Thursday 10th September Room 2 and 2a walked to the Papatoetoe Community Teaching Gardens. It was drizzling with rain, so we were very happy we had the Warriors jackets to keep us warm and dry.
When we got to the gardens we were welcomed by Mrs Eileen Newsome who showed us around the grounds. The Papatoetoe Gardens are found at the Stadium Reserve, Tavern Lane, Papatoetoe. They are part of the Auckland Council Local & Sports Parks South Teaching Gardens project. The volunteer mentors are interested in helping people learn some basic horticulture husbandry, so that they are able to grow your own fruit and vegetables at home.
You can fill out the application form at: http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/SiteCollectionDocuments/environment/growingforhealthapplication.pdf for the allocation of a Manukau Parks Teaching garden plots. Applicants must be 18yrs old or over and any children bought to the site must be under supervision at all times.
The 25 sqm garden plots are allocated to individuals, family and other groups for an approx. 20 week course. You will be responsible to a Mentor, whose name and contact details will be provided.
We walked along the paths and saw all the vegetables growing. They came in all shapes and sizes. There were all sorts of shades of green, and some other colours too.
Some vegetable plants were small, some tall, some grew under the ground and some over it. Some vegetables were leaves, some roots or tubers and some were seeds or fruits. We talked about their names and their shapes too.