Durie Hill School


School Vege Challenge 2022

Harvest Time & Judging

Unfortunately, the Durie Hill vegetable garden was the victim of vandalism and was earlier ripped out. The school has focused on seed sowing and has seedlings that are soon to be planted out into the bed. The students have also all grown sugar snap pea plants which they have taken home to grow with their families.


Mid Challenge Update

These guys have started from scratch. Bronwyn is a relatively new teacher to Durie Hill School. She has been involved in gardening at her previous school before moving to Whanganui.

It can be hard when starting from scratch. They have chosen a nice sunny spot near the front of the school. She and her students are enthusiastic, and it is growing.

There is a new entrant pupil who, with their parent, stops at the garden before school and are mulching around the vegetables with leaves. A mulch like this stops weeds and helps the soil hold more moisture. The tap is a little way from the garden, so a roster has been made up with all classes taking turns to carry watering cans to water the plants. Some kids have been using their drink bottles too.

They have got some pea seeds that we gave them growing in the classroom. Each child has their own pea plant growing in a decorated tin – these look really cool.

There was Pak Choi ready for harvest in the garden, I suggested they pick it and eat it. They have sent some photos of this. It’s great for kids to see that you can harvest vegetables yourself and eat it fresh.

I have received an update email from Bronwyn saying the day after I visited vandals came through the school and the vegetable garden has been ripped out.

We won’t be deterred. We have offered some more seedlings.

I’m looking forward to seeing the garden again in a couple of months.

Everly, Thomas, Cyprus and Mason with their sugar snap peas.
Cyprus tastes some fresh cabbage.
Brooke gives the plants some organic insect spray. 

Getting Going

We don’t yet have a school vege garden at Durie Hill School so this is a great opportunity for us to get started. We are hoping to have a bigger area dedicated to gardens and we are very keen to get it all underway.

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