Painting Sheds and Coldframes

Last week at WESC we had Exeter college student’s volunteering for a day. After a unanimous vote we decided to paint the sheds.

We started off by splitting into teams and prepping the sheds.

Everybody really got stuck in.

With everybody helping it took no time at all.
We ended up finishing both sheds!

A big thank you to exeter college students they did a great job.This was a great job to do as not only will it improve the aesthetics but extend the life.Thank you also to build base for donating the paint and brushes.

Matthew did a great job clearing the avalanche of leaves after the heavy winds. And we have finished building the cold frame just in time to take some semi ripe and hardwood cuttings

Strawberry Plants and Sunflower Seeds

Last week with Penny and Shelley’s groups we divided and potted on the strawberry plants in preparation for next year. The strawberry hanging baskets proved very popular this year as they enticed people into the poly tunnels in their lunch breaks to do a bit of watering while picking the odd strawberry.

First we removed the old strawberry plants from the baskets 

Separated the runners and soaked the roots.

Holding the Strawberry plant we carefully backfilled around the roots with a combination of perlite and multi purpose compost into 9cm pots.

We then watered and placed them in the green house in preparation for the new year.

Finally,we have been collecting seeds for next year the sunflowers have been the most popular as you get so many from each flower head. We will have to use some for bird food in the woodland garden.

Sweet Sweet Pea's

This week with Nicola's group we have been sowing Sweet pea's in pots.

We have collected the seeds from Sweet Pea's we grew. 

To encourage germination I soaked them overnight. Which causes them to swell making them a bit easier to handle.

First we removed any lumps from the multi purpose compost. 

Mixed in the perlite. 

Over filled the pots and struck them off. 

Gave them a tap and gently pressed the seed into the compost. 

We sowed five per pot and then gently covered the loose compost over the seed. 

Finally, we labelled them and left them in a water bath. Fingers crossed we should have some super strong scented Sweet Pea's.

Winter Pansy's

This week, with penny’s group we potted on the winter pansy plugs.

Taking time to mix the compost and perlite.

Then using the scoop method filling the pot.

Popped them in a water bath. They will go into a sunny space in the greenhouse.

Helen did a great job potting on the rest of the plugs into trays.

Once we have grown them on we will be planting them out in one of our raised beds for some winter colour. 

What we have left we will sell at the school winter fayre.

Apple Juice Pressing

We took the apples collected last week from the school to woodbury community orchard apple pressing day.

First we had to wash, cut up the apples. 

Next you shred them, and then squash them. 

Hey presto apple juice.

The pulp makes great compost.

We tried the apple juice at school...

it was a little strong for some but generally a success

Leaves and Wildflowers

Sunshine!

This week with Matthew's help, we have been tackling the large amount of leaves falling especially as we are in the process of preparing the wildflower meadow for more sowing.

We are composting all leaves collected.We have two piles one shredded for leaf mulch and another unshredded for the hedgehogs, other wildlife and mini beasts.

We have started preparing the wildflower meadow, scarifying and raking it. For more seed sowing later this month.

Also, we took the opportunity to do a much needed job and strip back the Torbay Palm (Cordyline Australis) taking out a damaged trunk.

We are continuing to harvest the last of the vegetables. 

And starting the much needed job of clearing the beds in preparation for planting and sowing.

Finally, we are collecting seed, sunflowers are great for this purpose.