Welcome to Forest Primary Ag class. The start of term one has been all about introducing and re-engaging the students for 2023 in the animal, agricultural and horticultural space.

We started off learning about the different classroom animals from hand feeding the baby conure parrot, to how we handle the rats, rabbits and guinea pigs safely.

As a class we are learning to understand the animals and gardens needs and requirements and how we as a class can ensure they are met. The children are eager to start a care roster for non Ag days.

With the ending of our summer veggie patch close, the students have been busy picking the tomatoes, beans and squash and a few helpful students digging the self seeded spuds…..with much delight finding a full bucket, which they washed with much enthusiasm. Students were able to then experience cooking relish with the tomatoes they had picked.

For preparation of our winter garden beds the students eagerly cleaned out the chook pen, turned over the garden bed soil and planted some of our early winter seedlings.

Last week saw the students learn about the life cycle of a meal worm and discuss what a “Guinea Fowl” is and the introduction of the school ducks.  Along with the creation of our worm farm and repotting of some indoor plants to make the classroom more appealing.

With the much anticipated arrival of our hothouse, aquaponics stations and mushroom kits the children will be learning hands on garden experiences right up to school holidays.

It’s been encouraging to see the children grow with confidence handling the animals, taking on the responsibility of care for the classroom animals and set about tasks in the garden sometimes individually and sometimes within teams.

We look forward to a range of new activities and learnings for term 2 too.

Please if you or your family members would like to be involved in the Ag program both at school and off school premises maybe an excursion opportunity or alike or have equipment or “stuff” you would like to donate please reach out we would love to hear from you!