Friday, 24 March 2023 12:55

Tank delivers water for school garden

Written by Staff Reporters

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Oropi School was a recipient of Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s School Sustainability and Resilience Fund.

A Bay of Plenty school will be able to keep its fruit and veg plants hydrated with the help of a new rainwater tank.

Oropi School was a recipient of Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s School Sustainability and Resilience Fund which has allowed it to install a 1,600-litre rainwater tank so they can water their gardens over the summer months, even out of school hours and through the school holidays.

The rural school runs a garden to table program where the students learn to grow their own food, harvest it, and then use it to cook meals together.

However, up until the installation of the rainwater tank, students have not been able to plant in the garden greenhouse because of a lack of water supply to it.

Oropi School principal Andrew King says support from the fund enabled them to install the rainwater tank in December, a move which has helped to alleviate water issues during the summer months.

The new tank has meant the school could set up an irrigation system, with the greenhouse being self-sufficient. It also meant there was no risk of draining the school’s boar.

King says the garden to table sessions have been invaluable to students today.

“In the 90s there was a big push for pupils to be using computers and learn that technology,” he says.

“Today, our children need to get back in touch with nature and the environment, with hands-on learning – these sessions foster that.

“Learning about the needs of the modern world and how to connect to the land because more and more children are living on smaller sections and don’t have the opportunities or space at home,” King says.

The School Sustainability and Resilience Fund is designed to support schools and early childhood education centres to carry out sustainability projects and prepare for the impacts of climate change and natural hazards.

The 2023 fund is still open for applications for schools and early childhood centres to apply for their share of $35,000.

Applications close for the School Sustainability and Resilience Fund 2023 on Friday, 31 March.

For more information on the fund and application forms, head to www.boprc.govt.nz/sustainability-resilience-fund

More like this

Massey University Opens $70m Ngā Huia Vet Facility

Minister for Universities, Shane Reti, has opened the final new build in a ten plus year project to upgrade the veterinary facilities at Massey University.

Science and education key to ag’s future, says DairyNZ CEO

Science is pivotal to driving progress and unlocking opportunity and innovation in the ag sector, says DairyNZ chief executive and chair of the Agribusiness in Schools programme, Campbell Parker.

Narrowing agricultural pathways not a smart idea

OPINION: Last week, Education Minister Erica Stanford sent a clear, but troubling message to New Zealand’s students: if you’re academically ambitious, agriculture might not be for you.

Public backlash saves ag & hort in NZ schools

Public backlash has forced the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Education Minister Erica Stanford to do a U-turn on a proposal to axe agriculture and horticulture science as standalone subjects in the secondary school curriculum.

Massey University to upskill teachers amid rising ag subject demand

There's been unprecedented demand from secondary school students across the country to study agricultural related subjects.

Featured

Biosecurity NZ ramps up hunt for yellow-legged hornet on Auckland’s North Shore

Biosecurity New Zealand is intensifying its campaign to locate and eliminate the invasive yellow-legged hornet, following confirmed detections on Auckland's North Shore.

Canterbury farmer Sean Molloy joins New Zealand Pork board

Following a recent director election, Canterbury farmer Sean Molloy has been appointed to the New Zealand Pork Industry Board.

US removes reciprocal tariff on NZ beef

Red meat farmers and processors are welcoming a US Government announcement - removing its reciprocal tariffs on a range of food products, including New Zealand beef.

India-New Zealand free trade agreement (FTA) dairy outcomes

OPINION: As negotiations advance on the India-New Zealand FTA, it’s important to remember the joint commitment made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the beginning of this process in March: for a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial agreement.