Sun, Cycles, Energy and Plants

 

The Sun, as any well educated Garden Teamster will tell you, is the powerhouse of the plants we eat. All the fancy tools and conveniences in the world will not energize growth as efficiently as the star we revolve around. Them is the facts. This time of year is the fallow time, we are producing some crops but shade is our enemy. People love shade, especially in summer, people love shelter, especially in the cool. But the plants we love love their access to sunlight. Shorter daylight hours and the change of seasons means the green slows down. Cycles make us humble, aware that our plans have to follow a functional rhythm and pattern. Sun warms the soil and makes it conducive to growth. It feeds the chlorophyll and sweetens gardening passions. We have had a good run this year, unseasonably sunny and a mighty fine crop that has benefited from well tended soils, water and regular work. Our garden teamsters are still at work each week preparing the green for the next harvest, contributing their efforts steadily in an ongoing way, making ready and tending. We prepare for colder days, we wait for the return of the sun and accept the lessons of the seasons.

Food for Thoughts

Another great year is upon us and the bustle has started. Classes are out and about jumping in and planting seedlings for the tables and dishes that power the thoughts in growing minds.

Students understand this connection between the job of work that is the growing spaces on the green and the learning they do in class. This is not just another classroom. This is a direct connection with the outdoors. Something that sustains us, keeps us going, motivates us, feeds us.

Growing Accolades

The purpose of a garden is not a rush to que up for honours or clambour for prestige. There is lots of quiet digging of holes and shifting of soil and tending day after day. Lots of little hands making efforts, frail hands, young hands, old hands, lots of daily fronting up and getting hands dirty, people who have to focus hard to extend their reach to plant, experimenters who are creating new learnings, other people with focused time, people with dedicated time, others who have to find time, make time, squeeze gardening in, volunteers, quiet service, incidental contributions, gardeners who garden for themselves, gardeners who garden to give, gardeners who swear at the weeds, gardeners who do the slog and gardeners who are there to taste the fruits when they come in. But it is nice to be noticed. Blacktown City Council have acknowledged our long journey in this years Garden Competition. Here's to those who have contributed to our growing garden over the last six (6) years. They do their bit.

Full Green Ahead !

Tomorrow We Dine on the Green

The Scene is set. All is underway for a great day on HalindaGreen tomorrow ! Multicultural Open Day !

Getting Groovy in the Garden

From pencil sketch, to garden scape transformed, it's a Sensory Space !

Following Projects Through

A big project in a nice space is a motivating curriculum. A big project has lots of little jobs within it, students can find a place within the work. Each student can surprise and some stars are born. Ones who want to help. We have been in the garden on HalindaGreen doing TAS for two weeks. High School students helping build a sensory garden for the Early Ed. and Primary have shown us strengths. Sometimes lasting the distance is the strength. Dedication to projects is a skill, we have all been learning about what can be achieved with resources, attention to task and time. Thankyou all who have supported us. Everyone takes turns a little in the lead or takes turns being a little humbled by labour. Our kids can work, we are inspired and work with them.