This Week

Tarras senior students in the pumpkin patch enjoying their school gardening project. They are looking forward to entering their produce into the Upper Clutha A & P Show.

Little Green Fingers

The Senior students at Tarras School are the proud owners of a raised garden bed full of colourful and delicious vegetables. The project started in the spring of 2009 when the idea was suggested by Mr Pullar, and the children loved the thought of having gardening as their science topic.

The Tarras Friends of the School thought the project was also a good idea and gave approximately $8000 to set it up.

A site was chosen adjacent to the swimming pool, and the wooden garden surrounds were erected. A parent working bee followed to help the students fill up the beds with soil and sheep manure dug out from under their farm wool-sheds. This so far has been the least popular task. Manure in your shoes is not good according to the students!

Some sponsorship was provided by Wanaka and Cromwell businesses which was very much appreciated.

Seeds were planted in the classroom which grew well with the care given by a roster of students remembering to water them daily and even having to come in on the weekends.

Bill Pullar, an enthusiastic gardener and retired teacher from Mt. Aspiring College, is the leader of the project. His knowledge and teaching skills have proved to be the perfect ingredients for producing such prolific gardens and enthusiastic student gardeners.

Some of their produce will be on display at the Upper Clutha A & P Show on Friday and Saturday.