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.

Eating a Rainbow

Getting ready to create a fruit and vegetable “rainbow”

This week tamariki have been exploring the concept of eating a “rainbow” and learning about how food energizes and helps our body stay healthy. As they chopped up the fruit and vegetables they discussed how red tomatoes help their hearts and improve blood flow around their body. Orange carrots are good for their eyesight. Green foods fight off sickness. Blueberries help your brain. Tamariki were really engaged with this and enjoying sampling the varieties of kai on offer.

“Eating a Raibow”

To extend on this they used the book Ko Āniwaniwa, as a guide and tamariki painted a rainbow. They then cut out fruit and vegetable images from old magazines, matching them with the colours of the rainbow. At whāriki wā, mat time they recalled their knowledge of what part of the body the food is good for and added this to the rainbow too. as a whole group we added on images to the rainbow of how each colour of fruit/veges helps our body. To finish off at kai time, they ate the “rainbow” of fruits and veges, emphasising having a variety of food keeps our bodies fit and healthy.

The KEGs programme has provided an amazing opportunity for tamariki to kaitaki the 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.