This school garden is comparatively recent in origin, not getting going fully until May 2019. It is comprised of 12 veggie beds, each one being 3 metres long by 1.6metres wide, the sides being made up of 192mm x 74mm timber and 1.3 metres between the beds and a 1.2 metre central walkway. The whole area occupied by the beds works out to around 20 metres by 9 metres. The garden has a northerly aspect.
The project is still ongoing with all beds having 6 ollas for watering but only 4 beds having worm towers to assist in fertilisation. Two thirds of the beds now have a framework of PVC piping installed to support 50% shadecloth on the western side of the beds. The PVC pipe is in the process of being painted green to extend its life by providing protection against UV from the sun. There is a townwater tap 3 metres away from the south east corner of the garden for irrigation. Bee hotels and insectary plants are provided to attact beneficial insects into the garden, and if the number of predators such as ladybirds is anything to go by, this has been a success.
Furhter towards the west, away from the rest of the veggie gardens, a watermelon, 3 sisters (corn, pumpkin & climbin beans) and pumpkin garden is being developed.
Architects of a Garden
Six ollas have been installed in each bed, the students keep the filled with water
Some beds also have worm towers, which the student used to put organic was in from their classrooms, to improver fertilisation of the beds.
The hoops will be used to support 50% shade cloth for summer vegetable growing
The ends fit into larger pipes screwed into the corners and centre of each bed.
Bee hotels are provided to encourage beneficial insects
Update - a couple of weeks later
The tuning secured to the bottom of the shade cloth keeps it in place but allows lifting up for the students to get access for watering and harvesting.
Newspaper pots are made by the students, filled with potting mix, and then placed in an off-site greenhouse to sprout. Sprouted seedlings are then planted by the students into the veggie beds.
The under-development watermelon area
