Bats, Bees, and Breaktime!

Every flowering garden needs a pollinator, a mosquito-eater, and a place to sit to enjoy its beauty!
Our sustainable food garden is currently under construction by our talented and enthusiastic students as I compose this! Already we’ve seen at least three types of birds hopping about and enjoying worms when we’ve been outside working together. Our Cycle 1 Year 1 students are beginning to observe the positive ways in which they are impacting the school surroundings. During their “Humans and Habitat” science unit they have been researching insects, birds and mammals which could benefit from living in this new environment, as well as discovering how humans can also benefit from having these animals in close proximity. Our students are particularly interested in the habits of bats and bees. In addition, they have pointed out that we need a place to eat lunch in the garden!

Update (October 25, 2012)

After a long debate with our science staff, we agreed that bees in our garden at this time would be potentially dangerous to our few students who have strong allergies. Instead of this project, we have invited the art students to paint a mural for the east side of our garden shed which faces the students as they walk out of the building.

Our Secondary 1 students have completed their bat houses! They look great! Most were painted dark brown to increase internal heat in the winter, some remained natural wood color - and most were sold. With the help of a volunteer, we were able to cut the pieces of wood in such a way as to save a great deal of wood and decrease lumber costs. (It was local lumber purchased from a student's father.)

Update (October 25, 2012)

A completed Bat House!

Update (October 25, 2012)

In addition to the bat houses and the mural that our students created, with the remaining grant money (about $100) several Wood Shop students will be building small, moveable picnic tables to be placed in the garden this coming spring.