Compost aplenty
Yesterday we barrowed a tonne of Fairfield compost on to the orchard to improve the soil around the trees and for some raised beds we'll be making next year for soft fruit. Great workout!
Sunny Apple Day - 2012
Today was Apple Day at the allotment site and Orchard 49. Juice was pressed, apples and potatoes baked in our cob oven and we had samples of apples grown on the orchard for people to taste. We basked in autumnal sunshine and warm - delightful.
Work for the day, when not talking to visitors, was some hoeing - using a beautiful osillating hoe (Hydra Swing Hoe) from Implementations - who gifted the tool to the Orchard last year. We also painted the trees with fruit tree grease to prevent codling moth next year and picked some apples - lovely they were too.
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| Some of our apple samples on the lovely oak bench in the sunshine |
Work for the day, when not talking to visitors, was some hoeing - using a beautiful osillating hoe (Hydra Swing Hoe) from Implementations - who gifted the tool to the Orchard last year. We also painted the trees with fruit tree grease to prevent codling moth next year and picked some apples - lovely they were too.
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| Claire making light work of hoeing with the wonderful Hydra Swing Hoe |
Apple Day 2012 - Sunday 7th October 2012
OTAGS is holding an Apple Day on Sunday 7th October - do come along. We will be on the orchard so if you'd like to see the progress we've made and how you can get involved please come and see us, 12-3 pm. Orchard 49 is on plot 49 - follow the signs.
Here is the poster for the event.
Here is the poster for the event.
Open Day - 19th August 2012
OTAGS held an Open Day on Sunday 19th August. There were Scarecrows to see as well as pizzas from the new Cob Oven... and of course Orchard 49 to visit. Sadly we didn't have a brilliant day for it. But we were there and here are some photos I took of some of the trees that we grafted ourselves in 2010. You can see that they are with fruit. Two are being grown as cordon trees - trained to grow in a small space. In our case along the path fence line. Equally they could be grown along a sunny wall in your back yard.
We are very much learning about how to train the trees. So you can see with the minshull crab cordon we actually have two stems, as it grew that way, so we're letting ti grow along two stems rather than one. Peter Nichol from the Northern Fruit Group is helping us learn how best to train the trees.
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| Apple - Burr Knot - Cordon Tree |
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| Apple - Laxton Superb - growing as a bush tree |
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| Apple Minshull Crab - cordon (its not a crab apple). |
July Progress
We've had some success in July with the planned sessions. Four have been held so far and the orchard is looking much better for all the work.
If you're passing come and admire the bench, under the pergola, and sit awhile. Thanks to Julie for putting the bench in.
We've also now got two large compost bins and thanks largely to Richard the dreaded weed pile is no more. We're wet composting the pernicious weeds (couch grass, bindweed, dock, creeping thistle etc.) and composting the annual weeds.
The trees are doing well, and more volunteers are always welcome to come and help out.
More July sessions are planned:
Weekend date 12.30-2.30 Sunday 29th July (Claire leading)
Weekday evening 6.30-8 pm Monday 30th July (Debbie leading)
Telephone numbers for session leaders:
Claire 07989 962 916
Debbie 07719 625 725
As ever, thanks to all you hardworking volunteers.
If you're passing come and admire the bench, under the pergola, and sit awhile. Thanks to Julie for putting the bench in.
We've also now got two large compost bins and thanks largely to Richard the dreaded weed pile is no more. We're wet composting the pernicious weeds (couch grass, bindweed, dock, creeping thistle etc.) and composting the annual weeds.
The trees are doing well, and more volunteers are always welcome to come and help out.
More July sessions are planned:
Weekend date 12.30-2.30 Sunday 29th July (Claire leading)
Weekday evening 6.30-8 pm Monday 30th July (Debbie leading)
Telephone numbers for session leaders:
Claire 07989 962 916
Debbie 07719 625 725
As ever, thanks to all you hardworking volunteers.
Orchard work sessions in July
Despite our best efforts, the very frequent wet weather has meant that the orchard is
somewhat weedy and we need to sort it out! Claire and I have looked at
our diaries and will run some work sessions at weekends and during the
evening to address this. Hope some of you will be able to spare an hour or so now and then to join us.
As always these sessions are dependant on the weather.
Aside from getting the weeds sorted (which shouldn't take long, with a group of us) we have some compost bins to assemble - this will mean an end to the weed pile - hurrah.
We can also do some summer pruning and should take fruit that have formed off the trees, as they need to put all their energy into developing a strong root system.
Weekend Dates 12.30-2.30 Sundays (Claire leading)
1st July
15th July
29th July
Weekday evenings 6.30-8 pm Mondays (Debbie leading)
2nd July
9th July
16th July (provisional date - needs a volunteer to lead this session)
23rd July
30th July
Telephone numbers for session leaders:
Claire 07989 962 916
Debbie 07719 625 725
As always these sessions are dependant on the weather.
