Young ones go gardening

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 527, 15 March 1994, Page 11

Young ones go gardening

During October local contractor Errol Sue prepared ground at Maungarongo Marae for a garden for the children of Te Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Maori. The children brought seeds and plants and with the help of two dads, and Frank Matangi and Terrence McLeod and their teachers, planting soon took place. As the plants grew so did the weeds and the children realised that weeding was necessary if the plants were to thrive. A few days with heads down and busy fingers working left the plants alone to soak up the sun and rain. Radishes were picked before Christ-

mas and in February the children arrived back at school to find that the garden was ready for harvest. Peas were the favourite vegetable but the children marvelled at the size of their cabbages. They all took home potatoes, peas broccoli, cauliflower, silverbeet and are waiting for the onions to dry off. Vegetables still in the ground will be used for the Kohanga Reo dinners which are cooked every day. "With the mix of sun and rain it has been a wonderful practical exercise enabling the children to see the needs of plants in a successful garden", said the teachers.