Planting seeds of knowledge
The Raphaeli Waldorf School in Plettenberg Bay went all out this year in celebrating national Garden Day. On Sunday 11 October, people came from across the Garden Route and even the Eastern Cape to learn the muchneeded skill of biodynamic compost-making. Since living soils are so important for healthy ecosystems and healthy food, local biodynamic specialist Avice Hindmarch shared her wealth of knowledge with hands-on help from master gardener Garth Sinclair, visiting from Hermanus. Philippa Mallac and Vernon Pendlebury also shared the wisdom of their permaculture design for the school's 21-hectare property. The workshop was enlivening and enriching for both the land and the participants. On Monday, the children had their chance to celebrate the beauty of Garden Day. Each child came in the colour of their class - seven colours of the rainbow, one for each class in the primary school, and the kindergarten in pure white. The most exquisite and creative flower crowns were made and worn, the children sang about spring and how after darkness comes dawn and after winter comes spring. Each child placed a plant in the colour of their class in a new feature - an indigenous "rainbow" garden bed.
This garden is a reminder to all of us of the importance of diversity, of beauty and of collaboration. In these times we can but keep sowing the seeds of hope, especially for the children. Many thanks to the nurseries who provided discounts to the children for plants: Red Shed Nursery, Chameleon Nursery & Landscaping and Ouland Nursery.
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