By Di Sneddon
How does the garden grow at King Street Public School?
The answer is with quite a bit of help from the Rotary Club of Singleton.
For more than a quarter of a century King Street Public School has had an exceptional group of students who volunteer for the EWOKS (Environmental Workers of King Street Public School) program.
For a few years there was a slight hiatus but the program is now well and truly back on track.
Everyday EWOKS students willingly converge in the school’s veggie patch and chook pen instead of the traditional recess and lunch play.
Some students come along occasionally but others, like Jacob, attend every break, every day of every week.
With the assistance of a Rotary District Grant, Rotary Club of Singleton has installed an irrigation system with the final additions completed this week just in time for the school holidays.
Rotarian Ian Bendall said the club added to the $4000 grant to ensure this special EWOKS space received the best irrigation system possible.
“Singleton Pump and Water assisted with their expertise and our members volunteered to instal the equipment,” Ian said with gratitude.
Teacher Susan Scott is inspired by the enthusiasm of the EWOKS who tend the veggie patches, weed and water, decorate with painted rocks, care for the school’s chickens and collect the eggs.
Their horticultural knowledge is as impressive as their enthusiasm.
And while the EWOKS don’t agree on everything, one thing they do share is their love of a good old apple cucumber which is clearly the favourite picking of their garden.
