Most people have heard of the water cycle, in which water evaporates into the air, returns to Earth, and then evaporates again. Many other substances, including methane, cycle this way too. Methane is the main component of natural gas – a highly explosive fossil fuel – and was first identified in 1776 by Alessandro Volta. In fact, properly labelled, it should be called natural methane gas. When burned, it becomes carbon dioxide (CO2). Methane (CH4), which is composed of carbon and hydrogen, comes from two main sources: biological and geological. Biological methane can be released from decomposition of organic matter (including burping cows), whereas geological sources include natural seeps from fossil fuels and leaks from natural gas and coal mining operations.
While many people only associate negative connotations with methane, it’s important to recognise that it’s a valuable source of energy. As the principal component of natural gas, methane can be captured and harvested as a fuel.. ... Read more

Some people choose plant-based diets in the belief that it is better for the environment. The idea that all we need to do is eat more plants and less, or no, meat is overly simplistic. Problems like biodiversity loss, soil erosion, deforestation, chemical run-offs in waterways, to name but a few, are not solved by eating plant-based meats instead of animals.
In Australia, research by the CSIRO tells us that as individuals the biggest thing we can do to improve our dietary environmental footprint is to reduce our food waste, and to eat more whole foods and less ultra-processed food. But the marketers of plant-based meats would have you think otherwise.. ... Read more

A group of home-school students, aged 5-11, brought sunflowers they had grown from seed to show off at their first Sunflower Competition.

The group, overseen by Hibiscus Matters’ garden columnist Dee Pignéguy, looks after the community garden behind Whangaparāoa Hall and that’s where the prizegiving was held, on February 26. Prizes were awarded for the biggest, tallest, and smallest sunflower. ... Hibiscus Matters’

Read more of the Dees columns that she writes for Hibiscus Matters

Perhaps in our busy lives with the proliferation of fast-food outlets we forget the power of food.
I cook and that doesn’t seem like a talent that will change the world. But I grew up in a family where my mother cooked. There were carrots and beetroot to pull from the soil, fresh peas and beans, cucumbers and tomatoes to gather, leeks and potatoes, rambling squashes and trailing courgettes. An orchard provided apples, pears and plums as well as a great place to watch birds stealing the strawberries and foraging insects.
When we were hungry the garden was more important than money in the bank.
I learned to cook standing at the stove mixing, stirring and tasting as well as preparing food and watching people eat. Food – such an easy thing to give. Visitors never went hungry when they came to visit; a cookie tin was always handy with simple Dad’s cookies.
Sharing food was fundamental while I was growing up, feeding people was a great gift – family, friends, and strangers, nobody went hungry. ... Read more

Who amongst us is able to go back in time and see the world as a child again? Can we remember—think back to where you played outdoors, how things looked, how they smelled? The place we made our games, our stories and ourselves. The Earth was your home, your environment, every time you stepped outside you were an explorer discovering that world. You were a scientist in action finding out how this home, this universe worked.
Today I wonder, when your children go outside what do they discover, are there places for them to tune into the magic of life? Have we adults done our job and created an outdoor environment for children that will interest and excite them?
Young children use their senses, each one gives them information about their environment. How does it feel, how does it sound, what does it look like, how does it smell? Are there spaces with tactile surprise for children to discover? Are there fragrantly flowering fruit trees, masses of herbs or scented pelargoniums to provide a wide variety of the spice of life? Are there places for birds and insects to find habitats to provide a chorus of voices to those of the children? Are there fruits or vegetables to pique their taste curiosity?
Beauty and surprise should be everywhere in front of children. The natural world is full of interesting patterns, changing images that all inspire curiosity.
There is no doubt that the natural world offers infinite opportunities for wonder and learning. We have developed environmental education because we believe in the power of nature to teach and inspire.
We are proud of Garden to Table and its role in schools to provide rich opportunities to weave gardening, vegetables and cooking into the lives of children, while increasing the children’s confidence and sense of pride and responsibility.
But walk outside your gate and look around at the parks and vacant spaces. If you were trying to develop in children a love of the outdoors you would find very few. Many of the playgrounds are filled with metal or plastic climbing apparatus surrounded by plastic or wood chips. When will we wake up to the fact that a natural playscape makes creative use of the space? Can we meet the challenge and create beautiful, engaging outdoor environments for children?
Dee's Column for Hibiscus Matters, September 2020

