Monthly Archives: October 2013

October 4, 2013

Hi everyone,

Glorious autumn is definitely here – in the garden we’re all feeling pretty chuffed with work done in our golden summer and readying our wellies and waterproofs for another winter in the garden.  Until then we’re still harvesting the glory of the season -melons! tomatoes! chillies! cucumbers! beans! and loads more!  (Word to the wise – now is a REALLY good time to come and get involved…)
harvest bounty
We’re in the garden this Saturday 10-2 where we’ll be busy pottering around sorting out paths and plants … AND grinning and giving ourselves airs and graces as we look at ourselves in THE WEEKEND GUARDIAN! Look out for us making chutney in the Get Together’s section in the Cook magazine – Whoop!  Fame and Glory!!  Here’s pic of Julia yumming up some of that delicious celebrity chutney.  Still some jars left for sale…julia yumming up celebrity chutney
Next, after all the fun we had in the summer I’m really happy to announce we’ll be running another kids’ activity day Tuesday in half term 29th Oct. Seasonal outdoor, wild fun, games, bushcraft and pizzas for 6-12 years 10am-4pm £25.  Places limited to just 16 so get in touch to book a place!  And please spread the word –  if we are going to keep running these days after the current funding finishes in March we need to get them booked up!!
Oct 29th Activity day
 In preparation for our community eco build next spring we are having a green roof day!  Our very own fabulous Diane Holness will be leading a green roof building workshop.  Participants will get a chance to learn about the how and whys of green roofs, what to plant in and what to plant.  Everyone will get a chance to plant up a small framed section which we’ll be using to green the roof of our fab froggy pizza oven.  There’ll be no need to go up a ladder.  It’s a bargain at £10 and includes a hot lunch from the garden! Sunday 20th October 10-4.  Places limited to just 12 so get in touch.
It’s been nearly a year since we won The Project of the Year Award and the Diversity Award and since then the garden has only become more brilliant.  soplease please spend 5 minutes emailing  mail@thespark.co.uk and nominate us for ‘Best Green Project/Initiative’ :- accessibility! chutney! the Tower of Power! community events! supportive volunteering! kids’ activities!  Mr Fruggles the pizza oven! – what’s not to like!?!   As we go forward into a future past our current funding it’s important we can spread the word as far as possible and so we need to blow our own trumpet.  We need as many people as possible to hear about the garden, book on our workshops, get involved, come to our events and support us financially. So nominate us – it’ll look sad if it just comes from me and you just have to write a couple of heartfelt lines!
So the future is still uncertain but exciting.  I’ll be spending the winter prepping for the next phase: working out ways to stay open to as many people as much as possible, planning a workshop timetable, working with the community eco-build sub group, sorting out the “Friends of..” scheme, working on our crowdfunding bid, plotting a potential green toddlers group and looking for people who care about the garden and want to step up, join our committee and help keep the garden continuing (and maybe even expanding!) it’s important work. If you think you’d like to help with any of the above even if you can’t make it down to the garden let me know!
See you in the garden
Lucy