Support Raphaeli's Bees and Trees Project
help create a 'green school' where children learn directly from our earth
Where will your money go?
We wish to see the entire school from buildings to gardens, water systems, wildlife and humans as an interconnected system, each with its part to play in creating a wholesome educational and living experience.
Our current ‘eco’ wish list
- Irrigation pipe & fittings
- Weed eater (Edge trimmer)
- Wheelbarrows
- Rainwater tanks
- Picks and hoes
- Shade cloth
- Indigenous trees especially pioneer species e.g. Keurboom, Wild Camphor and False Olive
- Heirloom vegetable seeds
Our Tree of Gratitude
Success! Crowdfunding for Large Trees
They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a crowd to green a school & we are deeply grateful to all who participated. A special thanks to the “Vrije School Utrecht 5e Klas 2019” in the Netherlands who ran their own fund-raiser to make sure we could secure a large Wild Fig for the playground, they raised R44 000 in total!
The video of Raphaeli children explaining why they would value trees on the school grounds, backed by a soundtrack of Class 6 skilfully singing Johnny Clegg’s “Spirit of the Great Heart” told the story well and invited people both locally and from all over the world to get involved in the project by pledging whatever they could. Our dream was to raise R180 000 for large trees for the playground, a permaculture design to regenerate the land, rainwater tanks, insulation for classrooms and planting of Spekboom to offset carbon and create a fire break. The 30 day campaign was success in collecting over R132 000.00 which was 74% of our dream goal!
Trees create a better micro-climate, shade, wind protection, climbing fun, birds & bees. The Bees and Trees project will continue with our permaculture design, more tree planting and other elements for which we crowd-funded. Dee p gratitude is extended all who donated money and effort to help make Raphaeli an exemplar green school.
Our dream of planting big trees for present and future generations of Raphaeli children came true. Wild Fig, White Stinkwood, Coral Tree, Waterberry, Red Currant and Cape Beech.
Meet The Gardening Team
Vernon Pendlebury
Vernon has been working with holistic landscape design and implementation for 15 years and specialised tree care for 20 years. His deep connection with nature and observations of living systems and landscapes guides a natural flow of seeing the patterns in nature and how to work with them harmoniously. His skills are diverse, working as a landscaper, nurseryman, beekeeper and tree carer.
Phillippa Mallac
As a ‘hands in the earth’ gardener, permaculturist, beekeeper and dedicated seed saver, Phillippa has been living & working with Permaculture since 1998. She designs & implements permaculture systems, food gardens, tree systems & facilitates permaculture courses. She weaves a love for nature and the fulfillment of sustainably providing for ones needs into her to life and work.
Raphaeli Parents
Our project would not be successful without the incredible passion and dedication of our parents.
There are parents that are always willing to get stuck in and make the garden dreams happen on the ground with their wealth of Permaculture, gardening and playground design knowledge.
THE VISION FOR RAPHAELI LAND USE
The Olive Hill Land Group | Raphaeli Waldorf School
A voluntary group made up of passionate Raphaeli parents, Permaculture specialists and gardeners who have the following vision for the school property at Olive Hill:
- To see the entire school from buildings to gardens to water systems, wildlife and humans, as an interconnected system, each with its part to play in creating wholesome living & education.
- Create an environment for an enlivening learning experience from multi-layered ecosystems with a sense of space but also magical areas and niches that encourage flow and movement.
- Create a living learning environment including trees for climbing and water systems to learn from.
- Give children the experience of living off the land by growing food & cultivating in harmony with nature.
- Activate synergy, reducing high energy input in the long term, so that children learn and absorb the power of symbiosis.
- Bring life and biodiversity back to the land for all indigenous flora and fauna.
- Create the opportunity for multiple income streams from the land by growing food and showcasing carbon sequestration and the educational aspect of the design with visitors.
- Work with renewable elements such as solar energy, wind energy, biodigesters, rainwater tanks.
- Focus on planting indigenous fauna & flora plus plants that provide food, medicine or functionality for craft.
- Create water sinks and swales in harmony with the landscape to capture the vital resource of water.
- Create a protected nurturing space by growing shelter belts on the perimeters to block out wind, noise and crime.
- For the environment to awaken a sense of wonder for all life and living systems.
The group meet at least once a term and have various active planting days. If you would like to get involved with design, implementation or donate time, labour, plants or tools then please contact the school, or donate to our project now.