Welcome to Spring 2010
STARTING IN STYLE
We are starting this season with open days on 17-19th June, in association with Garden Organic, further details can be found here and further dates will be announced soon. There is a special discounted rate if you book three or more modules in June and July.
We have a full programme planned for this year, both in the garden and on this site, look out for new features like our video “How to…” clips, eco-renovation diary and “what to do now” blog.
FRIENDS AND VOLUNTEERS
We would like to thank all our friends and volunteers for their help and support.
Friends are companies, groups and associations that have helped financially or with goods, products and services.
Volunteers help with the hands on planning, planting, development and maintenance of the garden, some on a regular basis, others whenever they have an hour or two to spare.
We would not be able to continue without their help.
If you would like to become a friend or volunteer please contact us for further details.
Volunteering does not have to be a regular commitment and you will meet others interested in what the project has to offer and can learn new skills and techniques while helping with the work at the garden, and volunteers of all skill levels and experience are welcome.
THE YEAR SO FAR…
After a real winter at last, with temperatures not raising above zero for weeks on end and snow isolating communities we were starting to think we would never see and end to it. As low input gardeners we only use artificial heat and light as an emergency backup so delayed much of our sowing and planting. In talks given in March I was saying we were a good 3 weeks behind an “average year” (whatever one of those is!), then we seemed suddenly to go straight to summer with temperatures in the high 20’s and drought conditions.
Now this week we seem to have gone into autumnal mode with unsettled, cold, wet and misty conditions, a whole year’s seasons in 8 weeks!
This has played havoc with our sowing and planting schemes, but nature seems to have taken it in her stride with probably the best show of snowdrops, blue bells and daffodils that I can remember. Although some plants have been lost, the majority have come through all this with great resilience giving better fruit set, better flowering and better yields from over-wintered cauliflower and broccoli than usual.
The asparagus was ready to cut at the beginning of May, a good week earlier than last year, spurred on by the hot weather, then the cooler couple of weeks in the middle of May slowed it down to help extend the cutting season. Asparagus season is one of the highlights of my year, so anything that extends its season is welcomed, I enjoyed the first cut on the 2nd May, served lightly steamed on fresh, warm sour dough bread with a goose egg accompaniment. We have just taken the last few spears this week (first week in June) and now look forward to June’s treats, the first peas, small and sweet; crisp cauliflower; salad leaves in variety and, this months special treat, baby broad beans followed by the first of the strawberries. Let’s hope we get a little more summer before winter strikes again!
The cold start to the year has also slowed the bees somewhat, but they have now built up their colony strength, have filled their box with young brood and enough food, nectar, pollen and honey for themselves, and are now working on some honey for us!
The weather also affected the early hatch of chickens, which was poor and weak, so a second brood was incubated, which has hatched successfully, giving strong, healthy chicks.
Now the 2010 season is in full swing I hope to keep you up to date with what is happening at the OGP on a regular basis.
OTHER EVENTS
Wednesday 16th June, 7.30pm, Abingdon Carbon Cutters will be meeting at St. Ethelwold’s House, East St. Helens Street. This month there will be a chance to hear more about ARES - the Abingdon Renewable Energy Scheme. We will also be giving out plants of leek, onion, tomato, peppers etc for you to grow on and harvest to bring to our eco-fair on Saturday 9th October at Abingdon Guild Hall, where you can try your hand at making your own traditional bread and, while that is cooking, turning the vegetables you have brought back into soup to share a meal at the fair.
Saturday 12th June, 11-2pm, environment awareness day, Abingdon market place.
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