Organic networking... And what a character this guy is 😂

There's nothing like a bath full of worms.

New arrival for the boxes! Squash!

No need to peel me. Just roast, steam, stew me, stick me in a curry or blend me into a warming soup. The possibilities are endless -

Enjoy.

The resulting effects of CSA and how it can support a bright and abundant future for the way we produce food.

This story among many others will be included in our new documentary Living the Change: Inspiring Stories for a Sustainable Future! Find out more at https://livingthechangefilm.com

Farm friend Jen has started a really good food blog for us called 'One Hull of a Kitchen'. She'll be using the Frith farm veg box to produce weekly, seasonal recipes to help us all stay inspired. Go check out the link below.

https://onehullofakitchen.wordpress.com/ ... See more

First sight of corn yesterday. It's delicious as it is uncooked, creamiest corn I've ever tasted!

🌽

Interesting new blog post on our website about pesticide residues in food. Written by Gina Allen who has Masters by Research in Science of the Environment.

Click the link below to read:

https://frithfarming.com/blog/ ... See more

Frith farm is a local community agriculture scheme providing fresh seasonal, high quality, chemical free, vegetables and gourmet salad in Hull and Beverley

This machine makes planting a breeze!

Looking at a small African tribe, this study found that the composition of their gut bacteria changed with the seasons, due to a strict seasonal diet. The study found that some bacteria even disappeared altogether and then reappeared the following season. When samples were compared to those from industrialised, western countries it demonstrated (again) their diminishing microbial diversity.

Nice little article supporting the importance of local, seasonal eating! 😉 ... See more

Seasonal changes in gut bacteria make-up of a small African community strengthens the evidence that diet strongly influences our gut microbiota, finds a new study in Science.

Good Morning!
Our Colourful Carrots dug from the new bed are ready for today's box scheme members !

If you're still collecting up your #autumn leaves, why not use them to make #leafmould?

It's easy to make, and it can be used on any #soil at any time of the year. It’s also perfect for seed and potting mixes too!

Making leafmould is as easy as 1,2,3...

#MondayMotivation #winterjobs #planahead ... See more

Leafmould What is dark brown, crumbly, good for your garden and completely free? No, it's not chocolate cake. It's leafmould! Autumn leaves rot down to make leafmould. It is easy to make, and it can be used on any soil at any time of the year. It’s also perfect for seed and potting mixes too. Making... ... See more

Wormeries are a great way of producing high quality compost directly from your kitchen waste! They have the advantage of taking up very little space, creating virtually no smell and they’ll recycle all of your food waste quickly. This course will show you how to build a wormery, and the fundamental steps of how to look after it. We will outline how worms make compost, what to feed them and the best uses of vermicompost. We can guarantee that by the end of the day you will be hooked on worms!

What we will cover:
- How to build a wormery
- The different types of wormery
- What to feed your worms
- How to use the vermicompost produced
- How to deal with problem wormeries
- Course level: Beginners to intermediate

What you need to bring: Sensible shoes and outdoor wear

Booking a place:
Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. ... See more

Wormeries are a great way of producing high quality compost directly from your kitchen waste! They have the advantage of taking up very little space, creating virtually no smell and they’ll recycle all of your food waste quickly. This course will show you how to build a wormery, and the fundamental steps of how to look after it. We will outline how worms make compost, what to feed them and the best uses of vermicompost. We can guarantee that by the end of the day you will be hooked on worms!

What we will cover:
- How to build a wormery
- The different types of wormery
- What to feed your worms
- How to use the vermicompost produced
- How to deal with problem wormeries
- Course level: Beginners to intermediate

What you need to bring: Sensible shoes and outdoor wear

Booking a place:
Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. ... See more

This course will dispel the myth that you need a large area to grow your own food. We will demonstrate how, with minimum space, you can produce healthy food organically.

We will show you the best techniques for container growing and highlight plants for different environments. Whether you have a have a small yard, a balcony or even just a windowsill, there will be something useful for you to take away.

What we will cover:
- How to asssess a site
- How to make best use of composts for container growing
- Designing self watering systems
- The best plants for different environments
- Planning for your own growing space

Course level: Beginners

What you need to bring: Sensible shoes and outdoor clothes and an outline of your own growing space

Booking a place:
Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. ... See more

This course will dispel the myth that you need a large area to grow your own food. We will demonstrate how, with minimum space, you can produce healthy food organically.

We will show you the best techniques for container growing and highlight plants for different environments. Whether you have a have a small yard, a balcony or even just a windowsill, there will be something useful for you to take away.

