Our harvest was celebrated at the field on Sunday, 11 September, when about a dozen of us gathered to enjoy a barbecue and to pick and distribute (almost) the last crops of this season - mainly kidney beans, pumpkins and wonderful sweetcorn. (Fresh from the field, this takes some beating). There remain courgettes and chard to be harvested a little later. Earlier we have had excellent crops of potatoes, broad beans, leeks, onions and beetroot - much better than last year. Digging manure, sand and compost into the beds has greatly improved the quality of the soil, and so of the yields. The young fruit trees are also coming into their own - not enough fruit yet to distribute, but they should have provided some luscious pies for the Barn Dance evening held on Saturday 1 October.

 

Winter tasks will include covering the beds with black plastic sheeting to keep weeds down, and in the spring, digging in more compost and preparing the beds for next season's sowing.

People are welcome to work at the field at any time, but we usually agree certain Sundays when most people can go and enjoy some socialising as well as the fresh air and exercise.

 

The farm is now in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme - another help towards keeping our fields green.

 

New members are welcome - 'phone Paul (evenings) on 9811035 or Gillie on 914 8760.