Te Puke High School thanks businesses for Seed to Plate project success

Te Puke High School technology teacher Matthew Park with two of the boards made from recycled timber and etched with historic pages from Te Puke Times.

In late November there was a day of thank-yous at Te Puke High School.

A project that began early in the school year and looks set to become a long-term feature of the school has been possible thanks only to the support of businesses and the community.

The Seed to Plate project seeks to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive learning environment by integrating subject areas, teaching real-life skills and enthusing students.

Technology teacher Matthew Park, ag-horticulture teacher Saskia Ualesi and food technology teacher Hayley Bilton teamed up to drive the project.

As the name suggests, the area is designed to allow students to follow the progress of food from planting seeds to preparing and enjoying it.

Students are also involved in creating the growing environments and coming up with ideas to enhance the area and its use.

Some of those who have contributed to the project so far were recently shown around the Garden to Plate area.

As a token of thanks, those who have helped were given large chopping boards made from recycled wood donated by Vincent House.

On the chopping boards were laser-engraved facsimiles of pages from historic editions of Te Puke Times – in recognition of the paper closing down at the end of the year.

Technology teacher Matthew Park says it was great to recognise all the supporters.

Puke Pine provided timber to complete terraces on an area previously covered with trees.

Te Puke Carrying transported the timber and Seeka organised Versatile Fencing to do the work and contributed to the drainage

Trevelyan’s donated over 20cu m of compost to fill the citrus gardens and Tui provided two pallets of fertiliser for the citrus and vegetable gardens.

Year 13 leavers bought the citrus plants. There was also help from Mike Littlejohn from Te Puke Landscape Supplies, Westbay Concrete and ITM.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s School Sustainability and Resilience Fund provided money for a rainwater collection system.

Flare Fires provided an outdoor oven.

Plans include additional outdoor cooking facilities covering cultural traditions, a rongoā/Zen garden and raised garden beds.

These beds are for students from Te Ringa Āwhina, the school’s special learning unit.

Funding has been found to build raised, wheelchair-accessible beds that will also allow support staff to help the students.

The overarching idea of the Seed to Plate area is to have an area that is not only a learning tool, but brings people together from inside and outside the school.

Te Puke High School principal Alan Liddle with Te Puke Times editor Stuart Whitaker.

■ On the same day as the presentation, as editor of Te Puke Times, at a staff meeting I was honoured and grateful to also receive several of the engraved boards and a gift basket in a presentation acknowledging my contribution to the school and to the community through the pages of Te Puke Times.