Work Party Day - Great Success!

A big thankyou to everyone who came to DigIn to help out at the work party today.  A massive amount of effort went into tackling some of the jobs that never seem to get done.
We had a fine day, both in weather - not as hot as its been recently, thankfully - and in company.
Lots of jobs were crossed off the list but there are still some left for Wednesday, so don't worry, there's still plenty to do!
We were treated to clotted cream, homemade jam & scones, doughnuts and cakes, so our efforts didn't go unrewarded - thanks folks!

Here are a few "after" pics, everywhere looks so tidy - wonder how long that will last?!

Neat path!

Anti-slip applied to decking

A mound of earth (weeded) & Bug City re-discovered

Weeded - path now visible

Mown orchard

Tidy polytunnel side

Plants ready for potting on ...

Here's a critter spotted admiring the work ... "Oh, I say, you have worked hard, I think I'll check out the bug hotel & stay a while ..."

Strangalia maculata or Leptura maculata or Longhorn beetle

August At Dig In

Here's a little tour of Dig In Community Allotment after a busy volunteer session.

Needs no caption!

Cabbage Corner

Nasturtium take-over

Sensory Garden - recently re-vamped

Teasel and friend

Purple Haze

Raised beds & horseradish

Wish you could see all the tadpoles!

Busy busy busy!

Any allotment gardener will tell you that May is one of the busiest times of year - there's the things we should have sown earlier in the month but it was too cold, the things which we couldn't plant in April because it was too dry - plus all the things which just need doing NOW!
So it was fabulous to get 16 volunteers today, which with various visitors brought the total to 22 - we think this is a record.

 They weeded....

 They strimmed and raked...

They planted...

 They mowed and composted...

And they drank some well-deserved tea and had a good natter!

Lovely weather

Lots of volunteers making best use of the lovely weather on Wednesday!
We watered, weeded, sowed, planted, dug, tidied - and had a cuppa and some lovely banana cake - thanks Gill!

Gardening Under Cover

Today we had the first outdoors tea-break of the year, at least so far as I can remember! But though it was sunny and warm, it's still not warm enough for most plants to go outside. And although the cabbage family are a hardy tribe, they need protection against some of the wildlife inhabitants of the allotment which want to eat them before us. So a range of structures are appearing around Dig In...

One of our regular volunteers has been inventing the perfect cabbage 'cage'. Rather than pop down the garden centre, he's been to the plumber's merchants and scaffolding suppliers. We're not so worried about the butterflies and pigeons yet so it's OK that there's no mesh over whilst the frames get finished off.

Plastic cloches - useful while it's still cold. On the other side is an enviromesh tunnel - it'll keep out the cabbage butterflies too. In the middle - bit of an old gazebo!

 

 Our polytunnel is under cover too, of course, and we're very pleased with the overwintering salad crops. And of course it's great for when it's not sunny enough to sit outside to compare the merits of custard creams and jammy dodgers!

It's pruning time...

...so out with the secateurs, loppers and pruning saws!

Here's Linda carefully sawing off an old stem on a blackcurrant. That'll make younger shoots grow, which is where you get most blackcurrants. 

 And here's Stephen and Sarah deciding what to prune on one of our Bramley's Seedling apple trees. Pruning (in my opinion!) can be quite a thoughtful task, one which you can lose yourself in. Till someone calls "TEA UP!"

Wild area gets a makeover!

 It was one of those February days where you need some nice warm work, so we decided to get started on a project we've meant to do for a while - sorting out the 'wild area' near the water butt. For a start, we needed to clear some nettles so getting water will not mean that we - or other plot-holders - will get stung.

 Of course nettles are great for wildlife, but these just weren't in a good place. Then it was all about pulling up carpet, yanking out bramble roots and digging out our old friend couch grass.

We got lots more done than we thought we would! This plot is going to be used as a new soft fruit area, with currants and gooseberries - we did think that if the brambles grow back we can pretend they are meant to be there!

May off to a Good Start

It's been perfect growing weather so far this month (except a surprise late frost!) and Dig In volunteers have been having fun digging, sowing, planting and digging, sowing and planting some more. We've also been enjoying workshops on arts and crafts and on composting.

With the forecast getting better this week it's a perfect time to come and get involved if you've not been for a while, or if you've been thinking about joining in.

Karen 

How DIG IN looks!