Blog

KEGs at Seymour Kindergarten

Moisture testing

Every Thursday morning Joy-Marie visits Seymour Kindergarten to facilitate the KEGs (Kids Edible Garden) programme.

Joy facilitates a planned programme based around the garden as well as supports tamariki interests.

Over the last few weeks she has been discussing ‘water as energy for plants’. How water is essential for plants to grow and move nutrients throughout the plant.

Each week tamariki have been testing the soil to see if it is too dry or too wet. They have discussions about what the soil feels like and if the plants need water.

Last week tamariki made ‘Nettle tea’ by soaking stinging nettle in water for the week. When Joy-Marie brought it out tamariki noticed not just the very strong smell but that the water had turned green, there weren’t any leaves only stalks left and very stinky water.

This was diluted by adding more water and then tamariki watered it onto the base of our plants giving them a nice drink and lots of nutrients to grow big and strong.

After watering, it was time to pick some of the berries from our mara. Tamariki learnt that there is lots of water in berries. We can tell this because the berries are nice and juicy. We tried blueberries, blackberries and kumquats.

Water the plants with nettle tea

Looking for blackberries

To finish up their session they add mulch which they had created from food scarps, leaves and twigs in their compost. Tamariki helped to spread this over the soil to help prevent the soil from drying out.

The KEGs programme has provided an amazing opportunity for tamariki to kaitaki our environment and learn sustainable ways of nurturing our whenua.

Seymour Kindergarten are very thankful to the Marlborough District Council for supporting the KEGs programme in Kindergarten. Also to Joy-Marie to work alongside their tamariki.