Aside from getting the weeds sorted (which shouldn't take long, with a group of us) we have some compost bins to assemble - this will mean an end to the weed pile - hurrah.
We can also do some summer pruning and should take fruit that have formed off the trees, as they need to put all their energy into developing a strong root system.
Weekend Dates 12.30-2.30 Sundays (Claire leading)
1st July
15th July
29th July
Weekday evenings 6.30-8 pm Mondays (Debbie leading)
2nd July
9th July
16th July (provisional date - needs a volunteer to lead this session)
23rd July
30th July
Telephone numbers for session leaders:
Claire 07989 962 916
Debbie 07719 625 725
Plant Sale and Orchard Workday
OTAGS is holding its annual Plant Sale this Saturday, May 19th. Gates open at 11 am and the event runs to 2 p.m. The usual delicious refreshments will be served and a range of vegetable seedlings, annual flowers and perennials will be on sale.
All proceeds go to the allotment society. For details of how to get there see this link.
On Sunday 20th May Orchard49 volunteers will be busy with a work day. The weather is slowly getting better and our gardens and allotment plots are thriving, so too are those pesky weeds! We need your help!
All proceeds go to the allotment society. For details of how to get there see this link.
On Sunday 20th May Orchard49 volunteers will be busy with a work day. The weather is slowly getting better and our gardens and allotment plots are thriving, so too are those pesky weeds! We need your help!
When: between 12:30 and 2:30. Any time you can spare would be greatly appreciated.
Contact: Claire on 07989962916 just ring
or text if you need letting in the gates or if the weather is a bit
dodgy : )
The main focus is tackling the weeds but there are other jobs which need doing for those of you feeling more energetic.
Cob Oven workshop April 2012
On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April a group of plotholders and local people came together to learn how to build a cob oven on the allotment site. Local Food funded the 2 day workshop, which was run by Annabel from Earthed . The workshop ran from 9-5 on two days, so everyone who participated put in hours of hard labour.
The photos here show the oven in its final form. Its full of sand right now, but once its dry this will come out and it can be fired up. More photos of the whole process of making the oven can be viewed here.
The oven is going to be a huge asset, as we can bake pizza, bread and other things in it - which will be great for open days and socialising on the site.
The photos here show the oven in its final form. Its full of sand right now, but once its dry this will come out and it can be fired up. More photos of the whole process of making the oven can be viewed here.
The oven is going to be a huge asset, as we can bake pizza, bread and other things in it - which will be great for open days and socialising on the site.
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| Sculpture with a nature/orchard theme |
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| See the apple with a visitor? |
Grafting Workshop March 2012
Saturday 10th March 2012 saw us hosting another grafting workshop at the allotment site. We welcomed friends from Rylands Kitchen Garden, a community allotment project in Longford Park along to make some trees as part of the Longford Park Centenary celebrations. We also hosted Anna visiting from Glossop who is developing a communty allotment, plus 4 Orchard volunteers, and Rob from Moss Brook Growers who was attending to graft some Morello Cherries.
The session was run by Tom Adams from Shropshire. It will take a while to know if our efforts have been successful, but we had a wonderful day learning how. The session was funded by a Local Food grant.
Here are some photos of Tom and participants busy grafting pear, apple and cherry.
The session was run by Tom Adams from Shropshire. It will take a while to know if our efforts have been successful, but we had a wonderful day learning how. The session was funded by a Local Food grant.
Here are some photos of Tom and participants busy grafting pear, apple and cherry.
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| Lorna taping up the graft point |
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| Anna cutting the rootstock |
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| Hilary using a handing tool to graft |
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| Claire tidying up her scion before joining it to the rootstock |
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| Tom taping up the graft point on a cherry |
Trees planted March 4th 2012!
Despite the weather we planted more trees at the community orchard today. It stopped raining long enough for us to press on with the work.
Big thanks to everyone who helped: Lorna, Claire, Pete, Richard and Debbie.
We planted:
Apple Acklam Russet
Apple Balsam
Apple Golden Spire
Apple Hunt's House
Apple Merlin's apple
Apple New Bess Pool
Apple Newton Wonder
Apple Rosemary Russet
Apple Sisson's Worksop Newton
Pear Beth
Pear Onward
Cherry Stella
Cherry Morello
Quince Portugal
These were all purchased with the grant from Local Food which is part of the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments.
Some of the apple and pear trees were planted beside arches and will be trained to grow up and over the arches. The idea for this came from the Garden Organic orchard at Ryton Gardens. It will take many years for them to reach this size, but the picture shows what we have in mind.
An added bonus today was a surprise visit from Peter Nichol from the Northern Fruit Group. Peter came to drop off some scions for our grafting workshop next weekend, but we asked him to help us prune the trees, many thanks!
Big thanks to everyone who helped: Lorna, Claire, Pete, Richard and Debbie.
