Sunday September work sessions 15th and 29th 10-12am

Claire is running two Sunday sessions between 10-12 on the 15th and 29th September

Please do come along and pitch in. If possible we hope to be starting to build some raised beds (wood delivery permitting) as well as the usual tasks.  There also may be apples to sample - we picked some Tydeman's Early Worcester and some apples from one of the trees that were planted before we took on the plot on Monday and they were delicious (plus some pears and figs).

We also have a large group of volunteers (15-20) coming on 6th October. They are taking part in something called Sewa day and have chosen the orchard as a place to volunteer.  If you'd like to help out on that day, please come along. I'll be sending out an email about timings for that later.

For 15th and 29th sessions as always weather permitting and ring or text at the gate if you don't have a key and the gates are closed.  Claire's number is: 07914 793 625 (new number)

Finally - there might be an apple day happening on 13th October at the allotment site (to be confirmed).

Harvest photos

The nights are drawing in.  On Monday (2nd September) we picked some fruit on the orchard and pruned the fan trained cherry trees as dusk came upon us.  Its always a little sad to realise that our Monday evening sessions will soon have to stop for the season, as it is almost dark by 8 pm.


Here are some photos of apples, figs and pears harvested and other delights.

Our harvest on 2nd September: apples, pears and FIGS!

One of the ripe apples and autumnal vine leaves

Tydeman's Late Orange - won't be ready for a while

Plot52 - soon ripe for picking

Isn't the colour magnificent?

Weekend Orchard work sessions April-June

Hurrah, its getting warmer and the days are getting longer... so time to book in some work sessions on the orchard.

Claire is running some Sunday sessions as follows:

21 st of April from 12 - 2
12th of May 12 - 2

19th of May 10-12
2nd of June, 10-12
9th of June 10-12.

Do come along and get involved.  Please contact Claire on 07989 962 916  if you don't have a key to the site so she can come and let you in.  Its also wise to check whether the session is going ahead if its raining.

Monday evening sessions will also commence from 22nd April (but there won't be a session on 6th May). These will run from 6.30 - 8 p.m lead by Debbie.  You can reach her on 07719 625 725.

Hope to see you soon.

Sunny day on The Big Dig

On Saturday 16th March Orchard 49 took part in The Big Dig.  All over the country community gardens opened to volunteers to get busy growing food.  In Manchester, the sun shone (on and off) and we had a great time.

Food and drink was on hand to keep everone's energy levels up and we spent the time pruning all the trees and weeding around the base of the fruit trees and then giving them all a lovely thick mulch of horse manure. Thanks to everyone who helped.

Here are some photos:

Claire putting back the tree guard after mulching

Damien weeding along the fence line of cordon trees

We had some lovely bunting!

Big Dig Open Volunteering Day 16th March

We'll be holding an Open Volunteering Day on Saturday 16th March as part of The Big Dig.

From 12-2.30 pm we'll be busy working on the orchard, so do come along to lend a hand. Jobs we will be doing include:

• Pruning the trees
• barrowing manure and mulching around the trees
• preparing for planting soft fruit
• planting trees we grafted last year

Wear sturdy shoes! If you have gardening gloves, bring them - though we do have some.


Give Debbie a call on 07719 625 725 when you arrive so I can greet you and show you were the orchard is on the allotment site.

Location information: Seymour Grove allotments, off Warwick Court M16 0JG
 
How to get to the orchard:
Buses:15 (Stagecoach/Arriva) runs past Warwick Court (ask for Kings Road Primary).
84 runs along Seymour Grove, alight at Kings Road and its a 5 minute walk to the allotment site.

Metrolink: You can travel to Firswood station and its a 5 minute walk to the allotment site.

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.

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.

Claire making light work of hoeing with the wonderful Hydra Swing Hoe