Greenhouse project takes flight

A new greenhouse will soon be taking flight at a Stoke primary school thanks to a boost from Air New Zealand. Birchwood School are one of 115 projects across the country to receive a share of $1.2 million from Air NZ’s Every Corner Project.

The school will get $7000 to get their project off the ground, enabling them to expand on the vegetable growing that they already undertake at school.

Enviroschool leaders and kaiako (teachers) Shelley Roberts and Eleanor Rounce say the opportunity provides much learning for akonga (students) at the school, and it’s already begun.

Last week a group of enviro students began designing what they’d like to see grown in the glasshouse and how it should be constructed.

Plastic panelling, instead of glass, was a recurring theme with the school having already dealt with a blow of vandalism earlier in the year.

“Plastic will be harder to break if someone throws something at it,” says Summer Edmonds.

Launched with an initial $1 million investment from Air NZ’s Climate and Nature Fund, the Every Corner Project aims to support nature-based initiatives in every region – ensuring no corner of New Zealand is left behind in the effort to restore and regenerate the natural environment.

More than 640 applications were received from registered charities, kura (schools) and hapū. The calibre of applications was so impressive that the airline increased its contribution to $1.2 million.

Projects selected include native planting, wetland restoration, establishing rainwater harvesting systems, building community compost hubs, and installing predator control networks to protect threatened plant and animal species.

Shelley says, not only will the project take their food growing to a new level, but should also assist the butterfly garden and native nursery.

Student Pippa Harris thought cactus and flowers would be a pretty cool addition to their greenhouse, while Iya Eden wanted different coloured pathways and a large vegetable section. Iya would like to see her favourite vegetable carrots grown in bulk.

Callum Cole plans for a huge range of plants including garlic, strawberries, ginger, watermelon, lettuce, grapes and eggplant. Lachie thought an area should be allocated to grow seedlings and would like to see a sunroof in the top of the building.

Birchwood School is the local pilot programme for Garden to Table, which aims to empower tamariki to grow, harvest, prepare and share food. Once a week, students come together to harvest items from their garden, turn that haul into a meal, and then share it all together with just one rule – try everything.

GTT facilitator Lou Horner says the grant is a great step for the programme. “This is a big-ticket item. The main thing is that we will now be able to grow crops out of season. It will be more consistent growing, and the kids can do microgreens and herbs and things that they haven’t grown before,” Lou adds.

She says it will help them expand the menu offering for the programme which in turn, helps the students try new things. Air New Zealand Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Kiri Hannifin says the level of response has been nothing short of inspiring.

“New Zealand is intrinsically linked to and reliant on nature, whether that’s for economic, tourism or trade reasons, or simply because we enjoy being in nature and the outdoors. We all have a part to play, and it’s been humbling to see just how many New Zealanders are working tirelessly to protect and enhance the things that make our natural environment here so unique.”

The airline’s domestic port teams – Air New Zealanders who know their communities best – were tasked with reviewing and selecting the successful projects for their areas.

“Our people have loved reading the applications and seeing the passion and care for nature in their local areas. They were very proud to select the projects for their own communities,” Kiri says.

Funding will be distributed by the end of June, with projects set to begin within the next 12 months.

Birchwood’s Kaitiaki Karen has already been out pricing up options and can’t wait to begin.