Tahatai Kai Growers Term 2, 2024

Our Tahatai Kai Growers have been busy in the orchard this term. They are slowly eating away at the mountain of mulch and moving barrowloads of it to create mulch ‘donuts’ around each fruit tree. This improves the health of the trees, as they no longer have to compete with the grass or weeds at their bases, and the mulch mimics what would naturally surround them on a forest floor.  

We have even taken things a step further, learning about garden guilds, or plant communities.  Our kai growers have been busy planting seedlings in these mulch gardens around the base of each tree, with ‘buddy plants’ which will benefit the trees, by deterring pests, attracting pollinators and even mining for minerals, with their deep taproots.  They also made bird feeders to encourage biodiversity in the school orchard.

The garden beds in the main garden area have been out of action this term, but the area is nearly ready.  Mr. Greg, Mr. Scott and Mr. Skilton have been busy working together to rebuild damaged beds.  And we now have an extensive space where the kai growers will have access to a spacious garden shed, a tool shed, a tap and a shadehouse.  We have also received funding from Tauranga City Council to install some rainwater tanks, which will be used to water the gardens.  We plan to have a covered outdoor area for working on wet days and easy access to worm farms and compost bins.  Watch this space!!

Although we haven’t had the kai cart in action this term, we have had a few sneaky harvest days in the orchard.  The “gumshield oranges” were a huge hit, and our gardeners got creative, working out how to reach the juiciest oranges on the higher branches!  The staff didn’t miss out altogether though, with a big bowl of limes going to the staff room.