Our first assignment, as fresh blooded volunteers, was to work in the community garden that both provides food to the hungry surfers and a education to kids who attend the nature school. We donned the factor 50, sun hats and our greenest fingers to give a hand to Astriel, who curates this pretty garden.
Astriel had saved up some long bean seedlings and tomato plants for us to plant, and selected some of the delightfully stinky compost made from all organic waste from our plates.
All was going to plan, until Millie (aka Emily) went bright red and nearly expired, Charlotte fainted on standing up and I started seeing stars. “How can anyone do anything in this heat?” was our resounding cry.
Never one for the conventional, Rob put his best teaching practise to use, to cajole the little Year 1 year seedlings into line.
Though we know in our hearts that this is arguably not the best use of Charlotte and my time, it was good to work as a family, and learn about how to garden together. It transpired that over the next few days the girls has been discussing between themselves about “What really is the point. Mum and Dad?,” so we explained that the garden provides some food to the resort, reducing costs, and that money from the resort funds the turtle conservation program on Bangkaru. The girls nodded … they got this.