Tyre Garden Competition 2015

The tyre gardens created a buzz around school over the last few weeks. Green fingers and creative hands were very busy getting stuck-in to create fabulous gardens.

The tyre garden challenge was for each grade to recycle old worn-out tyres and create sustainable gardens. No less than four tyres per grade were allocated. Every Grade participated with their children. The participation of children was imperative and a synopsis of how the teacher is going to incorporate the garden in enhancing teaching was required. There were 8 gardens situated throughout the school. The choice of position for the garden was based on a first-come-first serve basis.

The presentation and judging of the gardens took place on the 14 August 2015. A Big thanks to our judges, Mrs Charmaine Plit, Mrs Paula Plit, Ms Astrid Van Wyk and Ms Laetitia De Jager   who took time out to adjudicate and chat to the many green fingered gardeners and teachers.

The judges used the following criteria to evaluate the gardens. Each judge submitted results for each grade. These scores were tallied up and the accumulative scores determined the winners.

This was a hard task indeed because the gardens were simply amazing, creative and colourful.  A great amount of research and effort was put into the different gardens. The gardens were also environmentally and aesthetically pleasing and the exercise of gardening had a positive impact on the children, teachers and school.

Prizes were awarded to the winning grade and teachers. Congratulations to you all!

Many of our gardens have edible plants, the children will get to enjoy the fruits of their labours once the vegetables, herbs and plants are ready for the picking. It is therefore important that the gardens are cared for and looked after so that they do not die and wither away. Our children need to remember that, “A garden requires patient labour and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfil good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them.” Liberty Hyde Bailey.

This worthwhile activity was a great success. I would also like to thank the staff, teachers and Gert Nagel for all their help. To the children, I hope many of you have caught the gardening bug … you rock!