This project came about from conversations that started with a visit from the Envirowaste team who came to school to talk about composting. This led to the creation of a garden reusing materials from school and learning how to grow their own kai, which was required for a fully operational composting system to be sustainable.

The students decided to form an enviro group to plan, prepare and implement the māra kai project and the Enviro-Heroes were born. This group talked to whānau and the community about what support they could assist with.

Learnings throughout the process included looking at planting phases with the maramataka calendar, working together, and preparing the garden for planting.

This project has touched all the Enviroschools Guiding Principles which gives students the confidence in planning a project and seeing it come to fruition, learning for sustainability, and connecting with Te Ao Māori.

Next steps are to open the māra kai up to the public when there is an excess of vegetables to support the community.