Making recycled pot plants for local schools - regatta week

Last Thursday (27.09.12) VEPA held an event as part of the annual Regatta Week Festival (22^nd – 29^th September) where we made self watering recycled pot plants and planted seedlings to be donated to the local schools in Vava’u.

Yachties painting their recycled self watering pot plants

Me with a young participant 

The recycled pot plants were made out of used plastic water bottles, soil and a piece of wool that acts like a root drawing water up from the bottom of the bottle to feed the plant. A number of yachties and children attended to try their hand at making these pot plants and planted their choice of either Marigold flowers, Basil or Tomato seeds. They then painted them bright colours and some even wrote messages on the pots for the schools. Everyone was very excited by how easily they could make the pot plants themselves and were very happy that they could help out with an activity to benefit the local children here in Vava’u.

These bags were handed out so yachts can collect
rubbish from the outer islands during their stay

Once the seedlings have started to grow, VEPA will be delivering them to the local schools that are participating in the ‘Clean School Program’ (run by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change with VEPA's assistance).  This will help teach the kids about how they can re-use their waste and turn it into something useful.

Elana also did a presentation on coral reefs that highlighted what we can do personally to help protect them and keep them clean. It was a really fun day and I think everybody had a great time (despite the rain!). 

Malo aupito to everyone that helped out and made the day such a success!

Aimee Foster

(VEPA Volunteer)