GROWING GEMS

Gemma and Mike now have three Gems early- childhood education centres; the original Miro at Lake Hayes Estate, then Kōwhai at Shotover Country and now Rātā at Kawarau Park. Rātā is in a retirement village, an intergenerational initiative appearing in many countries. Nature is plentiful within these pre-schools and integrated into everyday life for Gems’ tamariki. For instance, the children grow the food they eat for lunch in the school gardens, and a lot of their “toys” are rocks, sticks, mud, water — natural products. gems.net.nz