Health&Safety

Green Again!
by Debbie
<< previous page

Spring seems to have been slow in arriving this year. Last April, in the polytunnels we had to water everything several times each day because it was so hot.
The polytunnels are again full of bedding plants, wall-to-wall greenery, but we are praying for some sunshine before Plant Sales Day on the 17th, so that some of the stock will be in flower.

Jake and his team have been pricking out seedlings for the past few weeks. The potting shed has been a fantastic facility; the work benches are comfortable to use, and on chilly days the heating has been much appreciated. As well as an even wider variety of bedding plants there will be plenty of vegetable seedlings and herbs for sale.

There is always a huge amount to do in the gardens in the spring. In addition to the normal weeding and tidying up jobs, the area around the new building requires landscaping and planting up so that it links into the existing sensory gardens. Walls and paths need to be built, and it will be exciting to see what is now bare earth and a building site become a tranquil haven of new shrubs and trees.

As with many of our projects, a dedicated team of volunteers supports the horticultural team, and we are really thankful for their help. It has been lovely to be given some new plants and cuttings that people have “overstocks” of at home, and any further donations of plants would be very well received.

The tunnel with raised beds is already producing salad crops. Early potatoes and broad beans are growing well, some tomatoes are in and the herbs are waiting in there as a temporary measure because the propagation tunnel is bursting at the seams! The vegetable patch has seedlings establishing nicely, (if only the weeds didn’t get going as enthusiastically) with plenty more plants waiting to join them.

Please pray for Jake and the men he is working with, the volunteers and the girls, that they will find fulfilment in tending the gardens, and see God's hand at work in His creation, and also in their lives as they work and talk together.


	Green Again! *by Debbie* << previous page Spring seems to have been slow in arriving this year. Last April, in the polytunnels we had to water everything several times each day because it was so hot. The polytunnels are again full of bedding plants, wall-to-wall greenery, but we are praying for some sunshine before Plant Sales Day on the 17th, so that some of the stock will be in flower. Jake and his team have been pricking out seedlings for the past few weeks. The potting shed has been a fantastic facility; the work benches are comfortable to use, and on chilly days the heating has been much appreciated. As well as an even wider variety of bedding plants there will be plenty of vegetable seedlings and herbs for sale. There is always a huge amount to do in the gardens in the spring. In addition to the normal weeding and tidying up jobs, the area around the new building requires landscaping and planting up so that it links into the existing sensory gardens. Walls and paths need to be built, and it will be exciting to see what is now bare earth and a building site become a tranquil haven of new shrubs and trees. As with many of our projects, a dedicated team of volunteers supports the horticultural team, and we are really thankful for their help. It has been lovely to be given some new plants and cuttings that people have “overstocks” of at home, and any further donations of plants would be very well received. The tunnel with raised beds is already producing salad crops. Early potatoes and broad beans are growing well, some tomatoes are in and the herbs are waiting in there as a temporary measure because the propagation tunnel is bursting at the seams! The vegetable patch has seedlings establishing nicely, (if only the weeds didn’t get going as enthusiastically) with plenty more plants waiting to join them. Please pray for Jake and the men he is working with, the volunteers and the girls, that they will find fulfilment in tending the gardens, and see God's hand at work in His creation, and also in their lives as they work and talk together.		Once the seeds begin to grow it's all Horti hands on deck to nurture the new plants. The area next to the ALC is a blank canvas! Helen, TFJ volunteer, works on the vegetables in the raised beds. Jake works each day with the men on the Horti project.