cook and taste june 2011

Lauren, Mary and Gill welcomed Surestart workers and local families to the site for a cook and taste session. The weather stayed dry!The children and parents enjoyed looking round the site, watching the neighbouring chickens and trying the fabulous food prepared by volunteers, staff and parents.

Site activity

lettuce and onions

Roy planting pumpkins and french bean

Here are some photos showing work at DIG IN in June 2011 showing some of the hard work that volunteers have put in and the great plants growing.

workshops

Just a reminder that we have a FREE willow workshop this saturday 18th june 2011- please book va the DIG IN bookings email or the DIG IN telephone number (see workshops information) .

Change of date - Bee keeping is will now take place on 30th July 10-12 at the DIG IN site. Book through the ususal channels.

Hemlock Happenng 2011

DIG IN volunteers once again provided a fantastic information stall at the Hemlock Happening giving away approximately 100 plants to some of the hundreds of people who attended. Children and adults helped to create a wonderful well dressing made up of petals, seeds and pulses while talking to volunteers and Lauren about the project. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped on the day and for all the hard work put ino making this a perfect opportunity to spread the word about DIG IN and growing your own food.

Dig In Local Food Project

I am just over a month in post and really enjoying my new role.

• Outreach sessions growing salad pots and cooking with allotment produce are planned with Stapleford Surestart, and I hope parents will be coming down to the Dig In site over the summer.

• I have met with the First Steps Project to explore how more people from the project can be supported into volunteering with Dig In. The first new volunteer will be visiting the site in May.

• I have been linking with local schools. I am supporting Foxwood school to plan their garden area and plan to support some sessions on site. I will support a visit to the site by Albany Infants in May. My next plan is to make links with Albany Junior.

• Links have been made with the new Framework "Access to Nature" project, and a session on site is planned for May.

• A group from Castle College will be volunteering on the site in May.
  

I am very keen to get local children involved in creating a beautiful new sign for the site. Watch this space....

Lauren
Dig In Project Worker

new dates for workshops 2011

Hello everyone, some DIG In workshops/activities have been arranged. Funding secured from Broxtowe Action Fund has allowed us to go ahead and repeat some well loved and well attended workshops. DIG IN AGM 23rd May 7 pm at the Carnegie Centre, Warren ave, Stapleford .This is an open meeting and welcomes people who want to know more about DIG IN or join the group. Please contact me for more information. Willow weaving 18th June 10-12 or 1-3-Come and learn the skills of weaving with willow and make a garden decoration to take home . Tutor Helen Domleo- booking essential . Bee Keeping 16th July 10-12 TBC. Look inside the Hives and learn about bee keeping. Tutor Lee Atkin. Booking essential . Pond Dipping-17th August 10-12 Learn about biodiversity and how to maintain a wildlife pond with Long Eaton nature society.Booking essential. All workshops are free and will be outdoors so wear sensible footwear and clothes. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please book via 07943700302 and leave your name and contact details.

Spring 2011

An awful lot has happened since last entry. Several of us visited the Summerwood allotment mainly to look at their compost toilets (very impressive) but also to just look at another site.
It was huge, had countless sheds & greenhouses, not one but 2 eco loos, a clay pizza oven, a bee hive and a very natural looking pond. One of the fun things was a bicycle powered apple press which we persuaded Kathy to have a go on.
We came away more inspired and more determined than ever to get an eco loo on site. If I can remember how to do it I may post some pictures.
The other really major thing is that we have secured some local food funding and got a project worker, Lauren Kinnersley, for the Dig for Life project. We are hopimg this will help us do all sorts of events and developments, particularly to draw in more people to Dig-In and build in some sustainability. Mary V