The Phipps Bridge Community Garden continues with our thoroughly enjoyable Wednesday workdays, with up to twelve volunteers collectively contributing on average about 50 volunteer hours per week, throughout the season.
We have also had students from the Aurora Centre (South Thames College) and Orchard Hill College joining us for regular workdays, with about ten young people and teachers helping with the work each session, and enjoying a picnic break in the open air.
This summer, NCS The Challenge also joined, with thirteen 16 year olds volunteering as part their one-off Social Action Day, and we have also had young volunteers from Circle Housing Merton Priory come along to lend a hand. In September, we hosted a Corporate Volunteering session with six people from VERCO Global enjoying a day of healthy activity.
This year we had the advantage of a 15 foot long poly tunnel with an automatic water sprinkler, which was erected and cared for by Bob and Steve, two of our regular volunteers. Our best crops were leeks and broad beans (right), and our fruit trees have matured nicely, producing a bumper harvest of apples and plums.
We are now planning the planting for next year and turning over the soil ready for the frosts, and already have sprouts, broad beans, onions and sprouting broccoli well established for next spring.
Thanks to everyone who came to the Quiz night at the Guardian centre earlier in the year, when we raised nearly a thousand pounds for this garden project, to buy equipment and seeds.
We look forward to continuing the great work in 2017!
Gillian
Community Gardening Champion