Our field is ploughed, the bumble bees are back and the first of our crops are being planted out. With spring well and truly sprung and the whole of the growing season ahead of us, the field team have been preparing the plan of action for all the sowing, planting, weeding and harvesting to come.
The tractor-drawn planter will be a common sight in May.
Community Farmer DayWe had a great turn out in April for the first of this year’s Community Farmer Days, welcoming brand new farm volunteers and a whole host of familiar faces.
Together, we cleared the poly tunnels of the last of the winter salad and piled in muck by the barrow-full, ready to plant the sweet summer crops of tomatoes, cucumbers and chillies. We sowed courgette and summer squash varieties in pots, ready for planting out in May.
Look out for upcoming Community Farmer Days.
Book on and muck in!
Spring into Action!
We recently held a Spring into Action workshop for all The Community Farm volunteers. John, our Head Grower, shared the farm’s growing plan, looking at the crops we plan to produce and how we’ll time the planting and harvesting. We received valuable input on how to make the experience even better for all those who volunteer at the farm and in turn our Volunteer Coordinator, Ian, explained some changes that we are making to our volunteer hosting.
We are now welcoming volunteers from Monday to Saturday. On these days we'll be gathering to discuss the day's plan at 9.45am.
Interested in volunteering at the farm?
You say tomato
In the last days of February, we sowed hundreds of tomato plants. After being raised carefully in our propagation tunnel, they are now in top condition and ready to plant. We grow cherry types in various different colours to make up our punnets. This is a crop that will need regular tending: pinching out side-shoots and picking the fruits each day as they ripen on the vine. Under the guidance of our knowledgeable field staff, Community Farm volunteers will be learning tomato tending techniques.Healthy competition
The awards nominations are coming in thick and fast. We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for the Soil Association BOOM Awards! We will be meeting our fellow box scheme finalists Goldhill Organics, Able and Cole and Foodlife Organics at the Soil Association's BOOM Awards ceremony on 11 May.We are also a finalist in the Western Daily Press Food and Farming Awards. The ceremony will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Bristol on 10 May where we will be joined by White Row Farm, Fresh Range and Kimbers’ Farm Shop to discover who will win the title of Best Local Retailer.
May the best organisation win!
Becky Chenery
Traineeship Leader
