Tatnam Organic Patch

Another busy workday on the patch. Sunny but cold. Ken and Alex were busy digging. Sure I heard Alex declare he’d hit Australia at one point. Mark looking on in a brief gap between giving tours of the garden.

New bank being constructed alongside path

It was great to have a visit from four enthusiastic members of Transition Dorchester visit us, they are involved with creating a community farm http://www.transitiontowndorchester.org/category/community-farm/ in fact they’re talking about us and their visit on that page !

Ruth was busy weeding around the apples, preparing for herb planting. Jan and Mary were busy in the main plot – digging out the last parsnips and weeding several beds, whilst Harriet forged a  path onto the new bed, and Mark planted some english violets in full bloom.

Harriet forging a new path

Andy arrived just in time for lunch, and finally got around to reinstating the cast iron bath in the greenhouse (we had to take it out to get rid of the Fig which had escaped its’ concrete surround and was far too big and leafy to fruit well). Even empty, the bath weighs a ton, and 3 of us raised it back into place. Just a little leak to solve, and a joint on the high tanks, and … oh, too many bits.

Gary made a great soup based on Turkey and Chicken stock. Mark made a bean stew packed with cardamons and grated ginger. Jan produced a rhubarb and ginger crumble, from the first TOP rhubarb crop, plus some pears. Ruth brought Pesto and Aubergine parcels, and some stollen, and as usual everyone feasted.

Alex sent a number of pictures of progress to Kim, as she was stuck in Birmingham.

And just before it got too dark and cold to work, Gary planted the Sour Cherry Tree. This is on the north side of the greenhouse, as something that tolerates shade. The intent is to fan it a bit to help get some low hanging fruit  (they don’t like being too trained).

Sour Cherry being planted