Once a week during Term 3 I headed out with the kōtukutuku class. For the first weeks of term (27 July, 3 & 10 Aug) we journeyed to the kōtukutuku stand of trees to learn about their classroom tree. As we made our way through the bush we looked and listened for interesting things, and noted what is changing with the changing season at this time of year. There were some great explorations and recording through photos and video on the ipads. On the 10 August we also surveyed the area where the fallen trunk of the totara tree had been uplifted by helicopter from the reserve, becoming investigators at the site and talking about the agency cooperation and about where the tōtara taonga was ending up.
Week 4 of term (17 August) and listening to the requests of students we headed to the outside play area part of the reserve. While still using their keen observation skills and in particular listening for birds, the kōtukutuku class had fun enjoying the bush reserve.
Lockdown and changing alert levels resulted in three weeks away from the bush as a class, but I heard once back that both teacher and students had been noticing and going out into nature with their families during that time - great to hear! By week 8 of term (14 September) our visit back to the kōtukutuku trees was enthusiastically welcomed and we noticed lots of changes with the kōtukutuku - many more leaves having grown and flowers still blooming. To celebrate Te Reo Māori language week the class sang waiata and we learnt some Te Reo for te rākau and putiputi flowers, as well as using the Te Reo Māori specific names for many of the native plants and birds that we saw during our bush time - tarata, tī kōuka, pīwakawaka, tui, kererū, horopito. We did some bark rubbings taking a closer look and feel of the rākau. Tumeke to be back in the ngahere today.
After quickly walking to the kōtukutuku on the 21 Sept to collect some flowers we listened to the pouring rain, glad to be in class looking at the kōtukutuku flowers and pondering about their parts. We counted petals, and named the stamen (and the anther and filament parts that make this up) learning that the stamen is the part of the flower that produces pollen. The class imagined what would happen to the pollen as birds like bellbird and tui drank the nectar from the flowers having to put their beaks right into the bottom of the flower, and then moving the pollen from one flower and plant to another as they keep drinking nectar. It was noticed that the stigma looked different from the ends of the stamen and that there was only one. Great noticing.
The last week of term 3 (28 Sept) was celebrated by a nature play in the reserve, with the challenge set to ‘find’ something that began with each letter of their names. “E” evergreen, “U” under storey of forest, “I” insect, “V” vine, “B” bird, “L” leaf, and “S” singing tui were some of the things thought about. A lovely way to end the term.
Bronwyn
Posted: 29 September 2021
I joined the students for their learning day at Glenelgin – a wonderful plot gifted for the schools use where there are streams, an outdoor classroom and native plantings. The children collected data on the stream velocity and clarity and looked for macro-invertebrates finding water worms, mayfly and snails. I led a native plant activity with the students learning the names of plants (common, Te Reo and scientific names) and interesting things about the plants growing at their place before planting some more native trees. We found shield bugs and case moth cases. A great day out in nature learning!
Check out case moths in our “Who did that?” Learning Resource at School Activities • Southland Community Nursery
Bronwyn
Posted: 27 September 2021
We were very privileged to host Jo to come down again from Christchurch and run a lino print workshop at the weekend. Covid changed the rules somewhat and we had to restrict numbers, scan in, distance and wear masks when in close proximity and shared food was not on the menu!
However, as an observer, the works people created and the fun and inspiration they derived from the workshop was clear to see. One of the participants Linda has written her account of the weekend below.
If you are unfamiliar with Jo’s work take a look at https://joogier.co.nz/artwork/ and you will see how much we value Jo coming and sharing her passion, talent and skill with such generosity. Thanks Jo. Chris
Making Our Mark
The Southland Community Nursery hosted a Jo Oger Lino Print Workshop on 18th and 19th September 2021.
Jo demonstrates “hands on” with ease and humour, along with much talent and experience. Her passion for NZ conservation and stories is reflected in the stunning artworks she produces. Our class was so quiet at times, completely immersed in developing our own printing style, alongside invaluable tips from our treasured tutor to record and utilise.
There were a number of teachers attending, keen to pass on newly learned skills to a new learning environment, they and their students are needing to adapt to. Others, like myself, have strong connections to our local environments and want to improve and widen how we reflect those. Prints produced wonderfully depicted leaves, flowers, seeds, birds, landscapes and every one of us felt inspired and impressed, even a little envious!
We all look at nature, but our way of recording our experience is unique, as was every print produced (without needing expensive printing equipment). We are so grateful to Chris for organising this event, given current uncertainties and restrictions. Just goes to prove that enthusiasm, commitment and a positive attitude takes us to better places than we could ever have imagined.
Linda
Posted: 21 September 2021
The Apple Grafting workshop due for Wednesday 15 September has been cancelled for this year. The Jo Ogier workshop is on, with reduced numbers and Nursery Fridays are on with restricted numbers and prior bookings required.
If the covid level 2 continues we might look at additional times for volunteers as the Nursery work will increase through spring. If you want to help out in small groups of 2-3 contact me and I will see what might work on days which may be different to Fridays.
At Level 2 we are open by arrangement for plant sales – email Chris to arrange a time.
For those who are interested in the quizzes at last post I will post the answers next week, so you still have a week to hone your fungi and foraging ID skills!!
Many events have been cancelled lately but one that is going ahead tomorrow night (Tuesday 14 September) is an illustrated talk on working in Antarctica by Becky Goodsell – it will be in Hansen Hall at SIT so we can distance and starts at 7.30pm. Its free and all welcome
Spring is out there somewhere! A few images recently taken. If you are bush walking look out spider orchids (leaves about the size of a 10c coin and flat to the ground) and native clematis coming into flower soon and birds nesting (herons are nesting in our bush at the moment).
regards
Chris
Posted: 13 September 2021
Hi everyone
Hope you are all well in your bubbles. As documented in the previous article we will open the nursery to volunteers at Level 2 but with restrictions – i.e all visits by arrangement and limited to 10 people. Likewise workshops that are planned can go ahead but with the same restrictions. We have an Apple Grafting workshop booked for 15 September but as of now we don’t have any bookings so if you would like to attend let me know and I can put you down on the list. For that workshop and the Jo Ogier Art workshop on 18 September we will make a decision when the next Covid Level announcement is made next Tuesday. For schools the same rules will apply, but Bronwyn will be available to go into schools if they allow that at Level 2 - https://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/news-and-events/the-community-nursery-and-covid-levels-august-2021/
At Level 3 and 2 we can sell plants contactless, so if you are interested in buying plants send me an email and we can go from there. Payment will need to be by internet banking and pick up at the gate.
Its been very busy here at the Nursery and on our property, in our bubble of two! Spring has sprung and with the brilliant weather we have been having if feels like there is no time to lose. Veggie seeds have been sown, native seedlings are germinating and cuttings are being tended, as is the Nursery. On our wider property lots of major work is being done – major pruning (adding to that Covid lockdown ambient noise, the chainsaw!), weeding and construction! – see photos on website.
A couple of quizzes in the photos below to keep you occupied. Before lockdown I took photos of lots of fungi local to Otatara – see if you can name them. On the foraging front – can you name all the salad species I picked yesterday. A prize of 20 free plants to whoever gets the most answers to both quizzes.
Also, spending so much time outside I have been observing nature more closely and couldn’t resist putting up this good (for me) photo of a fernbird at our pond early morning this week.
Stay safe
regards
Chris
Posted: 2 September 2021
