Here are two more stories from the schools taking part in the project.
This month we feature St James’ Basin Lane, Dublin and St Vincent’s, Cork who are both Green Flag Schools
St James’ Basin Lane – Sensory Garden
This project developed a sensory garden within the present courtyard garden to incorporate the elements of sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.
The children planted thyme, mint, rosemary, parsley, strawberries and lemon balm and became familiar with the taste of each of these. They enjoyed the whole process of planting, watching the plants grow and the experience of feeling and tasting them. Included also in the garden are bird feeders and wind chimes which encouraged a variety of birds to visit the garden, these birds were observed and documented. This is an inner city school and the children derived great joy from the whole experience of preparing the ground, planting and harvesting. Each child in fourth class who took responsibility for the project was invited and given the materials to plant a small plant for their own window at home. The overall learning experience inculcated in the children an appreciation of the soil and the need to respect and nurture what is grown. They also learned the concept of interdependence and how dependant one part of nature is on everything else, e.g. good respect for and preparation of soil, ensuring growing things have enough water, the work of worms in breaking down the soil, the need to keep the plot weed free. The project was facilitated by Mariesa Harvey and her fourth class boys and girls.
St Vincent’s, Cork – ‘Sow to Soup’
This like Basin Lane, is an inner city school but with literally no green space.
The garden is constructed on a raised area which was cleared and two raised beds constructed. Senior Infants and their teacher Nora Owen took charge of the project helped by a parent volunteer. The photographs speak for themselves. The area was cleared and levelled and the beds positioned. The beds were first filled with soil enricher helped by compost from the school’s compost bins. The seeds and seedlings were then planted –potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions, parsley, thyme, oregano, chives. When these are harvested the children will make and enjoy their own soup. The children are so enthusiastic about their garden and were very knowledgeable on the whole area of raised beds, vegetable and herb growing and the enjoyment and nutritional value of the produce. For the winter these beds will be covered in compost, again from the schools compost bins, then covered with thick plastic until the Spring and the new planting season.