What we will cover:
- How to asssess a site
- How to make best use of composts for container growing
- Designing self watering systems
- The best plants for different environments
- Planning for your own growing space

Course level: Beginners

What you need to bring: Sensible shoes and outdoor clothes and an outline of your own growing space

Booking a place:
Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. ... See more

Composting is a key element of organic growing. There has always been something magical about the transformation of green waste into a product that can benefit your soil and help your plants to thrive. This course will help you to fine tune your composting process and gain an understanding of the processes that happen and how this can be influenced by different mixes and types of bin. We will also show you how to make the best use of your compost for growing healthy food.

What we will cover:
- The basic components of successful composting including where
to site your compost bin and which ingredients to compost
- Demonstration of different bin types and composting systems
- Recognising the creatures in your compost bin
- How to deal with problem compost heaps
- A basic knowledge of how to use compost in the garden, potting
mixes and mulches

Course level: Beginners

What you need to bring: Sensible shoes and outdoor wear

Booking a place:
Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. ... See more

Composting is a key element of organic growing. There has always been something magical about the transformation of green waste into a product that can benefit your soil and help your plants to thrive. This course will help you to fine tune your composting process and gain an understanding of the processes that happen and how this can be influenced by different mixes and types of bin. We will also show you how to make the best use of your compost for growing healthy food.

What we will cover:
- The basic components of successful composting including where
to site your compost bin and which ingredients to compost
- Demonstration of different bin types and composting systems
- Recognising the creatures in your compost bin
- How to deal with problem compost heaps
- A basic knowledge of how to use compost in the garden, potting
mixes and mulches

Course level: Beginners

What you need to bring: Sensible shoes and outdoor wear

Booking a place:
Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. ... See more

This half-day course is a perfect follow on from the ‘Introduction to the principles of organic growing’. Using organic principles, it will focus on how to plan your organic growing space, choosing what to grow and when to grow it.

We will outline the key principles of designing a rotation so that you are able to organise your growing space to provide a continuous supply of healthy food. You will go home with a plan of action and something seasonal to grow in your garden.

What we will cover:
- Discover how to assess your growing space;
- Learn the best times of year for various gardening activities;
- Create a cropping plan for your food growing space;
- Learn how to design a rotation;
- Learn some practical growing skills by sowing something
seasonal to take home.

Course level: Beginners

What you need to bring: Sensible shoes and outdoor clothes and an outline of your own growing space.

(Please note, if you attend this session, there will be some overlap with the earlier ‘Introduction to the principles of organic growing’ course in the morning. We will ensure this is kept to a minimum.)

Booking a place:
Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please contact us for more information and to reserve a place. ... See more

This half-day course is a perfect follow on from the ‘Introduction to the principles of organic growing’. Using organic principles, it will focus on how to plan your organic growing space, choosing what to grow and when to grow it.

We will outline the key principles of designing a rotation so that you are able to organise your growing space to provide a continuous supply of healthy food. You will go home with a plan of action and something seasonal to grow in your garden.

What we will cover:
- Discover how to assess your growing space;
- Learn the best times of year for various gardening activities;
- Create a cropping plan for your food growing space;
- Learn how to design a rotation;
- Learn some practical growing skills by sowing something
seasonal to take home.

Course level: Beginners

What you need to bring: Sensible shoes and outdoor clothes and an outline of your own growing space.

(Please note, if you attend this session, there will be some overlap with the earlier ‘Introduction to the principles of organic growing’ course in the morning. We will ensure this is kept to a minimum.)

Booking a place:
Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please contact us for more information and to reserve a place. ... See more

Most people think of organic growing as ‘growing without chemicals’ but there is so much more to it than that.

Organic growing makes the best use of resources by working with and understanding natural processes and plans ahead to make your soil and environment a place where crops will thrive.

This course covers the thinking behind organic growing, giving you confidence in the techniques and understanding on how to create a healthy and productive growing area.

What we will cover:
- Gain an overview of the organic principles;
- Learn the best ways to improve your soil to grow healthy plants
- Learn about some of the common challenges and how to manage
them without using chemicals
- Learn how to recognise beneficial creatures and how to attract
them into your growing space
- See organic food growing principles in practice with a tour of
Ryton Organic Gardens.

Course level: Beginners

Booking a place:
Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please contact us for more information and to reserve a place. ... See more

Most people think of organic growing as ‘growing without chemicals’ but there is so much more to it than that.

Organic growing makes the best use of resources by working with and understanding natural processes and plans ahead to make your soil and environment a place where crops will thrive.

This course covers the thinking behind organic growing, giving you confidence in the techniques and understanding on how to create a healthy and productive growing area.

