Vision

Dalhousie Regional High School’s Condor Climate Crew had a vision to create a self-sustainable watering system that would not require the use of electricity or a water hookup. This idea was sparked by a current issue that we have at DRHS and by the donation of water collection tanks from our local municipality Heron Bay. Towards the end of last school year, some students planted some plants outside and unfortunately, they did not make it through the summer as there is no manpower at the school in the summer months to be sure they are watered properly. The Climate Crew in collaboration with DRHS’ Essential Skills students and First Nation Lead are currently working on an outdoor learning space called the Knowledge Garden. Part of this space will include the planting of the 4 sacred indigenous medicines. The Climate Crew knew that these plants would not survive the summer if we did not have a watering system put in place. These plants will need to be maintained throughout the summer and we want to be sure that this can happen without having someone here at the school to do that and our mission and vision was to come up with a system to maintain whatever gets planted at DRHS in the future. What better place to do this than in an outdoor learning environment!

Action

Essential Skills Student, Kade McCurdy, has partnered with the Climate Crew at DRHS to come up with a rainwater collection self-watering system (included in the pictures) that will be utilized for DRHS’ planting efforts moving forward. A plan was created and designed by Kade and shared with the Climate Crew for input. This project is in the process of being executed. Gutters installed on an upcoming Gazebo build will collect rainwater into the collection tanks that were generously donated by our local Municipality Heron Bay. We purchased 2 solar operated water pumps that Kade will be hooking up to a self-watering irrigation system and will be set on a timer which will keep our four sacred medicines alive and healthy throughout the summer months. We are hopeful that this system will provide DRHS with potential to expand our gardening capabilities in the future all while saving electricity and water usage.

Reflection & Celebration

As a reflection and celebration of this project, the Condor Climate Crew held a get together with the Essential Skills students involved and enjoyed some pizza and brainstorming time to come up with ways to track rainwater collection and watering usage. These methods will allow us to be able to better understand the effects that our climate in this area has on our school’s ability to sustain this self-watering system. DRHS is excited to see the potential that this system has for our schools gardening needs.

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