fruits and we use
worm wee & casts for the soil.
Apple cores, Banana peels,, Worm food

6. Look at all those fat worms! So
good for the soil
Where are
you hiding
worms??!

7. Harvesting the potatoes
We said a prayer before harvesting
in many different cultures .

8. Look at all those potatoes!!
Rooms 9 & 10 made
yummy potato
salad yumm!!!
This was for our Christmas shared
lunch.
We decided to eat healthy and we
had no JUNK food!

9. What could we do to keep the hungry birds & slugs away?
A scarecrow is a good idea. Maya made one with her parents
and the students painted it. The students also collect egg shells
to put around the lettuces to keep the snails away.
We used egg shells instead of
chemicals to keep the snails
away!

10. Painting our Cut out
Vegetables and Scarecrow
 For a whole week during lunchtimes we
worked on painting these cut outs. We
had to make four coats of paint on each!

11. We have also added some
vegetable cut outs to make our
garden look amazing!

12. Our wonderful herb garden

13. Sustainable Communities
 One of the guiding principles of
Environmental Education that we follow in
our school is learning about sustainability.
 This is very important for us as we learn to
grow and eat our fresh vegetables.
 We also learn to grow the same in our
homes.
 Sharing, cooking and enjoying our harvest
is so much fun.

14. This is how our garden is
looking now……
Broad beans
Lettuce
Spring onions and leeks
Broccoli, cauliflower and parsnips
Cabbage
Celery Radish

15. If we win….