What we will cover:
- Gain an overview of the organic principles;
- Learn the best ways to improve your soil to grow healthy plants
- Learn about some of the common challenges and how to manage
them without using chemicals
- Learn how to recognise beneficial creatures and how to attract
them into your growing space
- See organic food growing principles in practice with a tour of
Ryton Organic Gardens.

Course level: Beginners

Booking a place:
Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please contact us for more information and to reserve a place. ... See more

On Thursday evening School staff from Cofton, Longbridge, Rubery and Northfield were invited to meet our Move More Eat Well school team at their Project Briefing Event.

They learnt how to encourage their school to be more active and healthy and were able to sample home grown microgreens, make a fruit kebab and even learn how to fix a puncture!

Interested schools can contact a member of our Move More Eat Well team here, for more information. ... See more

Meet the School Team! Posted on 13th October 201718th October 2017by Anne Dasgupta The Move More Eat Well campaign might already be in full swing with plenty of events happening in the community, but right now the school team of partners Sustrans and Garden Organic are working hard getting ready to… ... See more

Just another reminder to keep a look out for our prickly friends on #bonfire night.

There is some great advice here from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. #rememberhedgehogs

If you're having a bonfire this weekend please check for hedgehogs. If you're going to a display please ask organisers to check. #rememberhedgehogs

#November has arrived and here is our first #fridaytip of the month. It's a good time to lift all of your root crops, such as #carrots, #beetroot and #turnips before the heavy frosts set in - see our advice on how to store them.

Add organic #mulches to protect the soil and give it good structure for next year's growing #season. The best materials to use are a thick, damp layer of straw, grass clippings and autumn leaves mixed together.
#fridaytip #winter #organicgardening #rootcrops #mulching ... See more

Harvesting and storage Picking and eating your own organic vegetables and fruits are the joyful outcome of growing. In these pages we help you store your organic produce – either in times of glut, or to tide you through the winter. The right conditions are crucial for successful storage of any crop,... ... See more

David Coop: "It weighed a lovely 44kg, so we only just managed to lift it! As you can see, it made a truly impressive Halloween lantern, although it did take all night to carve it."

Jeremy Newson got 171lb with his and says "Hi Crew, here it goes—several photos to follow. Wonderful seed. Nearly 2 tons of squash and pkins off our patch. .. Our local hospice got £150 from guess the weight of the big pumpkin + £120 from the charity allotment jar." ... See more

Helen Pottinger broke her wheelbarrow 😮with her gaint pumpkin: "I planted one at my allotment and it weighed in at 7 and a half stone - or 105 pounds. I didn't know how we were going to lift it but eventually came up with the idea of enrobing it in an old sweatshirt, turning it upside down - and then two of us were able to lift it into the wheelbarrow by the arms! We managed to break the wheelbarrow in the process but did get it into the boot of the car and then used a saw to cut it into quarters back at home. So far, it has made 7 batches of soup, 6 pumpkin pies and a pumpkin and parsnip casserole = delicious! The remainder has been distributed amongst friends and neighbours and was very gratefully received!" ... See more

Another good Real Seeds Giant Pumpkin competition entry - a very fine squash by Annie Sax:

Real Seeds Giant Pumpkin competition - from Julie Bissell: "My Giant grew up to 48 inch circumference, 44kg of squash - the best photo I could get was of a Hokkaido squash next to it (my cats refused to pose for long enough!)" ... See more

We want to share some of the Real Seeds Giant Pumpkin Competition entries. This is from Rich, who says: "here is a picture of my 6 foot son and a pumpkin we grew together "😁

Seeds! Lovely fresh seeds! Get your new season seeds now... We just wanted to let everyone know our new 2018 Real Seed Catalogue is online 🙂
There are a very few varieties still waiting to be tested but almost everything is packed now; we hope you enjoy it.
(Delivery times? We aim to get them out to you within a week of ordering, but we get really busy January-March, so if you wait til then it can take a little longer.)
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/ ... See more

A catalogue of the very best vegetable seed for home gardeners, with interesting heirloom and heritage varieties. Guaranteed better flavour or your money back.

New season website almost finished - just a few things left working their way through drying and testing. In the meantime we've been harvesting yacon. The first few packs are available now, and we'll be packing up more this week.
http://realseeds.co.uk/unusualtubers.html ... See more

Last call for entries to our Giant Pumpkin photo competition! Send us a picture of your Pacific Giant grown from our seed; the winner will be the person with the most awesome photo, and the prize is £20 worth of seed of your choice. ... See more