WeSTEM 2025 – Exploring the Science of Hügelkultur

What happens when you give tamariki the tools, trust and time to lead their learning? You get broccoli, brilliance and a future full of possibility.

Growing gardens, growing minds

At Matipo School in Te Atatū Peninsula, students in Years 2–3 have turned garden beds into a thriving living classroom.

With support from horticulture charity Oke and guidance from their teacher Sarah-lee Jacobs, the students explored a sustainable growing method called hügelkultur, discovering along the way that science isn’t confined to a lab. It lives in the soil, the sun, and the systems we create to feed one another.

“We got to watch some awesome volunteers show us how to set up a hügelkultur garden. It was really cool because they used things like old logs, branches and cardboard. After watching them, we gave it a go in our own garden too! First, we laid down cardboard to stop the weeds, then we added old sticks and big logs. That helped the soil stay healthy and hold water.” – Ivy, Year 2

STEM that feeds body, mind and whānau

Through this hands-on inquiry, students tested compost blends, observed soil health, tracked plant growth and ran their own produce market at the school gate. Literacy and numeracy were woven through every part of the project: from measuring garden plots and writing persuasive sales posters to calculating yield and budgeting for compost.

The project also sparked rich conversations at home. Many shared photos of meals made with the harvest, reinforcing the real-world power of learning that stretches beyond the classroom walls.

“We sold our homegrown produce and raised $130 to reinvest in our gardens. Our community was amazed that everything came straight [from] our school garden. It made us feel incredibly proud.” – Hunter, Year 3

“We were so excited because we got to help pick [the plants] and then sell some of the fresh veges back to our community. It felt good to share what we had grown and be part of something special.” – Imogen, Year 3

Cultural roots and career shoots

The project also drew deeply on cultural knowledge. Through mātauranga Māori and Pacific perspectives, students explored kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and traditional gardening wisdom.

Sarah-lee shared a video from her father, Sione, on his farm in Tonga, showing how knowledge is passed across generations and geographies. His story connected science to ancestry and reminded students that food growing is both a scientific and a cultural act.

“In the video, Mrs J’s dad gives us a tour of his amazing garden. He grows all sorts of crops like taro, banana trees, breadfruit, avocado and pawpaw. We’re learning that their soil is different from ours, but it’s still super-important to look after it and grow your own food. It’s pretty awesome to see how they live off the land and use what nature gives them.” – Maddie, Year 2

These lessons sparked new aspirations. Students began asking questions about future careers in horticulture, conservation and environmental science. Inspired by their own success, they can now see themselves as growers, scientists and stewards of the land.

A garden that will keep on giving

The hügelkultur garden is now a permanent feature at Matipo School, where it’s growing confidence, curiosity and connection along with vegetables.

What happens when learning is rooted in the real world? Students flourish.

So why isn’t project-based learning embedded in every Year 7 and 8 classroom?

When students grow their own food, they’re also growing confidence, curiosity and the skills they’ll need for the future.