We have been featured in a recent Sunday Times article on growing your own cut flowers, called 'A cut above the rest'.
Spanish Tunnel
.Finally we got a team together and have skinned our open Spanish Tunnel, many thanks to Jon, Dad, Petr and Helen. It nearly took off at one point, but we now have a roped-up flappy tent to protect roses primarily. The structure has been up since the winter, but we have been putting off the challenge, until the last moment and the roses were actually flowering underneath.
All GB soft fruit is grown under these kind of tunnels now and they have allowed Britsh growers to compete sucessfully with foreign imports and extend the season.
Open Day Round Up
Hi all! A massive thank you to those of you who came to our Open Day last week. We were delighted with how many turned out including regular customers from all the farmers markets, our Saturday shop and the weddings we have done in the past two years. There were lots of old friends and plenty of new faces too, saying "We didn't know you were here….and now we do!" ……..Of course, we're thrilled with that!!
Coinciding with Open Farm Sunday worked out brilliantly and brought many more people to our door. Catherine Ducker and family spent the day helping people onto the tractor trailer and guiding them down here before going onto the farm across the road. The tractor certainly added a sense of occasion and every one seemed to enjoy the ride!
Rachel and Irene were busy in the packing shed selling plants and giving gardening tips.
Vicky and Peter provided homemade cakes, ice cream and cream teas……with lots of help from relatives on washing up duty.
I was down in the flower studio making up hand ties and chatting about the displays.
Lots of you asked about courses on Sunday; Rachel will be running another couple of "Grow your own cut flower" days in August and October (See our courses page for details). This instructive day is tailored to the season and so there will be an emphasis on annuals and bulbs for planting in the autumn, to ensure buckets of flowers in the spring. There will also be a look at dahlia cultivation and the best varieties for cutting.
A Big Thank you to those who all came to help……….Louis and Violet helped out enormously and found it all very tiring!! see you all at the next one, Sunday 12th September 2010.
Jo Wise