We planted:
Apple Acklam Russet
Apple Balsam
Apple Golden Spire
Apple Hunt's House
Apple Merlin's apple
Apple New Bess Pool
Apple Newton Wonder
Apple Rosemary Russet
Apple Sisson's Worksop Newton
Pear Beth
Pear Onward
Cherry Stella
Cherry Morello
Quince Portugal
These were all purchased with the grant from Local Food which is part of the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments.
Some of the apple and pear trees were planted beside arches and will be trained to grow up and over the arches. The idea for this came from the Garden Organic orchard at Ryton Gardens. It will take many years for them to reach this size, but the picture shows what we have in mind.
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| Apple Arch at Garden Organic's orchard |
An added bonus today was a surprise visit from Peter Nichol from the Northern Fruit Group. Peter came to drop off some scions for our grafting workshop next weekend, but we asked him to help us prune the trees, many thanks!
Feb and March Work sessions in 2012
February and March are busy times for orchards in development. We've organised some work sessions as follows:
Jobs and dates
Constructing apple arches in the middle of the orchard Sunday 19 Feb and/or Sunday 26 Feb
Do further prep of ground for trees (esp. by the bakery wall) Sunday 19 Feb and/or Sunday 26 Feb
Plant trees and other fruit on the orchard Sunday 4th March and/or Sunday 18th March
Because its often frosty first thing these sessions will run for a couple of hours from 12.30-2.30 - as hopefully by then the temperature will have improved some.
Jobs and dates
Constructing apple arches in the middle of the orchard Sunday 19 Feb and/or Sunday 26 Feb
Do further prep of ground for trees (esp. by the bakery wall) Sunday 19 Feb and/or Sunday 26 Feb
Plant trees and other fruit on the orchard Sunday 4th March and/or Sunday 18th March
Because its often frosty first thing these sessions will run for a couple of hours from 12.30-2.30 - as hopefully by then the temperature will have improved some.
We can't promise to have any hot food for sharing, so please bring something with you for lunch.
If you're thinking of coming along for the first time please call or email so we can let you know if we cancel the session due to weather conditions.
Email: orchard49 @ otags.org.uk
Call: 07960 713 018
Hope to see you there.
Tool Maintenance workshop - 14th Jan 2012
OTAGS hosted a free tool maintenance workshop on Saturday 14th january in the pavilion. The funding for this was part of the Local Food grant from BIG Lottery. The session was facilitated by Mike Carswell from Urban Coppice.
Eleven of us learnt how to maintain tools, from garden shears to secateurs (these were the too most popular items for maintaining). What was surprising to me, was how relatively easy it was to restore a rusty pair of shears if you have half an hour and a few tools. We used three key things; a stiff wire brush, some wet and dry type sandpaper and a general purpose file (these cost about £5 and last for years if looked after).
For the shears, Step 1 was to take the shears apart - which was very straightforward.
2. Vigorously brush the shears blades with the wire brush to take off the worst of the debris (rust, plant material).
3. Take some sand paper and rub to take off more resistant rust (this didn't take long at all).
4. File the bevelled edge of the shears. This was the part that needs the skill/know how as doing it at the wrong angle will damage the sharp edge you're trying to restore. Mike showed us how, but I'm sure there are plenty of videos on the internet.
5. Reassemble the shears and put a drop of general purpose oil into the point where the shears join and work it in by opening and closing the shears.
6. Rub an oily rag over the blades if putting them away for winter.
Mike also talked to us about taking care of tools like hoes, garden forks and spades.
Thanks go to Mike for a great day and to Laura for suggesting the idea, for organising it and for making delicious soup and bread for lunch. Thanks also to Pete Abel for taking the photos.
Eleven of us learnt how to maintain tools, from garden shears to secateurs (these were the too most popular items for maintaining). What was surprising to me, was how relatively easy it was to restore a rusty pair of shears if you have half an hour and a few tools. We used three key things; a stiff wire brush, some wet and dry type sandpaper and a general purpose file (these cost about £5 and last for years if looked after).
For the shears, Step 1 was to take the shears apart - which was very straightforward.
2. Vigorously brush the shears blades with the wire brush to take off the worst of the debris (rust, plant material).
3. Take some sand paper and rub to take off more resistant rust (this didn't take long at all).
4. File the bevelled edge of the shears. This was the part that needs the skill/know how as doing it at the wrong angle will damage the sharp edge you're trying to restore. Mike showed us how, but I'm sure there are plenty of videos on the internet.
5. Reassemble the shears and put a drop of general purpose oil into the point where the shears join and work it in by opening and closing the shears.
6. Rub an oily rag over the blades if putting them away for winter.
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| Mike showing us how before we got stuck in. |
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| Laura filing one of her shears blades. |
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| Mike working some oil into shears after sharpening. |
Mike also talked to us about taking care of tools like hoes, garden forks and spades.
Thanks go to Mike for a great day and to Laura for suggesting the idea, for organising it and for making delicious soup and bread for lunch. Thanks also to Pete Abel for taking the photos.
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