January 30, 2026
Our peach tree delivered a sweet surprise this week as the children excitedly uncovered the fruit they had carefully protected last term. Their joy, curiosity, and thoughtful conversations made this harvest one to remember.
Over the last few years of 2025, the children have been eagerly watching the peach tree in our garden, waiting to see what had grown beneath the little paper bags placed over the fruit last term. Before the holidays, the children helped carefully cover the peaches to protect them from hungry cockatoos and other curious visitors. This week, it was finally time for the big reveal.
Unwrapping the Peaches
As the children opened each paper bag, the excitement was unmistakable—“It’s like opening a Christmas present!” one child said, and that’s exactly how it felt. Some peaches were perfectly ripe, some had been nibbled by animals, and a few had tiny worm holes. The children took this in their stride, showing a beautiful sense of respect for nature.
“That’s OK, we are sharing our peaches with nature,” one child said thoughtfully.
“We can’t kill nature,” another added, sparking a gentle conversation about living things and how our garden is a home for many creatures.
The children guessed which animals might have had a taste—cockatoos, bats, magpies, possums—and even imagined them all sharing a peach together because “maybe they were all hungry at the same time.”
Any peaches that weren’t suitable for eating were placed in the worm farm so the worms could enjoy a treat too.
Tasting the Harvest
Once the peaches were washed and sliced, the children gathered to taste the fruits of their patience and care. The peaches were crisp, sweet, and wonderfully crunchy—quite different from the soft or sour peaches some children had tried before.
“The skin is furry!” one child laughed, comparing it to a teddy bear.
Another shared that they had once eaten peaches with yoghurt, inspiring others to imagine new combinations.
Some children chose to simply watch, while others enjoyed several servings. Across both days, the enthusiasm was clear—four children happily ate their way through four peaches!
Learning Through the Garden
This simple harvest became a rich learning experience. The children explored:
- Observation and patience as they waited for the peaches to grow
- Respect for nature as they shared the fruit with animals and cared for the worm farm
- Sensory exploration through taste, texture, and smell
- Community and collaboration as they harvested, tasted, and discussed together
- Gratitude for our environment, recognising how lucky we are to have space to grow fruit trees at school
As the children reflected, they talked about how important it is to look after our garden so we can continue to enjoy harvests in the future.
