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.

Potatoes in bags

This week Nathan did a great job getting hands on. And I can announce the winner of the WESC sunflower growing competition.... wait for it...

This year nathan planted main crop potatoes in a bag. To start with we chitted seed potatoes in cool light place to encourage the tuber to sprout.

Then we planted a third deep in the bag. The reason for planting in a bag is to make it easier for us to lift at waist height. Also you reduce the potential damage to the potato when lifting as you can use your hands.

This year was a bit of an experiment that we can safely say was a success so I think next year Nathan will be doing a couple more bags.

Also, we lifted the last of our onions which Nathan also planted.

Finally a big congratulations to Tim who won the Sunflower growing competition.

His prize is to deliver a masterclass on giant sunflower growing and share with the students his secrets to propagation and how best to sow seed to ensure success!!

Sunny Mornings

It has been a surprisingly sunny week at WESC making it possible to crack on with lots of jobs. 

Nicola's group got hands on harvesting the last of the vegetables. 

Starting off at the raised beds.

Louie did a great job doing some much needed weeding and checked the progress of our sweetcorn

and squashes.

Then we moved inside picking Chillies, Tomatoes

Squashes or gourds, courgettes and what is more accurately described as a marrow.

Then we moved on to smelling and tasting some of what we had picked.

What was left we delivered to the kitchen.

Great Job everyone!

Harvesting

This week has been really busy harvesting the last of the vegetables grown.

Penny's group did a great job picking the chillies 

Runner beans, 

Onions, 

And some of the herbs.

The new path has proved a real hit with everybody. making it possible for people to come and go as they please!

Introducing...

This has been a really interesting couple of weeks at WESC meeting new staff, volunteers and students. I have been really enthused by the skills and new ideas people are sharing. 

I would like to introduce our new volunteers...

Matthew, who is considering working within horticulture. 

Helen, a keen gardener.

And Ed, an experienced gardener at Knightshayes.

They are all dedicating half a day, once Week to help develop our WESC gardening project. I am really looking forward to getting their ideas and input on  future plans.

To start with Matthew got stuck in weeding the polytunnel.

Next we collected the last of the apples from the school site. 

The plan is to take them to a community juicing event this weekend for our students to enjoy.

Helen did a great job clearing through the pots labelling, organising and storing bulbs. We reuse the old compost as soil conditioner in the raised beds. All the pots are stored by size for washing (sterilising) at a later date.

Potted on some Buddleia Davidii seedlings, to be planted out in our woodland garden in the spring.

Ed, focused on clearing back the brambles around the apple trees. 

The plan is to give them a formative prune this year (to improve cropping and start to create the correct goblet shape). When the leaves have dropped we will lift a couple of the young ones and replant in a more accessible and sunny spot.

The Bees are settling in fine. Geoff has been to visit, they have re-orientated and are coming and going as expected.