Category Archives: Uncategorized

Happy soggy new year!

January 15, 2024

Hi folk

Happy soggy new year! The current garden status as I write this is… it’s a bog!  The river of rain may have stopped flowing down (and washing away) the hardstanding paths and the waters are receding for now but much of the garden is still very waterlogged.  It’s times like these that we remember how this project came to be –  if it didn’t get so wet then this soggy patch of land would never have been left ungardened for long and would never have been given over to us to become our beautiful productive community garden! Here’s a pic of the pond with not just the path but the path edging as well deep underwater! Sharp eyed readers will spot Harry the cat who is a regular and cheerful attendee at garden (though the way he was cheerfully dipping his paws in the pond makes me fear for the frogs who’ll be along next month…)

I’ve got more news of our glorious new shed.  A massive thanks to David and Patrick and Mike and everyone else involved in getting it built and ready to use.  The amazing set of sturdy shelves were finished in December and were all built our of foraged wood from skips and what not.  We had our grand opening at our Christmas party and now joy of joys all the kids’ stuff has been carefully sorted and organised into labeled boxes and the shed is now a treasure trove. It’s always the way when you do a big tidy we found so much long lost stuff, scissors and tools and toys and useful bits and bobs that it’s like going shopping. And now we can clear all the cooking stuff out of the tunnels and welcome in a new ear of tidiness.  Great stuff
We started back our Wednesday volunteer days this week and new volunteers are very welcome along!  It’s great to get out and get some outdoor time when the days are so short and also to pick some delicious winter greens fro a vitamin boost after the season of biscuits and booze.  We’re here every week 10-3 in January and then back to 10-4 from Feb and new folks are welcome along at 12 or 2:30 for a tour or just come when you can.  Our afterschool club also started back yesterday and they had a great time in the dark playing in the pouring rain and getting absolutely soaked paddling in the floods.  They are a hardy bunch and luckily we have the cosy balehouse, hot squash and hot water bottles for when the cold really kicks in!

We also started back our lovely toddler group today and were lucky to have a morning in the sun for digging, paddling, exploring, singing and  making flappy sticks to celebrate the catkins that are just starting to  drop and release their seeds.  We’ve still got a couple of spaces in our Tuesday group starting next week and there’s more info and the booking link HERE

People are often surprised when I tell them we stay open all winter and we’re still busy and still harvesting and sure we can’t quite match the tasty summer treats of just picked tomato and basil or juicy strawberries but let me leave you with some pictures of some of our fab winter veg – our best sprouts yet AND our biggest celeriac getting prepped for the soup pot!

And stay tuned to hear about some exciting plans we have brewing for 2024!

See you in the garden!

Lucy

Lucy Mitchell
Community Project Worker
07506 905 394
ghcgarden@gmail.com

Christmas Wreath making!

October 12, 2023

Hi folks – Would you like to make a unique and beautiful winter wreath in an fun and informal session? and do you want it to be environmentally friendly and a bargain?? AND would like to support your local community garden at the same time?!?
Well you’re in luck! because we’re back with our lovely and friendly wreath making workshops!
Between 10am-4pm Saturday 2nd December and 10am-2pm Sunday 3rd December
Come along by yourself or bring friends and family and get creative and have a jolly time 🙂
Each wreath costs £25/£15 and it takes about an hour. You’ll learn how to weave a willow hoop and then be provided with everything you need to decorate it with gorgeous natural foliage.
Every wreath is different and they always turn out beautiful.
Children are welcome and booking is essential
Book your spots HERE!
This workshop is mostly outdoors and in very well ventilated polytunnels so WRAP UP WARM!
The garden is on the allotments at the end of Monk Rd BS7 8NE and our site and our toilet are wheelchair accessible.

Harvest fair and garden news

September 8, 2023

*** We’ve currently have two last minutes spaces in our Tuesday Toddler Group!  –  email Lucy at ghcgarden@gmail.com to book***

Hi everyone

And suddenly it’s September!  Pumpkins are turning orange, the kids’ are back to school and even with today’s sunshine autumn is knocking on the door… so it must be nearly time for our little Harvest Fair!  Come and enjoy delicious food, drumming, folk music, and loads of free kids’ activities including a quieter indoor space!

We are currently short of a choir to sing so if you are in one that you could ask please do! And if you’ve come to our our lovely events before and wondered “How is this so lovely?!?” Well it’s because of our amazing team of fabulous volunteers… and you – yes YOU!- could be one of them!  You’ll get a free cup of tea and piece of delicious cake and a lovely warm feeling from helping make this lovely day even more lovely!  This year we are currently very short of people so if you can spare some time on the day please be a hero and get in touch!  or bake us a cake or share our poster on your facebook page or just come along and enjoy the loveliness and bring along everyone you know!
But before the Harvest Festival and the first kids back for the afterschool club I’ll just take a mo to smile fondly and reminisce about Golden Adventure days and our families days for children with SEND which were just lovely.  The highlights for me had to be munching freshly made plum jam and on freshly made pancakes and hearing from parents how special the days are for them and their kids.  We also ran a day for the Family Centre for Deaf Children and so had loads of new families discovering the garden, making and munching pizza, harvesting plums, making and doing, running, playing and relaxing. Great stuff.
Also we were on the telly! On BBC Gardeners’ World!  Just for a little bit as part of the story of donated veg making it’s way on to kids plates across the city. We were on episode 19 and the link to watch it on iplayer is HERE and the Bristol bit is just a few minutes in.  They came and filmed right after the huge heat wave back in late June so the garden was looking pretty crispy but with clever camera work we look absolutely gorgeous. Keep your eyes peeled for our glorious which definitely deserves celebrity status!  Now after the rains of summer the garden is looking very green and lovely and each week we are ankle deep in harvest!  It’s a great time to get involved and we’re here every Weds 10-4.  New folks are welcome along for a tour and chat at 12 or 2:30 or just come when you can 🙂

See you in the garden!

Lucy

Lucy Mitchell
Community Project Worker
07506 905 394
www.thegoldenhillcommunitygarden.com

COME TO THE LOVELY SPRING FAIR!!!

April 27, 2023

Hi folks

Our Spring Fair it just around the corner!  Saturday 13th May 1-4. Please come and please bring all your pals

We’ve got a great day planned!

We’ll be selling loads of lovely veg and flower seedlings as well as some slug proof perennials to bring colour to your garden or pots year after year!

 

 

 

There’ll be beautiful singing from the wonderful Break Out Voices Choir and the Heartwood Chorus AND live music from the ever fabulous What the Folk!?!

They’ll be storytelling and seedplanting, facepainting, may crown making pond dipping and … Bat the Rat!!

They’re to cake and pizza fresh from the clay oven to eat.

It’s going to great!  Spread the word!  We’re on facebook at The Golden Hill Community Garden if you could share our post that’s be great…

BUT WE NEED HELP!!!  Can you bake us a cake or spare us an hour or so on the day??? Get in touch if you can help us make this our best event yet and help us raise some much needed funds for the garden!??

See you in the garden!

Lucy

07506 905 394

ghcgarden@gmail.com