Connecting with nature is a daily ritual which tamariki enjoy at KiNZ Mission Heights. Watering, weeding, harvesting and observing the changes in the garden provides children an opportunity to develop care for living things. Through gardening experiences children express their curiosity and develop theories of things they see around them. One morning, the bubble of 10 that has been coming to KiNZ Mission Heights during the lockdown discovered that none of our overgrown, twisted sunflower seedlings looked promising so they began the process of sowing the seeds again.

They pumped rainwater from the barrel that is sourced from the Centre’s rainwater tank and watered the seed pottles. The old biodegradable pots were added to the worm farm to maintain a balance of carbon and nitrogen. Later we will be using the worm tea for our beautiful garden that is blooming with spring flowers, broad beans, herbs, spinach, silver beet and pretty crimson feijoa blossoms that children have began noticing. The sighting of bees amongst the flower beds is an ongoing interest. These little scientists are always busy with hands-on experiences which relate to gardening and have fun while keeping it lush and healthy.