Wanted...
In our efforts to Reduce, Reuse and Rethink, we are often on the look out for forgotten treasures!
Help us turn your trash into treasure!!!
WANTED!!!
The 4 R's, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink, are a major focus for us here at St. Francis Xavier Primary School, so from time to time we will use this page to send out a request for something we need within one of our learnscapes that will help not only us, but also our wider community to put the 4R's into action. REUSE, or as the student's like to call it, 'TuRnInG TrAsH iNtO TrEaSuRe', is a particular favourite of ours here at Villa.
Reuse is often confused with recycling, but they are really quite different. Reuse in the broadest sense means any activity that lengthens the life of an item. Recycling, on the other hand, is the reprocessing of an item into a new raw material for use in a new product–for example grinding the tire and incorporating it into a road-surfacing compound. Reuse is nothing new. What is new is the need to reuse.
Why is reuse so important? Because at the same time that it confronts the challenges of waste reduction, reuse also sustains a comfortable quality of life and supports a productive economy. With few exceptions reuse accomplishes these goals more effectively than recycling.
We are aiming to give new life to various unwanted/outgrown items people may have around their homes to reuse as we create new and exciting projects within our school. Hence the children are designing such projects with reuse in mind. Some examples of the children’s 'TuRnInG TrAsH iNtO TrEaSuRe' designs can be seen already within our school grounds, such as the tyres in our herb garden, or the cubbyhouse-come-chicken coop!
So.... Help us, help you, to help the environment!!!
Reuse is often confused with recycling, but they are really quite different. Reuse in the broadest sense means any activity that lengthens the life of an item. Recycling, on the other hand, is the reprocessing of an item into a new raw material for use in a new product–for example grinding the tire and incorporating it into a road-surfacing compound. Reuse is nothing new. What is new is the need to reuse.
Why is reuse so important? Because at the same time that it confronts the challenges of waste reduction, reuse also sustains a comfortable quality of life and supports a productive economy. With few exceptions reuse accomplishes these goals more effectively than recycling.
We are aiming to give new life to various unwanted/outgrown items people may have around their homes to reuse as we create new and exciting projects within our school. Hence the children are designing such projects with reuse in mind. Some examples of the children’s 'TuRnInG TrAsH iNtO TrEaSuRe' designs can be seen already within our school grounds, such as the tyres in our herb garden, or the cubbyhouse-come-chicken coop!
So.... Help us, help you, to help the environment!!!
WANTED!!!
Spud Boxes! We are on the hunt for at least 6 spud boxes/potato crates to turn into raised garden beds both in the Perma Patch and hot house.
WANTED!!!
BrIcKs! Do you have any old bricks kicking around your backyard that you want to get rid of??? Well why not send them in to us, so that we may be able to fullil our dream of one day building a pizza oven in our Perma Patch!
WANTED!!!
Fencing
Wire! That's right;
we are after donations of fencing wire to help us begin our much needed fencing
project in 'The Paddock'. We are unable to replace our livestock until we have
some suitable yards, and with spring fast approaching, we need to get some living
lawn mowers on the job!!!
WANTED!!!
Manure! That's right, we are after sheep, cow, horse or alpaca manure to add to the growing layers within our no dig garden beds.
When it comes to adding body to the soil there's nothing like natural manure as a soil conditioner. It's a preferred option because, as the manure breaks down, it adds valuable humus to the soil and this helps to store nutrients and water.
Whether it's cattle in the paddock or free-range chooks, any critter with a diet of grass or vegetable scraps, will produce manure that reflects the nutrient balance that plants need from the soil.
So, if you have access to any of the listed manures, we would love a donation! Any manure donations can be left in the 'maintenance/storage' area of our Permaculture Kitchen Garden, behind the Chicken Palace.
When it comes to adding body to the soil there's nothing like natural manure as a soil conditioner. It's a preferred option because, as the manure breaks down, it adds valuable humus to the soil and this helps to store nutrients and water.
Whether it's cattle in the paddock or free-range chooks, any critter with a diet of grass or vegetable scraps, will produce manure that reflects the nutrient balance that plants need from the soil.
So, if you have access to any of the listed manures, we would love a donation! Any manure donations can be left in the 'maintenance/storage' area of our Permaculture Kitchen Garden, behind the Chicken Palace.
Here a few examples of our
'TuRnInG TrAsH iNtO TrEaSuRe'...
Old pots and pans have a new lease on life as pots for plants -
HoW?
Just drill a few drainage holes in the bottom, fill with soil, plant your beloved plants and off you go!
...
Unwanted garden waste has a new lease on life as mulch for our
playground -
HoW?
Mulch small and medium sized branches to create plant loving mulch. Spread this in high traffic areas where you are after something soft or place on garden beds to help keep the soil moist and the unwated weeds down!
...
An unwanted kitchen sink and the bottom off an old BBQ has a new lease on life as a moveable outdoor sink -
HoW?
Remove the old BBQ from the stand, attach the sink, attach a hose from a rainwater tank/tap and away you go! (Okay, it may be a little more cmplicated than that, but certainly achievable!!!)
...
An unwanted chalk board has a new lease on life outside as a large evolving mural wall -
HoW?
Attach the chalk board to the wall with appropriate screws. Finish it off with some timber if you so choose!
HoW?
Attach the chalk board to the wall with appropriate screws. Finish it off with some timber if you so choose!
...
An unwanted wheelie bin has a new lease on life as a worm farm -
HoW?
Remove the base of the wheelie bin, cut a hole out in the front of the wheelie bin to make your trap door. Attach hinges to the trap door, allowing you to access the worm castings. Now fill with worm friendly scraps, grass cuttings, paper, manure etc... And of course, add some worms!!!
HoW?
Remove the base of the wheelie bin, cut a hole out in the front of the wheelie bin to make your trap door. Attach hinges to the trap door, allowing you to access the worm castings. Now fill with worm friendly scraps, grass cuttings, paper, manure etc... And of course, add some worms!!!