Tim Prater

The Wednesday session was busy, leaves got collected, the newly dug area raked over, and some new paths created with wood chips.  The plan is to keep to the pathways, trying not to compact the soil by treading on it, therefore keeping it workable.  We emptied a compost bin onto the plot to be used for legumes (peas and beans), these are the hungriest of the vegetables, and this was our first home made compost!  It seemed like a lot inside the bin, but spread out, it goes nowhere at all, and it will be at least three months until the next of the compost is ready to use.  Luckily we have now been directed towards a possible local supply of horse manure, and if regularly collected and added to our compost bins, will make the dream of a ‘no dig’ policy come true!  Simply add a layer of compost as a mulch, and let nature do all the work, it is magic!

The broad beans got planted, some peas to harvest as pea shoots, and sweet peas for an early flowering crop, but the garlic and onion sets are having to wait for the weather to improve!  Saturday was a complete washout and mainly involved replanting violas that got ripped out of their planting holes by the wind! 

We still have food that can be harvested and has not as yet been eaten by the wildlife.  The sawfly disappeared from the Chinese cabbages as quickly as they came and have left the hearts to mature.  The kale has been giving us leaves for a couple of months now, and an excellent kale lasagne has been made and the recipe shared.  The purple sprouting is starting to show the first broccoli heads which is very exciting, reward for the months of fastidiously removing cabbage white butterfly eggs and caterpillars!

Fingers crossed for a break in the weather next week, so much still to do.  A couple of pictures of the nursery playground have been added below to show how much work the children have done…….looking colourful! 

What’s next?

• Any more wood chips available for the paths?

• Collect leaves for the leaf compost bin

• Plant the onion and garlic sets if the weather allows!

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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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