Bees

We have had a great weekend. We finally got a colony of Black Honey Bees for the site, we have been looking for and bidding on colonies for over four months, and we find a colony only six miles away.

The following morning everything was as it had been for ages, even to the point of stinging Badger while we removed the travelling strap (should have had his suit on). That’ll teach him. Here is a short video of the bees working, will put more on as the colony settles in to their new home, showing the workings of the hive.

All the food is here

Veg, Veg and more Veg

"Polly" is in full production

Hi

It has been a few week from out last post as we have to do the regular Scouting stuff as well. With six weks without rain things were looking grim: the site was looking very sad and slow growing, then within days of the rain coming, the whole site came alive.

Everything is now growing like there is no tomorrow. We are harvesting fresh veg, fruit, eggs… can life get any better?

The chucks are in full production. We are now selling to Chatsworh estate to make their own homemade cakes, people are coming to the site each day to fetch fresh eggs and bring kitchen waste for the chucks to eat - great recycling!

We have lots of vistors: groups wanting to know how we started, funding where we intend to go forward with the project, etc.

Below are some of the great food we are producingwith the help of the chucks and that great fertilizer”cant beat it.” You would have thought some one would have thought of doing this before.

We are here to help any other goup wishing to go down the Grow Your Own route. It has been a great project for the Scouts and a great learning curve for the leaders. Enjoy the pictures.

The big bedThe last two" BBC Digit" seed pots

sections get planting & all turns green

Robin seen here planting out the seedings he grew with the other cubs on pack night, they took them home and when big enoug, we had a planting day where each cub, beaver scout planted out there own crop of vegatables.

This has been one of the best project we have done in years, the Yp can see how the food line works and how much better it tast , fresh from the garden

How we started

Hi folks sorry we only showed the plot when we took it over last May, we have put some hard work in this is what we have created for the group to use.

Badger

Free stuff from seed supplier

Hi folks,

Want some free stuff from a seed supplier?

Go to the Original Touch website and email them via the Contact Us page requesting a schools pack. They will send you FREE SEEDS and a teacher’s pack on how, what and where to plant your seeds.

They have some very interesting food for your young people to grow and cook. We’ve already planted some of their more unusual produce, and are awaiting the results.

Happy planting!

Badger

Green stuff at last

First green stuff this year

Elis from Scouting magazine came this week and brought the good weather we need so desperately. We have also had four more chucks donated from a family who were moving home.

Seedlings are going great – we have had the first show of the early potstones, the BBC Dig In seeds have arrived and the Beavers have planted them in big pots so we can move them around the site when needed, and into better positions.

Tunnel vision

The poly tunnel has been our most valuable investment to date its great the seeding are coming on in leaps and bounds, we have moved all the seedlings to the tunnel. We have finished off all the beds now and filled them with manure ready for the delivery of the top soil. The Explorers have built a large deep bed on a section of land not being used for the pumping, marrows and squash etc.

The growing season is upon us

The plot before Heage Scouts moved in

After waiting for the winter to finally finish we got going back in January and February. Each member of the Group took some type of seeds home to propagate and grow on ready for transfer in to the allotments green houses.

In the breaks in the weather over February and March we filled the beds with manure and topped some off with top soil; the new poly tunnel is working great. An adult helper went on a beekeeping course over March and came away with a vast amount of information and a sore head, but very inspired to keep bees.
At the end of March we planted out our first crop of potatoes in the top beds, we have covered them in plastic to help keep them warm and warm the soil.

Seedlings are being brought back by the group members for potting up in bigger pots,  construction of the bottom beds has begun, we have had two project weekends and things are really coming together.

Sun is shining

April has seen the British weather transform and the temperature rise. Hopefully by now your Dig In seeds have arrived and you’re finding time to get them in the ground. I’m excited about planting my first seeds, which I’m aiming to do at home over the weekend. How are you getting on?

Top tip

There are great gardening tips for every day on the calendar at the Dig In website. Today’s include ‘Grow asparagus’ and ‘Harvest early Dig In salad’

Find them here

Sheffield Scouts dig in

We received word at the weekend from the 79th Sheffield Scout Group, who recently dedicated a whole week of their programme to sowing the Dig In seed. The Beavers and Scouts had fun

planting courgettes and French beans from the seed packs, and will planting carrots, potatoes and onions in raised beds in the near future.

Great work Sheffield! Let us know if you’re also growing your own grub and we’ll feature you on the blog.

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‘But Dad … it smells!’

I have just had over a tonne of manure delivered today. It is well rotted and full of goodness. It’s just what the garden needs. The trouble is it’s a tough and smelly job to barrow it round the garden into all the raised beds that will accommodate our tomatoes, French beans and squashes.

Fortunately Matthew, one of my sons, was at hand to give me some help. Unfortunately his nose was a little more sensitive to the rural smells than his dad’s. He complained quite a lot  as each barrow load was filled and wheeled around the garden. In fact he suddenly decided to go round to his friend and see if he wanted to go on a bike ride and I had to finish the job on my own.

Top tip

Offer your little workers an incentive to do the unpleasant jobs. It might keep them on task!