In the Sacred Heart School community garden are (from left) Hawkdun Patterson, 10, principal Catherine Colvin, teacher aide Lil Hyde, Emerson Patterson, 9, Karis Hoogeveen, 8, Pippa McCall and Henry Bulling, both 9. PHOTO: NINA TAPUWhen tamariki at a Southland primary school tend to their community garden, they do more than learn about how to grow food. Sacred Heart School principal Catherine Colvin said teaching the children how to garden not only gave them practical skills but it also taught them the importance of helping others and how to show kindness. The school’s community garden has been running since 2021 and produce grown by the pupils is donated to groups including St Vincent de Paul. Gardening was the school’s way of showing the students their actions were ‘‘a practical way to live [out] their faith’’.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 14, 2026 15:26 UTC