Slades Farm Sunday

Everything is growing really fast now. Come along to Slades Farm Community Garden and have a look to see how things have changed over the last month or so ! All the potatoes are up, and now need earthing up. The seeds in the enclosed veg patch are germinating and need thinning and the paths need clipping. There is still some space left for some more sowings as well.

Spare plants are welcome, and a variety of seed is available for people to take away to try growing plants on.

If you are free on the morning of Sunday 26th May anytime from 10:00 – 12:00, come and join in at the Slades Farm Community Garden. Feel free to bring your own tools if you’d prefer, but tools and gloves will be provided. Please wear appropriate clothing.

Wildlife Recording Day at Saldes Farm

Hi,

Tomorrow (17/04/2013) from 10:00 – 12:00, the Bournemouth Naturally project led by Heather Dixon, in conjunction with the Bournemouth Natural Science Society (BNSS), will be conducting another wildlife survey at the Slades Farm Community Garden.

Everyone is welcome to come along and join in.

Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear.

 

Slades Farm on Friday

Our next working session at the Slades Farm Community Garden is this coming Friday, 5th April, from 10:00 – 12:00. The weather forecast is looking dry, and not quite as cold as it has been recently!

Having had to be rescheduled because of the wet weather in mid-March, the Big Dig successfully took place on 24th March, and many potato beds were dug and planted up with a variety of different types of potato which should provide crops throughout the summer. You may have seen the article in the Echo about the event at http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/10320068.Big_Dig_takes_off_at_Bournemouth_s_community_gardens/.

Dates for other working sessions in April, all from 10:00 – 12:00 :-

Saturday 13th April

Wednesday 17th April (Wildlife recording day with Bournemouth Naturally and the BNSS)

Sunday 28th April

Hopefully we’ll see you there !

 

 

BIG DIG – Sunday 24th March 10:00 – 12:00

So far so good – let’s keep our fingers crossed that the forecast and the weather stay dry !

We’ll be doing our Big Dig potato planting event, (see previous posts below) so please bring along your friends. Everyone is welcome !

Rain Stops Play – Big Dig Delayed

It’s too wet, so we’re cancelling today’s event but will hold it (weather dependent!) on Sunday 24th March 10:00 – 12:00.

The Big Dig

The Slades Farm Community Garden is taking part in the Big Dig on Saturday, weather permitting. The forecast is currently for light occasional showers on Saturday morning, which is fine for gardening. However, should it turn into a continuous downpour then we’ll postpone until our next work session on Sunday 24th March from 10:00 – 12:00.

THE BIG DIG

On Saturday 16^th March community food growing gardens across Bournemouth and Poole are opening their gates to fledgling green-fingered enthusiasts and experienced gardeners alike.  They need your help to prepare the gardens for spring planting and while you’re there hope they will convert you into becoming long term volunteers.

Local Coordinator, Sarah Watson believes the Big Dig Day offers a great introduction to gardening for novices “If you have never grown before but always fancied giving it a go, if you don’t have anywhere of your own to grow or you just want a great day out meeting new people from your neighbourhood then the Big Dig is for you!  It’s a brilliant way of getting involved with a community food growing project where you live. All our community growing spaces need as much help as possible so don’t be shy, everyone, whatever your age, experience or ability is needed and will be made very welcome.  With five different gardens to choose from and more signing up every day there is bound to be one close to you where you can get involved and help out. So go along, get digging and help make Bournemouth and Poole’s first Big Dig a thriving community food growing day”

Some of the projects are new and others well established but all are looking for your help to make their gardens thrive.  From an established Organic patch and a new shared allotment for single parents, both at Stanley Green, to Townsend Youth Centre and an inclusive garden at Throop to a great growing space at Wallisdown.  Have a look at the website http://www.bigdig.org.uk/bournemouthandpoole to find a garden near you and all the information you need on how to get involved.  Young or old, experienced green fingers or never grown before, everyone is welcome!

This initiative is part of the national Big Dig campaign and will be the largest ever Big Dig community garden growing day, engaging thousands of people in volunteer-run food-growing projects in towns and cities throughout the country. Interest in where our food comes from and how it is produced has long been on the news agenda, and more so in recent weeks. Clare Horrell from the Big Dig said: “The horsemeat scandal has highlighted many problems in our food chain. One of the best ways to know where you food comes from is to grow it yourself. With huge allotment waiting lists, for those who don’t have a garden, getting involved in your local community growing space is a great way to get ‘own-grown’ produce.”

Thanks to the support of Bournemouth and Poole Councils the Big Dig is on-going so if you would like to volunteer later in the year, want to find out about community food growing in your area or would like to start your own community garden we will do our best to help.  Please contact Sarah on 07789 656566 or sarah@ruralworks.co.uk

Working Wednesday

Hi,

If you are free this coming Wednesday, 13th March from 10:00 – 12:00, why not come down to Slades Farm Community Garden to dig some veg beds in preparation for the Big Dig on Saturday 16th March ?

We had a lovely working session on Saturday 9th, as part of Climate Week. The weather turned out to be quite reasonable , despite the forecast, so a few hardy souls enjoyed a morning planting garlic and sowing broad beans in the hurdled vegetable bed, and planting garlic chives between the established fruit trees. A selection of seed was also brought along to swop, and some of it used for companion planting (pot marigolds). The perimeter bank is growing as we thicken up the hedge.

If you are free on either Wednesday 13th, or free for the Big Dig on the 16th, from 10:00 – 12:00, please wear suitable outdoor clothing and appropriate footwear. All are welcome.