20th April - 3rd May Garlic Workshop II – Planting and Maintenance held on Sunday 18th April. Another great garlic workshop was held on April 18th at the Patch. Different types of garlic were examined and discussed with special reference to the characteristics most suited to the Gloucester area. Our garlic gurus the went on to discuss these and other important considerations when planting and maintaining garlic. Three different bedding configurations were planted with the same two types of garlic in each. It will be interesting to compare the results of the different methods of bed preparation and planting that were utilised. A report on the workshop can be found on the GARLIC Page. Garlic Workshop I – Bed and Soil Preparation held on Sunday 28th March. Never has soil preparation seemed so fascinating given the array of organic matter used by the presenters. Nineteen of us were shown 3 different ways of preparing soil by Jan Goroncy, Ueli Beer and Marianne Johnson as well as a demonstration of John Paskin’s compost tea making equipment. Underlying all the presentations was the emphasis on building and maintaining soil microbiology to ensure that the soil would contain the essential humic acids needed for balanced plant growth. The talks and practical demonstrations on three Tucker Patch beds provided many invaluable insights. A report on the workshop can be found on the GARLIC Page as well as the comprehensive soil notes which were workshop handouts. Gloucester Farmers Markets Saturday 10th April Another successful Farmers Market was held with more wonderful produce from our enthusiastic members. The weather was perfect and all stall holders were busy. Congratulations. Seed Saving Workshop Participants in this workshop held at the Patch on February 21st, were impressed by the insights they gained into seed saving. Due to the “hands on” nature of the presentation, we all went home feeling confident about undertaking basic seed saving for our own gardens and for the Gloucester Seed Savers Group. See the Tips, Facts and Files page for the comprehensive Workshop notes. 15th February 2010. The first Gloucester Farmers Market exceeded all expectations. Produce from the Tucker Garden Patch was sold on the Community Stall, the success of which reflected the amount of time and effort that TGP members have expended in its the organisation. Above all, the happy atmosphere and the evident delight of the people attending together with the stall holders’ success, augers well for future markets. An Open Air gallery at our Farm site is in the Planning stages. 12th February 2010 On Friday, 12th February, it was announced that The Gloucester Project’s Food Bowl initiative was the NSW State winner of the ABC’s Thrive and Revive Challenge. The Tucker Garden Patch is an important part of the this project. See the following link to find out more about the award. http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2010/s2817961.htm TGP is now in the running to be named national winner on March 5th. Keep your fingers crossed. | June / July 2010EFP garden
The EFP group donated $100 towards the construction of the mandala garden beds. Lyn, Kate, Ken, Alan and Marnie have been busy ( between gathering mulch, garden maintenance, mowing and other urgent demands which keep pulling us away from this project) digging, laying out the string lines, concreting garden edges, planting and improving the soil. There are still lots and lots to do before these beds are finished but they are steadily progressing and should be a lovely and practical demonstration of how to grow intensively in a small area such as a typical suburban backyard. Gloucester Public School – “Dirty Fingers” The first joint session between GPS and TGP was held on Wednesday 5th May at the Tucker Garden Patch. About 24 primary aged children attended with their teacher Miribai Stockwell and a group of enthusiastic and helpful mums. We learned how to make paper seed pots, mix seed-raising medium in which to grow the seeds, had a quick tour of the gardens, tasted, smelt and felt lots of the different vegetables and herbs growing there. Kate and Marnie have volunteered to go to the school this Wednesday 12th May, to help the children set up their worm farm and plan where to plant the different varieties of vegetables they have potted. Grants TGP has been successful in obtaining a number of small grants to run some garden art workshops. These are very exciting and open to members and non-members. Details will be posted when available on the Events page. Shade house The excavator has been to the gardens and levelled the ground in the shade house area. We hope to get enough volunteers to finish the shade house this winter. Once the shade house is finished we can start potting and making seedlings, strike plants and leave them at the gardens. At the moment Marnie has to take everything to Misty Ridge and look after it until it is ready for planting. This structure will not only be practical it should add some interest to the appearance of the site. |
