Week 10 (week 5 of new group)

Final session today. After some fruit and drinks, we had a look at some of the excellent results that have come from the children's (and parents) efforts and hard work.

This is the square foot garden that group 1 planted in week 2. The rocket has really taken over.

And the one more recently planted by group 2. The runner beans have grown quickly.

There were a couple of jobs to complete, including planting the remaining artichokes and another row of peas

Digging out the pea trench

 

 

Another job was to remove the flowers from the kale plants. This delays them going to seed and will encourage leaf growth and extend the harvest.

 

Taking part in the end-of-project evaluation

 

Then it was time for fun and games....

 

...followed by the barbecue..

Preparing a side salad from freshly-harvested salad leaves

 

Barbecuing.....veggie burgers

That's it! The project is over! It has been a great success and enjoyed by all. Thanks to all who have been involved. Perhaps there'll be another.....watch this space!

 

Week 9 (week 4 of new group)

Today's gardening activities were planting Jerusalem artichokes, sowing peas, harvesting herbs for the cookery session and clearing ground for new sowings. It was a fine, sunny day and all activities took place outside. 

Sowing peas

The peas have been sown. Now they need watering.

Here we are digging out parsnips that have grown too big and are well past their best.

 

The cookery session....fruit kebabs, bruschetta, apple turn-overs..

Week 8 (Week 3 of new group)

           Fruit and drinks to start with

Much excitement today - visit of Border TV film crew. The weather wasn't on our side today unfortunately - heavy showers, sleet some of the time. But that didn't deter the hardy gardeners from outdoor tasks such as pulling up and clearing the old brassicas, sowing peas, digging up artichokes and picking herbs.

Tarragon, to flavour the pizzas (today's recipe)

In the polytunnel, there was also a clearance operation, as the purple sprouting broccoli and kale plants had grown very large: they had gone to seed and were in the way. Pulling up these big plants, some of which looked like small trees, was a tough job, especially for little people, but the ground is now clear for replanting. Well done gardeners. This activity was filmed, not sure what it will look like on TV, we are looking forward to finding out! We also potted up some strawberry plants that had self seeded in the bed, and the children took these home with them at the end. They are vigorous, healthy plants which should yield some fruit in a few weeks. Don't forget to water them! Meanwhile, another group sowed courgette and pumpkin seeds into small pots. 



There was an interesting range of activities today, despite the rain, and some good shots for the TV camera crew. 

 

After the garden session, the children and families were filmed as they made their way to the Methodist Hall for the cookery session. Looking forward to seeing this on the local Border news programme. At the cookery session, the children made pizzas: this involved making passata tomato sauce for the pizza, rolling out the dough, and decorating with jerusalem artichokes and herbs from the garden.

                                        TV crew at the cookery session >