Things are moving really fast now, the plot has been dug by Paul with the digger, a pond shape created, hedging and more soft fruit plants on order, the windbreak mesh has arrived as well as winter fleece to protect from the worst of the weather to come.  We have started to work on the turned soil removing clumps of grass, big roots and stones, then raking to a finer tithe, all in advance of a big plant up just as soon as all the preparation has been done.  Last week’s list of jobs had to be put on hold as we were overtaken by the event of the big dig, but it was most welcome and we are all chuffed to bits!  We now need to set out the new planting areas together with pathways as a priority, as we have to tramp across the newly dug area to get to the established plot.  The clocks have gone back an hour this weekend, yet another reminder that we are fast approaching the winter months and need to get things planted just in case there should be a freeze over……you never know, and it is always good to be prepared!

The onion and garlic sets are on standby to be planted first, and we know that it is certainly not a competition; however, the garlic and onion sets planted with the nursery have already started to romp away, with big shoots already showing!  They have had an unfair advantage of time and mild weather……not that it is a race or anything!  Garlic and soft fruit bushes or plants like to be frozen for at least a couple of weeks during the winter months, and are all the better for it.

The nursery children have planted spring bulbs by making a layer cake with them.  With some soil in a large pot, the biggest bulbs such as tulips and hyacinths are planted first, then more soil, a layer of miniature daffodil bulbs, more soil, a layer of grape hyacinths, soil and a topping of violas, pansies and primroses!   Lots of mess and grubby hands, but plenty of surprise and interest in the tasks, as well as discovering worms and all manner of minibeasts, and that’s just the nursery staff!  Afterwards, children and staff took a bucket of fruit peelings to contribute towards the compost heap,  check out the larger plot, and to peer into the hole of the soon to be pond……… who knows, they could be pond dipping by next summer!

What’s next?

• Continue to collect leaves

• Finish raking the soil

• Set out the plots and paths

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Well, we really have had enough rain now, and had little chance of doing much on the plot this week…however, there has been plenty going on behind the scenes!

It has been a truly amazing week of donations.  Put out the call that something is needed, and the Sandgate Community rallies round and provides, just brilliant!  We now have the offer of a sturdy bench to sit on…… we just have to work out how to get it there….thank you to Hilary and Eddie for that.  Thanks go out also to Lewis as we now have a wheelbarrow at last……. Such luxury!

Jill donated two cloches, already put to work protecting some winter spinach, a compost bin from Joanne,  and another from Sal…they really will be put to good use as we have filled one up already and are starting on the other.  The impending expansion has meant a good think and look at what we need to do over the winter in preparation for spring. 

As we are so close to the sea, the wind whips across the plot and brings salt which has an impact on how and what we grow.  A windbreak should be the answer – the best form being a hedge that can slow the wind down and, take some of the force over the top and away from the crops.  So once the new area has been dug over, we will be planting a mixed coastal wildlife hedge to include plants that can take the strain, with an emphasis on Sea Buckthorn which has berries that also happen to be a superfood.  To help the hedge along, as well as to protect the crops until the hedge is mature, we will need to put in temporary net fencing around part of the plot.  The hedge, once mature, will also be a great wildlife haven.  To encourage even more wildlife, we also hope to be able to provide a small shallow wildlife pond and are working on plans to do this.  Of course, all this costs money, and again we have been fortunate enough just this week to have been donated £200 from the Sandgate Society as well as £200 from the Parish Council.  This money means we can now achieve these plans, and more….details to follow at another time.  Thank you!!

We have a follower and well-wisher by the name of Freddie who had expressed an interest in buying two apple trees for the garden.  Brogdale apple festival in Faversham seemed to be the best place to find these trees as they have over 2,000 varieties to choose from (see photos attached)!  A member of their staff recommended an eating and a cooking variety, perfect for the site, and we now have two Heritage apple trees!  Thank you Freddie!

Wow!  What a lot has happened in one week, and although we did not manage to get much done on the plot, there has been a start made working with the Saga Nursery children outside their classroom with the planting of some onion and garlic sets, plus some broad beans.  We sowed some sweetpea seeds, planted some winter hardy plants plus some bellis daisies and winter pansies for a bit of winter and spring colour.  Next week the children will be helped to plant some spring bulbs.  Oh, and Chris gave them a pineapple plant to grow inside their classroom…our fingers are crossed for that one!

What’s next?

• There are plants and trees to be planted

• Posts to be put in the ground and wires to be attached

• Banana tree needs to be wrapped

• Leaves to be composted

• More tidying hoeing and digging!

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Bit of a wash out this week with the rain, however I hate to say we do still need it as dig down a bit, and it is still dry!

Some people have noticed that there is a mysterious line drawn beyond the plot, and yes, it is true, we are to expand further out into the grass!  We are very excited at the prospect, and are looking forward to filling this space too!  Thanks to Paul the Head gardener and Saga for their continued support and encouragement. 

We put out a message to the community for some items we need, we are still looking for offcuts of blue water pipe to use in the making of cloches, but we now have more compost bins and a leaf rake!  The message being please consider us before throwing garden resources out as we are good at recycling…… we could do with a wheelbarrow!

We are now the proud owners of a comprehensive compost making system, with leaf mulch on the go, and a three tiered way of producing the best compost going.  Happy days!  By moving or turning the compost on a regular basis, it incorporates air, mixing the contents, builds the heat needed to break it down and stops it becoming a nasty smelly and soggy mess with dry bits!  The final product will look like fruit cake, almost looks good enough to eat!

One of the great things about growing your own food is you have the choice to use chemicals in the form of pesticides and herbicides or not: to use natural methods have been our choice, and you have to take the rough with the smooth.  Our Chinese cabbages have been invaded by hordes of caterpillars, and at first we were intrigued that these looked quite unusual and interesting until we further realised they were sawfly larvae…. Ah well….too many to pick off as you can see from the photograph, and an important message learnt.. the need for vigilance, and to accept that growing organically benefits us and the wildlife! 

The nursery children helped us to plant some elephant garlic this week.  Elephant garlic is not actually a garlic as we know it, much milder, it belongs to the leek family, and is very tasty!

Finally, congratulations go this week to some of our members for the best squash soups (We might have to start a recipe page soon!), and to Chris for amazing us all by producing a home grown pineapple.  That takes some beating!

What’s next?

• Empty those herb boxes!  We need to paint the boxes but the weather might decide otherwise!

• Finish setting up the compost bins

• Anyone got access to animal manure?  Horse, cow even alpaca!! Makes a great plant liquid feed!

• Keep collecting those leaves – even in your own gardens!!

• Planning – the next phase – expansion and planting for the next season.

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