A day of mulching, planting, weeding and watering

Today turned out to be a day of small jobs which would create a big difference to the site.  The group consisted of Tracey, Helen, Ellis, Dan and Wayne.

The first major task which we all felt had been outstanding for an number of weeks was to weed, feed and mulch the raspberry canes.  This involved Helen and Dan pulling up a giant mass of weeds which had grown up around them and laying them down around the canes.  The specific species of weed meant that they would not re root and would die, ultimately forming a compost which would provide nutrients to the canes.  In order to mulch the canes, preventing moisture loss and further weed growth,  Helen and Dan, with Tracey's assistance, cut up long strips of cardboard from a disused box to soak and lay over the rotting weeds.  They then put a further layer of bark over the cardboard and these together would provide the mulch.

The newly-mulched raspberry canes

The next task involved the whole group coming together to transplant the lettuce seedlings which we had grown in one of the raised beds.  We are trying to fill up the gaps in the raised beds which would otherwise become filled with weeds until the pumpkins grow and fill up the space. It also means that the beds have a growing mulch which will help retain moisture.

Wayne with a giant-sized clump of lettuces!



Dan and Helen planting up lettuces


We also had a lot of watering in the polytunnel contents, plus planting of some willow trees and the remaining sweet peas.  Tracey believes that the willow trees will create a fantastic 'firework-like' display in the Autumn!

Sweet peas around the willow obelisk

A thriving polytunnel

The fountain of all tomato plants!

Finally, there was the moment we had all been waiting for - we got to pick some of the fruits of our labour! As you can see from the picture, the unseasonably high levels of sunshine over the course of the Spring had meant that we have had an unusually early crop of blackcurrants! Tracey has taken them home to freeze but we hope that there will be more to come!

Ellis with the much anticipated blackcurrants

We have fruit!