Polytunnel prettyness

Much has been happening on the farm but one area we are particually pleased with is the progress inside our Polytunnels.

 Squirt of film showing the cover going over the second polytunnel frame a few months ago.

 The new poly planted up, the black lines are the irrigation piping.

 Pretty Beetroot growing

 Newly planted Cucumbers

 The tunnel a few weeks later (last week)

 Rocket eye view

Cucumber flower

A whole year, a new season and a thankyou

Almost exactly a year ago they were ploughing in the barley - which was on the field when we acquired it - in preparation for the first plants to go in the ground. It's strange to think that a year ago we had just a bare field, a few plants and seeds and a list of people interested in our idea.

I feel a great relief to have made it through our first season with a full membership having supplied weekly veg bags throughout. A great many thanks to you all for supporting us through our first trial year - and it was a bit of a trial at times. Whilst it was not the easiest season to start growing in a some crops did suffer in the cool damp weather, on balance we think the trial has been a success and we look forward to taking on more members in July as we double our harvests. It would be great to hear feedback from you all about our first year, positive or negative. We will shortly send out a short questionnaire to give you the opportunity to give us your thoughts.

We are now in the hungry gap eating the last few leeks and enjoying the new offerings of spring. Whilst the next few weeks may lack the weight of a winter veg bag or the variety of a summer one we will have no shortage of lush leafy greens and salad leaves and just round the corner are cucumbers, beans, peas and courgettes. Never a dull moment as we race into the new season.

News from the farm

Lots of things are coming to an end now as it warms up and plants start the process of flowering. This week sees the last of the spinach and purple sprouting broccoli which we have enjoyed very much. There are still some more cauliflowers to come and the leeks are hanging on in there. Next week we will be giving spring cabbage and spring onions which have overwintered in the tunnel.

The land from last season's crops will soon be ploughed up and prepared for this season's planting - carrots, beetroot, squash sweet corn to name a few along with more, leeks, purple sprouting and cauliflower. We rotate our vegetables on a ten year cycle to avoid pest and disease build up and to make sure we draw evenly on the soil's nutrients around the farm. So everything will be in a different place from last year.

This weeks share
Onions, leeks, mixed salad, spinach, Purple Sprouting Broccoli and radish.