EK Vol 38 Nature & YOU!

Pitso Tolo Primary is proud to have been part of the WESSA Eco-Schools Programme since 2015. To find out how your school could join,

COOL SCHOOL

visit www.wessa.co.za or email zanele.khumalo@wessa.co.za.

When Pitso Tolo Primary in North West experienced water shortages during the recent drought, they decided to act quickly and responsibly. They focused on water-wise gardening and on simple ways to reduce how much fresh water they use daily.

They collected used water from the kitchen of the school’s feeding scheme and from the new hand basins. [see left]. This ‘grey water’ is used for the succulent garden as well as the ornamental garden at the entrance of the school.

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Learners started washing their hands in special basins instead of in water directly from the tap. By sharing the water like this, they save a lot .

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A running tap can lose up to 20 litres of water a minute!

They covered their vegetable garden with a shade cloth. This keeps birds out and helps to limit direct sunlight into the garden, keeping the soil moist for longer and the plants from drying out. It’s amazing what a difference a simple step like this can make.

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Photos Supplied

They used old tyres to create a rockery garden. Tyres are often dumped in South Africa and left lying around. Reusing them is a brilliant idea because it also helps to improve the community’s environment.

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Next they planted succulent cuttings in the rockery. Their new garden is beautiful and low in water needs. It also doubles up as an outdoor classroom for fun learning about local succulents.

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A cutting is a piece of a plant that can grow into a new plant when it is placed in the ground. This doesn’t work with all plants, but it works very well with most succulents.

WESSA Eco-Schools, DWS and 50 schools across South Africa are working together on meaningful water action projects. Each school strives to become a water-wise institution that responds to the water challenges and risks its community faces.

22 EnviroKids Vol. 38(2), Winter 2017

Words Zwakele Ngwenya (WESSA Eco-Schools Coordinator at Pitso Tolo Primary)