School Allotment project - update

[triffid]

Amazing!  What a great, great starting-point  ;D

I found this link, which you might want to copy your pictures and progress into, to encourage other schools...

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/schools_organic_network/map/index.php

[triffid]

[petemason]

Thanks once again for your interest - the growinggrub site is fantastic and will be of great use I'm sure - thanks Sally-C.
I've been over to the school earlier today to make sure nothing has blown away and the update is that we're about to send off our first order for seeds.
I was going to take a photo of the finished beds but the weather has been so bad I was bothered the camera would get drenched!
Everybody seems as keen as they were a few months ago and are raring to go.
I even got a mention in the school newsletter!

I'll keep you updated and hopefully get some more photos.

[GrowingChillis]

Looks like a great project.

Are you only planting organic stuff?

Good luck with it

[petemason]

100% organic, although I haven't had the soil tested. The caretaker assures me that there is no weedkiller around or anything else nasty.
I figure that 200+ little pairs of hands will be able to keep the weeds at bay!

[GrowingChillis]

I have some bell pepper and long red chilli seeds,
they have been saved from organic produce,
I don't have space to plant them if you would
like them for your poject I can post them to you.

Not sure if the little mouths can cope with the chillies tho!

[petemason]

That's very kind of you. We don't have a greenhouse for Health & Safety reasons (although I'm going to suggest a polytunnel next year) but if they'll grow outside, I'm sure I can find some space.

[ted72]

What a wonderful project. :)

I have to say its a shame my sons new state of the art school cannot participate in a scheme like this, its one of these new private finance projects.

They have installed new play equipment for the nursery and reception classes but there doesnt seem to be anything to stimulate the older years, apart from as my son moaned some basketball nets situated in what was the old school playground.

I find it so disheartening that this is the next generation who will pass on whatever they learn to future generations. The school doesnt even have facilities for a cooker for the children to learn how to cook in school.

The worst part is in the height of last summer you used to see the private landscape firm employees who are responsible for maintaining outdoors looking like something out of ghostbusters with those horrid weed killer sprayers on their backs whilst children are playing out nearby! Makes my blood boil.

Oh forgot as a token gesture there is some horrid plastic planters in the playground and a willow arch that the children arent allowed to go near until its established.


Thank god Kayden only has another 2 and a half years here and that we are fortunate enough to now have a full plot at the lotti to enable him to have his own patch to nurture his own crops.

sorry for moaning on,

trina

[saddad]

If you need anything Pete just give us a collective shout.....
I have more seeds than anyone can ever plant if you have followed the saga elsewhere on the site!
;D

[busy_lizzie]

Thanks for keeping us informed of progress Pete.  Everything sounds wonderful and you are making such good advances.  We still haven't had our land cleared yet and are trying to get funding from various sources.  Things move very slowly, but at least things are moving in the right direction. Keep up the good work and hope you will continue to let us know how your scheme is developing. busy_lizzie