Big Dig Saturday 22nd March. Please put the date in your diary! In the past, we have had half a dozen extra volunteers - a great chance to get the more pesky weeds under control, fix up the paths and generally get ready for the growing season.

Richard, can you ascertain whether the cafe would be willing to provide free coffee and lunch for the volunteers, as they have so generously done in the past? Maggie

Hello,

Thanks for the update Maggie.

I'd like to take on one of the remaining plots or the long if it turns out that Ian isn't going to take it on.  Please let me know what the options are.

 Big Dig is in the diary!

Hi Alex,

Haven't heard from Ian yet. Ian, can you let me know whether or not you want to take on the long bed? Cheers, Maggie

Maggie,

Yes I would like that long bed, I also spoke to Richard on Sunday re the wall repair.

Thanks,

Ian.

Thanks, Ian. Alex, as Ian is taking the long bed, you can have half the rectangular bed I'd allocated to myself and friends. I think it's bed number 3, currently empty and covered in cardboard.  Full house!!

George, the changes to the website are brilliant! Thanks so much. No need to reinstate the discussion board. I think it's more confusing to have two possibilities and we're better off with just the one.  Maggie

One more thing, Richard - would it be possible when repairing the retaining wall to also erect a trellis? As you know, there was previously a problem with people 'short-cutting' across the triangle bed and no doubt it will arise again if there is no deterrent. It doesn't need to be very high - we want people to see what we are doing - but high enough to deter would-be short-cutters. Maybe 1 metre? Let us know what you think...

Maggie

Excellent Maggie. Thank you!

News update...  Lots of help from Richard Gentry, the Park Manager.

1. He has had the retaining wall next to the cafe fixed and is organising for a fence to be erected to prevent people short-cutting across the veg beds.

2. He has kindly offered to finance refreshments for Big Dig volunteers on Saturday March 22nd. (That's us + any extra volunteers who come via the Capital Growth site). He is also providing a bag of compost and a bag of wood-chip to be available on the day, so we can get it all in order and make a good start to the season. 

3. He has asked Mick Guerin to investigate the drainage issues of the bed next to the tennis courts.

4. He has arranged for large forks and spades to be available in the tennis shed. If it ever dries out a bit, you can get digging!

So a very big 'thank you' indeed to Richard and his staff for their support for our efforts!  Maggie

Thanks for the news, Maggie.

I popped down this morning (between downpours!), to dig/turn the soil over in my small section and to put more bricks and cardboard down (thanks for the extra cardboard in the shed, Jenna).

I am also looking forward to learning and growing over the next few months, and being an active member of this local gardening community.

Cheers, Julienne

Don't forget the Big Dig on Saturday 10.30 - 1.00. Hope to see loads of you there. Richard - The Park Manager - has organised compost, wood chip and free refreshments for us. (Thanks again, Richard!) I'll bring a few seeds along too. Apart from encouraging one another in digging and starting to plant the mini-plots, I'm hoping we can get the paths into a good state - weed-free and with a new layer of wood chip to keep them that way.  Weather doesn't look too bad - cloudy but no rain forecast as yet. Will be keeping fingers crossed!  Maggie

Thank you to every one who came along to Queen's Park today and supported the Big Dig Event.  The vegetable plot looks ready for the summer.  I look forward to meeting you throughout the year as your work on the plot continues.

Great day on Sunday. Even the weather held up. I've sent John some photos and hope he will put them on the website soon. Welcome in particular to Fiona and to our very own compost guru, Gray. 

Amazingly, there are now more would-be growers than mini-plots. Nilufer and Irem, I wonder if you would be prepared to share plot 1 so that someone on the waiting list could have plot 2? 

Maggie

NEXT WORKING TOGETHER EVENT...

Would people mind putting this off until Sunday May 4th? We had spoken about Sunday 27th April but now I've heard that my operation is to be on Saturday 26th, so that date is not possible for me. Alternatively you can go ahead on the 27th without me, if someone is willing to take on the task of liaising with Richard about more wood chip, extra tools and so on.  Post a comment to say what you think...

Cheers, Maggie

Hi Maggie,  unfortunately I missed the dig day due to terrible flu for the whole weekend. I will plant some veg shoots next week to the plot1, I am already growing some indoors, but weather is still cold, and I am actually waiting for weather to get better for planting. I will ask Irem if she has plans for her share of the plot , if she does not, then we can ask someone to help us to share and make a good use of the space/

Thanks Nilufer. It would make someone else very happy if you could share. All best, Maggie

Maggie,

I am keen to "keep the ball rolling" and am happy to liaise with Richard for the 27th. I drop his F2F vegbag at the park on Thursday's on the way to The Salusbury School with the delivery there.

Good Luck with the operation, we all wish you the best.

Ian.  

Hi everyone,

I rather meet on the 4th as I will be in Spain the last weekend of the month for a weeding... 

And some news we might/should be interested....

Community Supported Agriculture Network Uk is ready to take off...

The CSA Network UK is running a crowd funding campaign right now to help with setting up the network and tools for CSAs.
The new Network will help us connect with other CSA projects, hold events to share our knowledge and experiences, promote what we do and work with government and policy makers to recognise the benefits of CSA.
Head over to www.buzzbnk.org/CSANetwork to donate and to find out more.

Hi everyone,

Sorry not to make it on sunday - one of my children was sick and I couldn't get out.

I thought i was allocated plot 9 and have told another 2 parents that they could share it with me as we were planning to get the children growing on there. So am a little confused by Julianne message. I hope we can maybe all manage to share??

