New Veg Box Scheme launched!

Residents in the Colchester area are lucky to have access to locally grown vegetables thanks to Danny and Meg at Bennison Farm in Thorrington and their Community Supported Agriculture scheme.

To find out more contact the farm bennisonfarm@gmail.com 

This video explains how one such scheme in Devon works:

It's Elderflower time!

I love this time of year: Summer's approaching fast and we get to harvest some delicious fruits and first crops. Many plants are flowering now and so is the elder tree. 

Many myths have been spun around the elder tree in European folklore and Pagan religion. It is often associated with the mother goddess, or more specifically, the ancient vegetation goddess Hylde Moer. Elders were often planted next to the house in order to drive away evil spirits and all of its parts have been used for medicinal purposes. Read more here.

We collected about 12 umbels from the red-coloured elderbush (the first and only bush we've seen of this kind) and about 25 umbels from the white ones. Mixed with water, sugar, citric acid and some organic, unwaxed lemons we let them sit for about 3 to 4 days to infuse. Once strained it's a delicious and refreshing drink for the summer! 

 








 A guideline recipe: 

• 35 fresh elder flower heads – always pick the sweet smelling ones (which tend to be a bit buttery in colour and which do not drop petals when shaken)
• 2 lemons, also rough sliced
(additionally: 2 oranges, rough sliced)

• 2oz citric aci
• 3 pints boiling water
• 3lb granulated sugar, (if you are worried about your sugar intake, you can use the equivalent of granulated Splenda (it is very light so follow the instructions which substitute volume for weight….)

Add some ice and enjoy sipping in the shade after a hard day's work in the garden.

Experiment: Late Potatoes in Raised Beds

This is an experiment to grow some late potatoes in no-dig raised beds. The patch of land has been covered with cardboard over the winter and the weeds have died down nicely. 30 wheelbarrow trips to get enough compost for 6 raised beds later, voila:

  After getting the unchitted potatoes (waxy varieties) into the ground, right on top in the middle, I covered them with grass clippings as mulch to retain moisture.

Here you can see some more individual raised heaps for courgettes, marrows and pumpkins.
Now let's wait and see...

Permaculture - an introduction 28th April

Want to find out more about permaculture and see some aspects of it in action?
There will be a short introductory course at the Big Garden on Saturday 28th April led by Permaculture Diploma students Ben Lambert with Bob Mehew. Places are limited so please get in touch if you are interested: jo.wheatley@colchester.gov.uk

BIG Harvest on Campus

Amazing! The Campus Farm only started in March this year, but the once bare field of grass quickly turned into a vibrant garden and our first harvest is surely worthwhile showing off. It's all organic, all natural.

Plot B's potato abundance...

...and their impressive pumpkins!

Bounty

Summer harvests at the Big Garden have been bountiful and certainly tasty...

Gardening continues year round on Monday and Thursday mornings and alternate Saturdays, more info here

Potatoes!

Big Garden potato harvesting today.
A bucket full from 4 plants seemed good going. Health client volunteers gently unearthed and dug them up, marvelling at the pinky red treasures.
Volunteers also harvested and shared some glossy courgettes, spiky skinned poly-tunnel grown cucumbers and shiny rhubarb chard with its vibrant red stalks. And, of course, lots of pole beans. Beans, beans galore!
Yum