Toko School have been extremely lucky to have been awarded funding, from Curious Minds to purchase a distillery and the related science equipment.   Curious Minds, is part of Venture Taranaki and  seeks to encourage and enable better engagement with science and technology across all sectors of New Zealand –  to bring about a nation of Curious Minds, where science is inspiring, recognisable, highly valued and personally relevant to all New Zealanders.  

So Room 7 put together an application to purchase a still to make essential oils and hydrosols, and have been awarded $15000.00.    We aim to distill a variety of plants from our area and to find out their properties and what we can use the essential oil and hydrosols for.  We have been  guided by Jim Bennett (who distills a range of plant material) and Sue Rines who will assist us in our task.

We know that there are many harsh chemicals out there in the environment, and if we can make more natural products, using plant material around us, then it can only be beneficial to us all.  Our lavender bags have proved popular in the past, so we want to see what else we can make.

Above is Lockie and Maisie, presenting our application in front of a panel for Curious Minds.