We are a group of amazing environmentalist at Papatoetoe Central School who dedicate two of our breaks each week to look after our vegetable gardens and our worm farms. Some of the jobs that we do in our vegetable gardens are: planting new vegetables keeping in mind the season, weeding and watering. Once a week we also feed  the worms in the worm farm. We collect worm tea that is ready to be bottled and sold so that we can buy more seeds to plant in our gardens. Here are some pictures to show the work we do.

COMPOSTING

Compost is the single most important supplement you can give your garden soil. Composting is a simple way to add nutrient-rich humus which fuels plant growth and restores vitality to depleted soil. It's also free, easy to make and good for the environment.

How to Compost

1. Start your compost pile on bare earth. This allows worms and other beneficial organisms to aerate the compost and be transported to your garden beds. 2. Lay twigs or straw first, a few inches deep. This aids drainage and helps aerate the pile. 3. Add compost materials in layers, alternating moist and dry. Moist ingredients are food scraps, tea bags, seaweed, etc. Dry materials are straw, leaves, sawdust pellets and wood ashes. If you have wood ashes, sprinkle in thin layers, or they will clump together and be slow to break down. 4. Add manure, green manure ( clover, buckwheat, wheatgrass, grass clippings) or any nitrogen source. This activates the compost pile and speeds the process along. 5. Keep compost moist. Water occasionally, or let rain do the job. 6. Cover with anything you have - wood, plastic sheeting, carpet scraps. Covering helps retain moisture and heat, two essentials for compost. Covering also prevents the compost from being over-watered by rain. The compost should be moist, but not soaked and sodden. 7. Turn. Every few weeks give the pile a quick turn with a pitchfork or shovel. This aerates the pile. Oxygen is required for the process to work, and turning "adds" oxygen. You can skip this step if you have a ready supply of coarse material, like straw. Once your compost pile is established, add new materials by mixing them in, rather than by adding them in layers. Mixing, or turning, the compost pile is key to aerating the composting materials and speeding the process to completion.

Look out for more news about our school gardens...coming soon!
You're sure to be amazed at some very simple techniques that we have tried.

Papatoetoe Central School Environment Group 2016 Term 2

We are the PCS Environment & Sustainability Group at our fabulous school, Papatoetoe Central in Auckland, New Zealand. We are a group of students from year 1- 6 who work with Mrs Naidu to take care of our school gardens as well as the worm farms. We are always in the look out for ways we can be more sustainable in our school and our neighbourhood.

We are the PCS Environment & Sustainability Group at our wonderful school, Papatoetoe Central in Auckland, New Zealand. We are a group of Year 4, 5 and 6 students who work with Miss Rands-Trevor to take care of our school gardens and look out for ways we can be more sustainable in our school and our neighbourhood.