MID JUNE UPDATE

A happy band of gardeners (and harvesters) on a rare sunny day!

Well the scheme to dedicate each raised bed to a single Year Group has started working pretty well with the help and involvement of our dedicated teams of gardeners! Here are some photos to show you how each Year Group is getting on....not that there's any pressure or anything!

Considering how terrible the weather has been it's all looking great!

Year 1 - a wide variety of crops!

Year 2 - awesome use of the available space

Year 2 broad beans doing very well!

Year 3 - again, very productive

Year 3 lettuces have been a big hit - & no slugs!

Year 4 the wild rocket has gone a bit wild.

Year 5 - post harvesting of the leeks

Year 5 - Roma tomato plant placed between the courgettes

Year 6 - also post harvesting of the leeks

Year 6 - 'Sweet Million' cherry tomato plant between the courgettes

Year 6 - runner beans (and French beans?)

One failure has been this rotating compost bin. It's an excellent machine and would be ideal for a small garden where it could be looked after and rotated properly. If anyone wants it they could have it for a donation to the PTA. It needs to have brown  matter (cardboard, paper etc) added along with the garden waste, and it need spinning every day. As it has been neglected it's just made a bit of a smelly mess. More details about the composter can be read here.

July update

PICK YOUR OWN THIS SATURDAY AT 10am

Above: (new 'superfood') Curly Kale, still going strong.
Below: Our extra produce is being sold by Dandelion in Northcote Rd. They seem to be pretty pleased that our courgettes are grown 150 yards from the shop are replacing those that were grown 150 million miles away in Costa Rica!














We've also supplied Lola Rojo with french beans and they'll be harvesting during the second half of August and beyond perhaps.
Here are some photos of what's else is on offer this Saturday.....
Right: Climbing french beans. You need to be tall to pick these!
Below: The tomatoes are ripening rapidly and there should be quite a few ready for picking on Saturday. The photos are a couple of weeks old.














Below: Pumpkins won't be ready until Halloween time, by which time they should be really large. They enjoy beer.

Right: The leeks also need more time to grow.

Left: We've already had loads of courgettes but there should be some more on Saturday?

Below right: The carrots (any colour but orange) have shot up (or should that be down?) recently. We could maybe pick a few to thin them out?



Below: For some reason the peppers are growing upwards rather than downwards.

Below: We'll have a dig for Pink Fir Apple potatoes (stock photo below). Seriously, they taste great, and they only need a scrub, no peeling required. Not sure if they're ready yet?

Dig For Victory!

YOUR GARDEN NEEDS YOU!!

Are you a lower playground parent or will you be a lower playground parent next year?

Do you enjoy the vegetable garden?
Do you feel sad when you see the plants looking thirsty?
Would you like to earn the respect of your children?
Well now's your chance to help!

We're looking for volunteer 'drought wardens' to check on the garden at drop-off and pick-up time, and to water the garden if it looks dry. It would only take a few minutes although if you have longer to give the soil a good soaking, then that would be great. For more info see below:

The hose is easily attached to the tap
Don't water if the soil is already damp
When you water it's better to thoroughly soak some of the garden then wet the surface of the whole garden
Most veg require lots of water, but parsnips, garlic & onions need a little less when they are a decent size
The raised beds dry out very quickly and very deeply because they are laid on tarmac. It's a good idea to sometimes leave the hose on the surface of the soil while the water soaks in
Tomato leaves don't like being wet for too long, but on a warm and sunny day this isn't a problem
In order of water requirement: Potatoes, beans, courgettes and pumpkins, carrots, tomatoes, salads etc
If the gate is locked when you are finished you can leave via the school office

For some further entertainment try these excellent sites which are sure to give you a lift in these difficult times!
http://outonafunkytrip.blogspot.com/
http://skatalitesindub.blogspot.com/

Thank you for your kind attention - Ministry of Food