the site is in an area that the locals trash regularly, so a greenhouse or even cloches and mini greenhouses are a no go. and yes top bird it was a non gardener who thought of it!
i'll try those ideas, I've already planted broad beans, garlic and overwintering onions in modules, so they're going out this week. it been a bit of a nightmare this project, the sooner its over the better!
Edd - it finishes the end of March (right when the growing season is getting into full swing! )
GWRS - we leafleted the whole estate (300 houses) telling the locals about the project. not a single person contacted us. its just the type of estate it is. to give you an idea of area, if I walk three minutes from my site I get to the street in the new benefits street TV show.
Come the beginning of April - What will happen to the stuff you've planted? Are you going to be allowed to keep tending and eventually harvesting any produce or will you just have to abandon the site after March? If it's the latter then it's all a waste of time, money and effort. I would have thought it would also be disheartening and discouraging for any children who showed even the slightest flicker of interest in the project as they will reap absolutely no reward for their efforts.
For those of us who live in nicer parts of the country, we do sometimes forget how tough it is for good hearted people (like yourself ) who live or work in more difficult areas. But I do think the project should be allowed to continue until harvest as (presumably) the only cost after sowing is some water & your and the childrens' time. If only one of them is inspired to go on and cook healthier meals or grow something at home it will have been worth the effort.
If everything has to be abandoned in April I really don't understand the purpose of the project and think the money could have been better spent elsewhere.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
I agree with Topbird if it has to be abandoned in April seems a total waste
However if the children are interested in growing , lots of allotment sites have a plot that a school uses or could use , has it been considered whether one may be available locally ?
Treehugger - having read back on my previous posting I do hope you don't think I'm accusing you of wasting money etc etc.
I do understand that this project was thought up by somebody with no background in gardening and that you are doing your level best in impossible circumstances.
It just makes me so mad when money becomes available to do some good (in an area where it is clearly needed) and it ends up being squandered because somebody had a 'good idea' but didn't think it through or take advice on the best way to implement it.
I don't know how much cash we are talking about here but, if it absolutely, definitely, had to be spent before April - they would have been better off buying some books or other piece of equipment for the school instead of making you and the kids stand around in freezing weather planting seeds that will not yield anything before the project ends.
That would put me off gardening for a long time and would probably do more harm than good if the idea is to get the children interested in growing things.
It must be very disheartening for you (as a gardener and somebody who clearly wants to give to the local community) and I feel very cross on your behalf (as you can probably tell). I am even angrier at the thought that a child growing up in a difficult environment,who might have a spark of interest in horticulture - may have that spark extinguished because somebody came up with a hare brained scheme.
I hope against hope that I am reading your posts wrongly and that you will be allowed to continue to tend this little veggie plot and allow these children to share the joy of growing something for themselves.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
hopefully it will be turned over to a local community group which has a small section of the plot, however nothing seems to have been done on their section since I started looking at it in November (No overwintering/spring harvesting veg etc.)
it is a little disheartening having to plant at the hardest time of the year, especially as we have to leave the site just as the stuff we are planting will be starting to get to harvesting stage, hopefully whoever gave us the pot of money will be happy and next time we can run during summer, or for a longer period of time.
thanks for the planting advice, even tho I have 20 years gardening experience, even I was struggling for ideas
Am I missing something here - the community group doesn't use the plot over winter so you have the use of it up to the point where they want to start sowing their crop....???
Am I just being cynical?
Could you put pots in the ground so you can just lift them and take them elsewhere when you get kicked off the site?
Posts
the site is in an area that the locals trash regularly, so a greenhouse or even cloches and mini greenhouses are a no go. and yes top bird it was a non gardener who thought of it!
i'll try those ideas, I've already planted broad beans, garlic and overwintering onions in modules, so they're going out this week. it been a bit of a nightmare this project, the sooner its over the better!
has it thought about involving some of the " local trashers " by broading out the project ?
Edd - it finishes the end of March (right when the growing season is getting into full swing!
)
GWRS - we leafleted the whole estate (300 houses) telling the locals about the project. not a single person contacted us. its just the type of estate it is. to give you an idea of area, if I walk three minutes from my site I get to the street in the new benefits street TV show.
Come the beginning of April - What will happen to the stuff you've planted? Are you going to be allowed to keep tending and eventually harvesting any produce or will you just have to abandon the site after March?
If it's the latter then it's all a waste of time, money and effort. I would have thought it would also be disheartening and discouraging for any children who showed even the slightest flicker of interest in the project as they will reap absolutely no reward for their efforts.
For those of us who live in nicer parts of the country, we do sometimes forget how tough it is for good hearted people (like yourself
) who live or work in more difficult areas. But I do think the project should be allowed to continue until harvest as (presumably) the only cost after sowing is some water & your and the childrens' time.
If only one of them is inspired to go on and cook healthier meals or grow something at home it will have been worth the effort.
If everything has to be abandoned in April I really don't understand the purpose of the project and think the money could have been better spent elsewhere.
I agree with Topbird if it has to be abandoned in April seems a total waste
However if the children are interested in growing , lots of allotment sites have a plot that a school uses or could use , has it been considered whether one may be available locally ?
best of luck
Hello just had thought shame Benefits can't be linked to community projects ! Or can they
Treehugger - having read back on my previous posting I do hope you don't think I'm accusing you of wasting money etc etc.
I do understand that this project was thought up by somebody with no background in gardening and that you are doing your level best in impossible circumstances.
It just makes me so mad when money becomes available to do some good (in an area where it is clearly needed) and it ends up being squandered because somebody had a 'good idea' but didn't think it through or take advice on the best way to implement it.
I don't know how much cash we are talking about here but, if it absolutely, definitely, had to be spent before April - they would have been better off buying some books or other piece of equipment for the school instead of making you and the kids stand around in freezing weather planting seeds that will not yield anything before the project ends.
That would put me off gardening for a long time and would probably do more harm than good if the idea is to get the children interested in growing things.
It must be very disheartening for you (as a gardener and somebody who clearly wants to give to the local community) and I feel very cross on your behalf (as you can probably tell). I am even angrier at the thought that a child growing up in a difficult environment,who might have a spark of interest in horticulture - may have that spark extinguished because somebody came up with a hare brained scheme.
I hope against hope that I am reading your posts wrongly and that you will be allowed to continue to tend this little veggie plot and allow these children to share the joy of growing something for themselves.
hopefully it will be turned over to a local community group which has a small section of the plot, however nothing seems to have been done on their section since I started looking at it in November (No overwintering/spring harvesting veg etc.)
it is a little disheartening having to plant at the hardest time of the year, especially as we have to leave the site just as the stuff we are planting will be starting to get to harvesting stage, hopefully whoever gave us the pot of money will be happy and next time we can run during summer, or for a longer period of time.
thanks for the planting advice, even tho I have 20 years gardening experience, even I was struggling for ideas
Am I missing something here - the community group doesn't use the plot over winter so you have the use of it up to the point where they want to start sowing their crop....???
Am I just being cynical?
Could you put pots in the ground so you can just lift them and take them elsewhere when you get kicked off the site?