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW MANY CHILDREN KNOW THAT PLANTS ARE FASCINATING ORGANISMS WITHOUT WHICH WE WOULDN’T EXIST? TEACHING CHILDREN about the natural plant world should be one of the most important events in their lives, and the earlier you start introducing the plant world to them, the better.
You may not have a forest school, but with a little planning you will be surprised how easy it is to set up a plant discovery table to introduce children to the world of plants, as some kindergarten teachers found out at my recent workshop. ... Read more

There is an army of beneficial insects—spiders, bumble bees, dragonflies, hoverflies, wasps, ladybirds, praying mantis, beetles, earwigs and honey bees just waiting to help us manage pests, pollinate crops, and recycle waste and debris.
All they need is a home, a safe haven, something to eat and somewhere to live and reproduce. ... Read more

Research shows that Children who comprehend patterns in the world around them develop skills to acquire and retain information.

Many of Dee's workshops show teachers how patterns have the potential to make a major contribution to inspire teachers and increase their variability of teaching strategies.

Dee was at the New Zealand Book Festival - November 2017, Mt Eden It's an exciting time for the literary world, with the resurgence of independent publishing bringing new voices to the fore, and allowing diversity in the publishing landscape. The NZ Book Festival brings writers and readers together to share their love of literature. Book Fair Poster

What are the new challenges for gardeners with changing weather patterns? Dee spoke at the Snells Beach Garden Circle, Mahurangi East Community Centre, Snells Beach. October 2017.

Magic Patterns in an Edible Garden. On November 2017 the North Shore Branch, Forest & Bird Kiwi Conservation Club visited Dee's new urban garden in Manly. She will show us her secrets to developing an intensively planted organic, edible garden in her urban backyard. Find garden insects; discover how nature keeps pests and predators in balance. Discover Nature's technology, "Biomimicry", and Pattern Magic. We copy many of nature's ideas to solve our problems. www.kcc.org.nz

Dee was at the Nature Education Conference, Whangarei. Her workshop title: "Library of Nature" Letting Nature tell her story. Developing literacy based on the natural environment rather than the digital fantasy world. November 2017. www.natureeducationnetwork.co.nz

On Storylines Family Day, at the Aotea Centre, Auckland, will see Dee and Dietlind of Dede puppets dedelive.com running a puppet making workshop. Puppets are an excellent way of exploring the world and different possibilities. Using Grow Me Well we will encourage the children to build their own puppets from a variety of recycled and surplus materials. The storyline is directed only by the set up of a scenery based on the importance of food in their life. The puppets are for the children to keep and parents can also take images of the children acting out their own storyline. www.storylines.org.nz

Dees series of workshops for Garden to Table have featured identifying herbs and unusual plants to establish biologically diverse plantings for beneficial insect gardens, pruning and the importance of patterns.
Garden to Table Specialist Meeting, July 2017, Glen Eden Primary School, Auckland
The importance of patterns in the garden. Pattern observation is a tool to understand the maths behind the patterns in the living world. Discover how Matter cycles on our planet, how energy flows through the earth's system and how the Web of Life connects organisms with each other. www.gardentotable.org.nz

Childspace Nurture In Nature workshops have featured Dee's presentations about sustainability, natural environments, gardening, nutrition and patterns in nature. www.childspace.co.nz

For the NZAEE Conference 9-12 February 2016. Dee's Patterns of Life workshop used the visually exciting book 'Exploring Nature's Pattern Magic' to introduce nature's patterns and a whole new vocabulary to help young children talk science. With a collection of natural materials, Dee shared inspired fun and practical hands on ideas for creating an environment that fosters curiosity and engages children. NZAEE NZ Association for Environmental Education. nzaee.org.nz

Lagoon Day Rarotonga - October 2015. Dee was a guest speaker on the local radio Rarotonga. Both Dee and Mike were involved in helping to judge this amazing Cook Islands Science fair.

Croydon West Primary School

While in Melbourne recently, Dee visited the Croydon West Primary School. Ruth Bode, the Sustainable Future's Teacher and her pupils showed Dee around their amazing school garden.