Bearing Fruit

This time of year we are really benefiting from the fruits of our labour, everything in the raised beds and polytunnels are growing great guns!

The kitchen have been making good use of the vegetables, fruit and herbs. 

 Chillies are looking good and surprisingly hot!

Tomatoes are cropping really well if a little slow to ripen. The Basil is really tasty.

The Cucumbers, Squash and Courgettes are going strong.

The Salads and Onions are good, definitely benefiting from better spacing.

In the greenhouse the Aubergines and Watermelons are flowering a little later.

The Sweetcorn, Potatoes, Brassicas, Squashes and Runner Beans are producing loads for shelley's group to cook with.

The raised bed we repurposed is really taking off especially the Nasturtiums and Cosmos.

And the sunflowers loving the weather!!

Summer Holiday part two

Devon County Council managers lent a hand on site with a couple of projects in the Horticulture area.

The main project was to help transform our wildlife pond into a bog garden. 

This involved piercing the liner and slowly draining it. This was done over a week to allow the wildlife to relocate. First we added gravel for drainage.Then alternate layers of organic mulch, compost and topsoil.

Next we planted it out. The main focal point was the Gunnera Manicata and Acanthus Mollis. Then we interplanted with Iris sibirica and Ligularia.

 Also we planted out a border on the edge of the old pond area and planted with Epimedium, Acorus and Hostas which are typically more suited to dry shade. All using plants either grown by students (from seed, division or cuttings) or donated by friends of the project!

And bark chipped the whole area.

Finally, in the woodland area we put in a traditional rope fence for the bee hives.

It was a great day and everybody really got involved thank you DCC!

Summer Holidays

We have had a great couple of weeks with Devon County Council  and Exeter University both volunteering.

Exeter University spent the day at our new site at West Hill lending a hand with various projects starting with the woodland walk where they got stuck in clearing the space.

And then mulching the borders in preparation for planting.

Then we moved on tho the wildflower meadow where we have both top fruit and soft fruit growing. First we removed the old fencing around the top fruit.

Weeded the area and put in tree guards to protect from rabbits.

Then we moved the fruit cage from the soft fruit area as we will be re locating the growing area so we can expand the orchard in the meadow.

Thank you again to Exeter University there energy and enthusiasm is always really appreciated!