Over the past year, our tamariki have been busy helping to create and nurture our growing garden spaces. Alongside kaiako and whānau, they have planted vegetables, herbs, fruit and wildflowers, learning firsthand about the care, patience and responsibility needed to help living things thrive.
From watering seedlings and harvesting produce to collecting food scraps, children have been actively involved in sustainable practices that connect them to the natural world and the journey of kai from garden to table.
An important part of our sustainability journey has been our worm farm. Children collect food scraps to feed the worms, learning how waste can be transformed into nourishment for our gardens and helping them develop an understanding of sustainability in action.
A special part of this project has been sharing the fruits of our labour with our community through our Pā Taka Kai (community pantry). Tamariki have experienced the joy of harvesting fresh produce and contributing it to a space where others can benefit. Through these experiences, children are learning that even small actions can make a meaningful difference, fostering a sense of contribution, generosity, and connection to the wider community around them.
Our garden project reflects the rich cultural narrative of Yaldhurst and Hornby, where the traditions of Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Ngāi Tahu remind us of the importance of caring for the environment and valuing the resources that sustain us. Through gardening, composting, caring for our worm farm, and sharing kai with others, our tamariki are beginning to understand the value of kaitiakitanga - acting as guardians of Papatūānuku and caring for the resources that sustain us all.
At BestStart Buchanans, our philosophy is grounded in whanaungatanga, recognising that strong relationships are at the heart of learning and belonging. Through our sustainability journey, children learn that they are connected to one another, to their environment, and to their community. By growing, sharing, and caring together, they are becoming active participants in the continuing story of Yaldhurst and Hornby — honouring the past, contributing to the present, and helping to create a sustainable future for all.