Work Done 23th May

Having found that the slate problem is a little worse than we thought in the forest garden we've taken a little step back and hence have turned the problem into a possible solution. We will be contacting some local garden centers next week to see if any of them would like to buy the slate off us. If any will buy it, it will mean there is a good excuse to work hard, pullin all that slate out of the ground as the money from it could be used to buy plants for the forest garden. Lovly.

We have also been siting out good places for bird/bat boxes in the woodlands and freeing some trees from Ivy (yep, we know it's great for wildlife, but there's just to darn much of it!). We have also found an amazing tree perfect for a tree house:-) And finally, we are running a raffle to fund some fruit tree budding and grafting workshops, so just email snoopyandchichi@hotmail.com if you'd like any:-)

Work Done 16th May

Today we were able to do some more clearing; of slate and debris (roots, metal, 20 year old wellies!) in the ground and of brambles, ivy etc above ground. By digging a few test pits and having a good look we were able to work out which areas were slate and which were soil...this meand we now know where to raise the soil level. More soil was also collected from around the wall and we now have at least five good soil sifters.
Next time (Sunday, 23rd May) we will be leveling the ground and filling in the terrace. We will also be doing some more clearing and most importantly collecting and sifting more soil.
Seeya then ;-)

Plant Wishing List

Many of the following plants will either be very familiar or will be completely unknown. That is the great thing about alternative food crops....we find familiar plants with unfamiliar uses (e.g. Dandilion coffee) and unfamiliar plants with familiar uses (e.g. the potato-like root of the Indian Cucumber). This list will be continuously added to, so please leave a comment if you can think of any others. Most of them and their uses can be found online, especially on websites like the Plants For a Future Database.

Groundcover:

All edible, many native. Spreading, tough and can be walked on. Used in between beds and shrubs. Idealy our paths would also be planted with (made up of) this.

Strawberries; Clover; Lawn Chamomile; Dandilion; Alfalfa; Bugle (Ajuga reptans); Daisy (Belis perenis); Cat's Ear (Hypohoeris radiata); Plantain (Common or Hoary); Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris); Pennyroyal (Mentha pelegium); Snake Root (Asarum canadense); Native Thyme (Thymus serpyllum); Sweet violet (Viola odorata); Pink Purslane (Montia sibirica); Miners Lettuce (Montia perfoliata); Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis); Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Rhizosphere (roots):

Edible, perennial rootcrops. These can be planted in the mound beds as will need good, fine soil to develop their roots.

Hamburg Parsley (Petroselinum crispum); Salsify (Raphanus sativus); Toothwort (Dentaria laciniata); Indian Cucumber (Medeola virginica); Cucumber Root (Streptopus amplexifolius); Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum); Three Cornered Leek (Allium triquetrum); Dogs Tooth Violet (Erythronium dens-canis); Erythronium albidum, americana & revolutum; Tiger Nuts (Cyperus esculentus); Yam (Dioscorea batatus); Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus); Earth Nut Pea (Lathyrus tuberosus); Oca (Oxalis tuberosus); Yacon (Polymnia edulis); Silverweed (Potentilla anserinia); Quamash (Camassia quamash); Burdock (Arctium lappa); Rampion (Campanula rapunculus); Turnip-Rooted Chervil (Chaerophyllum bulbosum)

Herbaceous:

For beds. Perennial or easily self-seeding. many parts edible (leaves, stems, flowers etc). Many are multipurpose.

Amaranth, Quinoa, Chick Pea, Sunflower, Lupins, Nigella spp., Poppy, Millet, Good King Henry, Sorrel. Tree Onion, Sea Kale, Cardoon, Spinach, Runner Beans, Globe Artichokes, Asparagus, Chicory, Horseradish, Lovage, Mitsuba, Watercress, Chard, Endive, Lemaon Balm, Borage, Buckwheat, Comfrey, Marigold, Columbine, Milkweeds, Yellow Asphodel, Campanula spp., Day Lilly, Malva spp. (eg Musk Mallow), Iron Cross Plant, Everlasting Onion, Wild Cabbage, Perennial Kale, Turkish Rocket, Perennial Rye, Rhubarb, French Tarragon, Liquorice, Angelica, Golden Saxifrage, Pignut, Sweet Cicely, Mint, Nasturtium, Sage, Sweet Cicely, Tansy, Centaury, Fennel, Feverfew, Horehound, Hyssop, Lavender, Marjoram, Rosemary, Rue, Teasel, Yarrow, Anise Hyssop, Alium spp., Chives, Carlic Cress, Fire Lilly, Tiger Lilly, Orach, Borage, Pot Marigold,Chop Suey Greens, Rocket, Purslane.

Climbers:

Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa), Passion Fruit (Passiflora caerula, P. incarnata), Schisandra grandiflora, Brant Vine (Vitis vinifera), Northern Fox Grape (Vitis labrusca), Honey Suckle

Work Done 9th May

It was good today and with three different groups working on three areas, alot was done. Progress was made on the wall of the walled garden, the back of the forest garden area was cleared and a huge rotted tree stump removed, and the terrace has been almost finished in the forest garden. The terrace has really changed the look of the area and given it a good bit of structure...and it dosn't just look like a mess of cardboard any more!
Next week (Sunday the 16th) we should dig some test pits, to see which bits are soil and which are slate. We will also need to do some more mulching and hopefully continue working on the terrace.
If anyone has any ideas on what can go where in the garden please put a comment up. I love ponds!!!
Cheers:-)

Naughty Members of the Parsley Family

Many wild members of the parsley family (Apiaeae/Umbeliferaceae) are edible and have medicinal value. However some, such as Hemlock are DEADLY poisonous! That makes this comparison taken from a Readers Digest book on wild flowers pretty usefull.

Work Done 2nd May

Today we made a start on digging out for the terrace. It's pretty hard going as the ground is full of slate, meaning that the soil dug out also is being sifted so we can use it in making the beds. We were also treated to some gorgeous nettle soup.

This Sunday, 9th May, we will be joined by a group working with us as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award. There will also be an opportunity to work with an experienced Dry Stone Waller. Tasks for the forest garden group include; planting more trees around the tree bog, digging out the terrace, clearing the back of the garden area and mulching it.