Tatworth Community Crop Production Project - History in Photos July 2009
July 2009 Photos
Masses of progress and a mini-harvest ! Monday 1st July 2009 The wide end of the boggy patch finished and ready for planting. A point proved and acknowledged by most!!
A view of the turf cleared to date. It is 230 sq metres (253 sq yards) and at 100ml (4 inch) cuts into the turf to cut out roots - ignoring the couch, buttercup, nettle, reed tussocks and dock on top - we've shifted 23 cu metres of peaty soil and weeds to the compost heap. That was heavy! 11.5 metric tonnes to be precise. We did not use a Rotavator, just mattocks and a wheelbarrow! Only 1/3rd of the boggy side left to clear
The area of raised bed being prepared by Andrew for Tatworth Primary School's ‘Friday Club’ - 10 metres x 3 metres it should get them well on the way to a healthy crop of ..... well whatever they decide! The first Friday Club group from the school came to see the Project on Friday last (3rd July). The six School-children seemed very enthusiastic as we took them round and explained how everything was done. The two Teachers were equally pleased to have this hands-on learning experience for the children AND then started offering advice about rotational planting. We listened - thanks Guys!
Saturday 4th July 2009 The tools, some pretty ancient!
Using water piping and hazel sticks to make hoops for the Brussels area. We're putting a much larger tent in to start cropping more of the cleared ground.
A simple lashing tightened with a large hazel wedge!
Two hoops done
The pipe is placed over two hazel sticks hammered into the soil
Thursday 9th July 2009 Liz Carney discussing progress with an impressed Ken Edginton
The new tent in place. Sandra spent five hours sewing all the sheets together!
Jonathan Hodgson arrives to have a look at the progress before attending the Parish Council meeting
Liz, Joe and Sandra exterminating dock plants!
Liz thinks some of the potato plants are blighted. We'll lift a few out to check ....
.... not sure if it is potato blight but will summon Jan Morse!
A very delighted Andrew because .....
..... these are our first ever harvest!
Sunday 12th July 2009 John found a Stone Age chipping stone amongst the potato crop when weeding. You can see it has a shaped top for the index finger and sharpened curved bottom to do the hacking of meat from skin, bark from wood, or who knows what!
John doing his usual immaculate weeding and heaping up in the potato crop, 45% done so far!
First thing I've planted in my life! Anne's tomato plants doing really well and fed with nettle manure. It stinks!
Tuesday 14th July 2009 Jo Hare and Andrew preparing to plant Jan's leeks. Punching a hole first, enlarging it with a dibber, poppin' the leek in .....
..... then filling in the hole round the leek with sieved soil courtesy of our gigantic sieve - which makes sieving so EASY!
Nick Stuparyk meeting Andrew for the first time. Nick has very kindly offered 2.5 acres of grazing land in Forton Lane to the Project. More turf cutting by hand for A, J and me? Nick's a former engineer, design & tech teacher, wildlife expert and 'sustainable' veg grower for years. A warm welcome and thank you to you Nick!
Friday 17th July 2009 Julie, Liz, Sandra, George and Joe taking the first veg harvest - curly kale and massive cabbages - to the Spar Shop for sale by Les and Margaret Gilbert.
Outside the Shop .....
..... and handing over the produce to a delighted Les!
Saturday 18th July 2009 Jonathan and Tracy Matherick came up to see the Project and were delighted with the progress, having not been here since the potato crop was planted (Good Friday).
Of course without their generosity Tatworth Growing Together would probably not been in existence - so huge thanks to them!
A very tattered Small Copper butterfly trying to eat our cabbages!
Lee and Chelsea having great fun in the boggy area playing mud-pies and waving when Sandra appeared - while Nanny and Daddy looked on! At least we can now see where all the springs rise and turn them into a pond to contain them. Thanks kids!
Thursday 23rd July 2009 Joe showing Jack how and where to fork around a potato plant to harvest the potatoes.
Jack's first ever harvest!
Jack filled up the bags.
Ellie and cousin Jack leading Glennis and Carpet!
Margaret and Les receive 40 kilos of potatoes, a kilo of shallots, two massive cabbages and one small one, and two kilos of curly kale at the Spar Shop. Les holding his beautifully designed poster advertising where the food has come from (close-up next). And Jenny Herbert of 'Herbert News' in Waterlake Road, took 16 kilos of potatoes, shallots, curly kale and cabbages and is kindly offering it for sale for the Project to locals at that end of the Village. We'll get a photo of Jenny next delivery day cos it was raining this afternoon!
The potatoes were harvested by 3pm by Bob Aston, Joe, Jack and me, weighed by Anne and packed by Joe by 5pm. Anne packed the rest and the whole lot were delivered just before 6pm to the two shops. That's fresh - because it comes from 1/2 a mile up the road! And it's so cheap. £1.00 per kilo for everything (50p per lb.) compared with NON-organic veg at the Supermarkets!
Ellie and Jack leading Glennis and Carpet round their field.
Wednesday 22nd July 2009 The superb article by Sam Forrester of the ‘Western Daily Press’ and ‘Western Gazette’. See
The really encouraging editorial comment !
The full double-page spread in the middle of the paper ! See
Friday 24th July 2009 Police Community Support Officer Ben Samways came to visit. The Police would like to adopt the Project as a site where those who are receiving help with ASBO problems can come and work with a friendly welcoming team of Volunteers. All new people are warmly welcomed at the Project - the Project has already turned lives around!
Runner Beans born!
Margaret and Les's poster in the Spar Shop and Post Office window about the Project.
40 kilos of potatoes, cabbages, and some curly kale delivered fresh.
Les's poster advertising prices.
Absolutely delicious organic Shallots!
Absolutely delicious organic Potatoes!
Margaret rearranging the produce.
Jenny Herbert of 'Herbert News' (do you need to be told!) serving a local customer .....
..... and then turning her attention to our curly kale.
Jenny talking to Andrew about prices - very low prices!
Saturday 25th July 2009
Bob, John, Sandra and Jan starting to remove the rest of the ‘inaugural crop’ of potatoes.
Not much longer!
Bob carting off veggie matter to the heap.
Joe burning the undesirable veggie matter, such as seeding Dock and my beloved thistles!
Tuesday 28th July 2009 Liz, Sandra, Joe and Lohn (coming out of the portacabin) overjoyed that the very last potato has been dug!
The totally bare plot, after four months under green leaves.
Liz and John carefully selecting the last few potatoes for the 12th 25 kilo bag.
Wednesday 29th July 2009 Photos by Richard Purdon, Reporter, in our Local Newspaper! See
Sandra picking cabbages for sale.
My photo of Andrew & Les on the first day the Post Office started selling our produce
Friday 31st July 2009 Joe and I couldn't cut the 2-3" ivy stems to break the ivy growing on our two very old apple trees with loppers so .....
..... John to the rescue with a bill-hook.
As usual John uses his ancient skills - hedge-laying here - to show how it's done!