New Routes: October 2008

by Jill Coleman
 

It’s late in the season, but the growing continues. The onion sets and garlic should go in this week as we spent most of Friday clearing away the rampant growth of nasturtiums that had smothered the vegetable bed. Honey bees were still indignantly diving at the late blooms as we carted them off to the compost bin. 

Anyway, it’s all clear now – well, half of it is, as the rest is still home to our remaining pumpkin plants. We’ll probably put about half of the onions in there and save the rest to fill the first bed that we dig on our new allotment. Yes, an allotment, on top of our already huge site. Gluttons for punishment do I hear you say? Probably!

The rest of the Friday group, who enjoy the more therapeutic side of the project, sowed several trays of broad beans. As soon as they are big enough we’ll get them out in the ground to overwinter for a nice early crop next year. Right now they’re enjoying the relative comfort of the polytunnel, alongside our softwood cuttings: we wielded the pruning knife at some shrubs and perennials last week to increase our stocks for the new season.

One of our longest serving gardeners left us this week. Darren, who started out as a volunteer on our old allotment and achieved his NVQ Level 1 in Horticulture, has got himself a job. We’re sad to see him go but obviously we wish him all the best. However, we have had a number of new workers joining us over the last few months and another pair of young men have expressed an interest and will shortly be visiting for some taster sessions. It’s been quite exciting to see the project growing like this and it’s lovely to watch the new learners as they settle in, find their feet and start to grow in confidence. All I can say is that it bodes well for next year: I think that we are going to achieve great things.

Finally, just a quick word of thanks to our friends at B&Q and Wyevale Garden Centre who have helped us out with our compost bays and next year’s seeds respectively. It’s very much appreciated.