I am come on the 4th may but am planning to start before then...

thanks,

kate

Hi Everyone,

I'm re-posting the current allocations below. You still have your bed, Kate! I think Julienne just made a mistake with the number. Your bed doesn't have a number, Ian. It's just the 'cafe bed'. Don't ask me why! I've asked if Nilufer and Irem can share as Fiona would like her own space and also I've been approached by someone else called Alan asking if he can have a plot. I don't feel I have any particular authority to decide who has what but on the other hand someone has to co-ordinate it. If you're all happy for it to be me then I'm willing to do it.

Re the next 'Garden Together' event, thanks for your offer to co-ordinate for end April, Ian, but 4th May seems to be preferred date. So - 4th May 10.30 - 1.00. Put the date in your diary and come if you possibly can. I'll ask Richard for more compost and wood chip. I may or may not be able to be there myself, depending on my post-op state. Probably I'll be there like last time and just stand and watch and give orders!!! Maggie

CURRENT MINI-PLOT ALLOCATIONS

1 and 2 - Nilufer and Irem

3 - Alex

4 - Maggie

7 - Julienne and Fiona

8 - Caroline

9 - Kate

10 and 11 (small, hence two) - Jenna

14 - Fausto and Claire

Long bed next to cafe - Ian 

Meanwhile, if you click 'home', go to photos and click 'view all' you can see some Big Dig pics.  Thanks to John for posting them.

Maggie,

With all this activity and interest should we ask Richard if we can expand the site a little to accommodate more growers?

Ian.

Great idea, Ian. If Kate wants to garden with some other parents and children it would be ideal for them to have a raised bed - in the style of the others - so that the children can gather and walk all the way around it. A couple of such beds would accommodate all the people currently wanting space/more space. Or maybe Richard has alternative suggestions... Can we leave you to check it out with him?  Maggie

I donated a third compost bin - the new black one - yesterday as the others were full and I got it for a cheap price. Gray, as compost maestro, can you decide how to use them and post about the worms etc. at some point?

Hi Caroline,

A watering rota is a good idea. Would you be willing to take responsibility for asking via the website who can do which dates and co-ordinating the responses?  Obviously, if it rains the person on the rota can let their turn pass.  Maggie

Everyone in the group gets your comment by email, Caroline, unless they have specifically opted not to. So you already have contact with the group...

Maggie

I can volunteer for the watering rota...you can put my name...Nilufer

Yes, put me down for the watering rota too - Tuesdays and Thursdays are not good for me, as I am working, but Weds and Fridays are OK.

Hi Caroline. Great that you're getting the watering rota together. I should have said this sooner (much sooner!) but watering with the hose is really a two-person affair. Would it be possible to pair people up? It might have to be one really thorough soaking a week instead of two but that's probably OK. 

I'll explain a bit more...

You carry the hose on its reel to the back of the cafe, where there's a tap. 'Sam' in the cafe is the person who has the top of the tap, without which you can't turn it on. Once its attached, the other end has to be led on a labyrinthine course over hedges and fences and through herb beds to our growing beds. This is where it's really helpful to have two people.

Sometimes the park have included us in their watering programme when it's been really dry. I'll drop Richard an email and see if they're willing to be on back-up.

I can't go to this (see below) and, in any case, I see myself as the 'communications co-ordinator, not the garden leader. In that spirit, would anyone else like to/be able to go along. If you click on the Doodle link you can see the potential meeting times.  Maggie

Dear gardeners,

Is anyone a friend of the guy 'Gray' who came along to the Big Dig and did wonderful things with compost? He doesn't seem to be a member of the group. If you know him, could you either persuade him to sign up or put him in touch with me directly? 

Dates for your diary:

Next 'Garden Together' day - Sunday May 3rd 10.30 to 12.30 approx 

Queens Park open gardens and studios day - Sunday 15th June 1 - 6 pm. We have been invited to take part and it seems like a nice community-spirited thing to do. Would be good if as many of possible of us could be there. Apparently it's nice too to have things to sell - tomato or courgette plants would be good or anything else garden or craft related if you'd like to put a price on it and bring it along. I'm sure the cafe will let us have a table...  Maggie

This one especially for Shiva ... Can you get back to me to let me know whether you and Irem are happy to share a plot, as we have someone waiting to know.  Cheers, Maggie

Hi everybody,

Yesterday I met a member of Field to Fork, Paulette, who mentioned that a few more beds will be available at Queen Park, near the playground area.

She mentioned that they are looking for gardeners to give this land a life and even some of the produce could occasionally be added to the box scheme.

I will raise the topic again in our next group meeting, but think about taking over another plot....I dont know much more...

Enjoy your day..

Thanks for that info, Fausto. I've emailed Richard to see if he can put us in the picture. I know Ian was going to raise the question of more space with him, so maybe this development has come out of that conversation. Can you supply any details, Ian? Maggie

I had a meeting with Richard Gentry the park manager on Wednesday and discussed the possibility of a stand pipe near the allotment, Richard will see if this is possible. TTKK would have to contribute to the cost (George/Maggie are there any funds? ) and we would need to buy our own seep hose system. I will keep you all posted.

I'm happy to help watering on Wednesdays too. I am away for work sometimes but I could be a stand in or back up or something....

Anna

Hi Caroline, Would it be possible to meet at 6.45pm as I have something till 6.30 on Wednesday? Thanks, Anna