For the Future Greenhouse 2.0!

After almost a year on from the initial construction of our very first greenhouse, we have moved and started reconstruction on a existing structure. This time there were efforts from everyone in our community, from staff contributing plastic bottles, to caretakers giving us advice and ex students coming back in to help out, this build truly was a school wide effort. We started on Thursday, Week 10 of Term 2, 2018. Prior to this day, the caretakers helped us put the existing plastic bottle stakes from Greenhouse 1.0 onto the Greenhouse 2.0 so a BIG shout out to them! The team were also cleaning and sorting bottles out throughout the term as the community continued to contribute bottles. Once the construction of the new greenhouse is completed, we intend to plant fruits and vegetables in it. This will be our contribution towards the breakfast/lunch club at Alfriston College. We hope that this will help promote the idea of recycling wastes as well as healthy eating with the organic vegetables that will be grown in the greenhouse.  Final Dimensions of Greenhouse 2.0:
6m x 3m x 2m

Early efforts by the caretakers in helping us put up the existing plastic bottle stakes from Greenhouse 1.0.

On day 1, the team were split into respective delegations: cutting plastic bottles, cutting stakes, assembling and nailing plastic bottle stakes and the assembly of the double doors. This ensured efficiency as everyone had a task to do throughout the day. This time around we had access to power tools for cutting the plastic bottles. Under the supervision of learning leader Ms Trisha Munthree, learners were able to use power tools to cut plastic bottles, which sped up the process, making it almost a hundred times faster and more efficient than last year. Since the gap for the door on the new greenhouse is larger than Greenhouse 1.0, we had to make double doors, as the weight of one overly large door would not have held up well. The task of building two doors was a great challenge, but nothing too big for experts Didar and Brian since gaining experience from the first door they built for Greenhouse 1.0. Day 1 was a successful day of building, with the weather holding up nicely. We got most of the walls done up and the doors almost finished.

Ex-learners Zaid and Moses nailing up the plastic bottle stakes.
In the greenhouse, planter boxes that will be used to plant fruits and vegetables
within the greenhouse.



 

                                   

 Learning Leader Ms Trisha Munthree giving
     Zaid some advice on how to work effecicently.

                           

Progress on the double doors on Day 1

  

On Day 2, the team wasted no time and got straight into it in the morning. Our efforts were put into assembling and nailing the plastic bottle stakes on structure as we wanted to finish the outside before the end of the day. It was a beautiful sunny day which encouraged everyone to be outside and involved. By the end of day 2, we completed the outside walls and doors. 

The team out enjoying the sun while doing some hard work.

The team being treated after 2 days of hard work.
Do the mahi, get the treats!

Kreesan looking for a place to nap after having
too much lunch.

These two days have been an absolute success! We managed to complete the basic structure of Greenhouse 2.0, which includes putting plastic bottle stakes on the 4 walls as well as putting up double doors for the entrance. Our next steps are to put a roof up and start working on the interior. We will arrange the planter boxes inside the greenhouse so that we can plant fruits and vegetables. We also have prototype planters made out of pallets that we can use to plant some herbs/plants. The target is to finish the roof and interior before Term 3, as learners will be busy with exam prep in Term 4.

For the Future Greenhouse 2.0, located beside the Kaitataki block.

For the Future group would like to give a special thank you to: Caretakers, Ex-learners, Senior management and the Alfriston College community for contributing to the success of the For the Future Greenhouse 2.0. Please help spread the word of the great work being done here in Alfriston College and South Auckland by sharing our blog and using the hashtag #forthefuture. For any queries, don't hesitate to email forthefuture@gmail.com.

Yours Sincerely, 

For the Future.