Growing your own garden can help the environment in many different ways such as:
Growing your own food can reduce packaging and pollution needed when you buy groceries
Growing flowers and other plants can create habitats for wildlife especially birds and insects
Gardening can help clear the air from pollution and create more green spaces
Composting is also important! It reduces the amount of food scraps that ends up wasted in landfill and it also creates nutrient-rich soil to help your gardens grow! Did you know that:
We suggest incorporating Containers for Change with our Recycle Rangers challenge.
Setting up a recycling initiative in your school, and making sure people know how to use it.
Separating the refundable containers from non-refundable.
Taking the refundable containers to your nearest collection centre.
Check out ReturnIt or Scouts to assist with steps 2 and 3!
Choose what to do with the funds! These could be put towards an environmental project in the school, local charity or anything else you choose. EcoMarines is a registered charity with Containers for Change and we would welcome any donations to help us grow! Our code is C10041492 if you would like to donate.
The Containers for Change website has more information on what type of containers are accepted, and where to return them.
Have you taken notice of any cute animals that regularly visit you school’s garden, such as frogs, butterflies or birds? What could you do to improve the garden to attract more of these animals?
You can start by creating fun, accessible habitats using recycled materials that you would otherwise dispose of. Submit photos of your awesome creations and informative posters for your chance to win a Bunnings prize pack to support you in future gardening projects.
Good luck with your Happy Habitats! You can even pair this challenge with the Mindfulness Garden!
Before getting started you’ll have to gain a better understanding of the ecosystem you’re dealing with so that you can choose the most suitable habitat to construct in that environment. Here are some questions you should consider when investigating your garden:
As a team decide on which animal you would like to create a habitat for. Or feel free to decide on a few! We have provided some examples below but feel free to research other potential DIY animal habitats that you could construct e.g. bird habitat, lizard habitats etc.
Think about the recycled materials you could use to create these habitats e.g. using offcuts of pipes for a frog habitat.
With the guidance and/or permission of your teacher you can start building the habitat of your choice. Here are some questions you should consider whilst constructing:
Take photos of your beautiful creations along and submit it to us below or send us an email via the button. The EcoMarines team will choose a few entries to win a Bunnings prize pack !
To help with food waste and feeding your garden, why not implement a compost bin or worm farm at your school?
Find a nearby communal compost bin or worm farm where you can dispose of your food scr
There are plenty of organisations that help with linking gardening, cooking and the curriculum. Check these links out:
If your school is within the Brisbane City Council region, you can apply for free native plants to help your school create healthy habitats for our local wildlife.
Our friends at Griffith University have created an app to help you design a native garden in SouthEast Queensland.
There are plenty of organisations that help with linking gardening, cooking and the curriculum. Check these links out:
Native bee hives are a great way to pollinate your school gardens. Check out this resource to see how you can get your own!
The EcoMarines worked on a few projects to help their local wildlife. They places multiple native beehives around the school to help pollinate flowers and gardens. They also collected and donated mascara wands to a wildlife organization for bushing and removing parasites from native animals. They donated wands to the Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers. Many local Carers groups will take mascara wands in for collection.
The EcoMarines wanted to connect their school community through establishing a garden. They created a garden space and invites students and families to help maintain, water, and care for tghe plants. in resturn, they can take produce or plants back home.
The EcoMarines of Bundamba State Secondary College organised a tree planting event for National Tree Day. They collaborated with their local Bunnings and Moggill Creek Catchment Group to rehabilitate riparian zones around their school oval.
Try reaching out to your local Bunnings to help out with an environmental initiative/event that your EcoMarines are working on!
Tangalooma EcoMarines Foundation Ltd is a registered Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) and has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR1) status with the Australian Tax Office (ABN 40 168 034 008). All eligible donations are tax-deductible.
