BIG DIG this Saturday 16th April 2016

April 14, 2016 ~ sueedberg

In case you didn’t know, we are taking part again in the Big Dig – a national event encouraging people to help get the new growing season started in their local community garden. It’s a great way to socialise and get to know people so do come along and invite others – no actual digging required unless you wish.

This year it’s on Saturday 16th April from 2pm-4pm at the Community Garden in Waterworks Road, Sheet, Nr Petersfield. For how to find us click here

There’s a list of jobs on the board in our shed, including planting potatoes and onion sets, sowing winter veg, sowing spinach and carrots, planting out peas, potting on tomato and artichoke plants in the greenhouse, making new beds (if you want to dig) or just come and do nothing in particular. As always, all welcome. Hope to see you there.

Moving Arthur

March 13, 2016 ~ lynnsrose

We’d become a bit concerned that the trees in the orchard area might be overcrowded when they matured, and decided to move one into the main garden. Our choice fell on ‘Arthur Turner’ a cooking variety that was in the middle of a row of four. (Apparently it won an RHS prize for its blossom) The trees have now been in place for three years, so its more of a disturbance for them than when we originally planted them, but they should still re-establish. This weekend was almost the last time we could do this while the trees were dormant.

Here’s Arthur before the move:

First we prepared the hole for Arthur’s new home, digging out an area with roughly the diameter of the branch-spread down to two spade depths and adding four wheelbarrowloads of compost to enrich the soil.

Next we removed the turf around the tree, and dug a trench down, carefully digging in until we came to the roots. We dug down and under, to free it, and rocked it onto a tarpauline. We then dragged it to the new planting position.

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We replanted Arthur, taking care to plant to the same depth that it had been before, and then backfilled the hole, treading it down well to exclude any air pockets. Finally we put in a new stake, to keep the roots still while they reestablish, and backfilled the hole where it had been. Now to wait with fingers crossed!

Wassailing

January 17, 2016 ~ lynnsrose

More than forty people joined us for our third annual wassailing in the orchard area, with Sue’s apple cake, some cider made from fruit from the tree on the allotment boundary with Waterworks Road and other refreshments ably overseen by Amanda

The Petersfield Community Choir joined us again to sing a number of traditional wassailing songs.

Emily and Keith then gave a practical demonstration of pruning our apple trees, cutting out damaged wood and crossing branches, and trying to encourage an ideal goblet shape.

So here’s to our next growing season.

This week: AGM and Wassailing

January 13, 2016 ~ sueedberg

Just a reminder of a couple of events this week:

On Thursday, 14th January we are holding our Annual General Meeting at Winton House in Petersfield. 7pm for a 7.30 start.

Also, we are wassailing in the Orchard on Sunday 17th January from 2pm. Do join us for fruit tree pruning, singing with Petersfield Community Choir and apple-related refreshments!

All welcome..

November garden

November 22, 2015 ~ lynnsrose

With the onset of winter, things are dying down, though seed heads still give interest. However, there are winter crops, like these leeks planted earlier

and field beans

Path laying

November 22, 2015 ~ lynnsrose

We’re continuing to lay the plastic matting that will form the foundation of a wheelchair accessible path in the garden.

The idea is that grass grows up through the matting to provide a green path with a firm foundation. Bruce, Lynn & Christoph were busy fitting further sections this afternoon

Brownies

October 4, 2015October 4, 2015 ~ lynnsrose

Sheet Brownies have visited us again. On Tuesday 29 September they harvested some of the sweetcorn they planted earlier this year, and roasted the cobs over a fire in the fire pit. They’re planning some other visits, including some star gazing later in the year when its clear

Stall at Lavant Street Market

October 4, 2015October 5, 2015 ~ lynnsrose

We had a stall at the Lavant Street market on Sunday 4th, selling books and some produce to fund-raise, and talk about the garden. A sunny day led to a steady stream of visitors.

Lynn R & Diana on the stall in the morning

We raised £110.30, and twenty people tried their luck at guessing the weight of one of our pumpkins. It weighed 3.945 kg (8lb 11oz): the nearest guess was 3.6 kg and the winner will receive their prize – the pumpkin – in the next few days

Flowers

July 16, 2015 ~ lynnsrose

A left-over onion – or is it a leek?

We also have sweet peas by the gate : the more we pick the more they’ll keep flowering

Summer harvest

July 16, 2015 ~ lynnsrose

Some of our earlier efforts have come to fruition, and we now have lettuces, spinach, potatoes, peas and onions to harvest, with courgettes, runner beans, and sweet corn not far behind