The small park (Rest Garden) where I go twice a day with Billy (and he goes twice a day with Lady M) has a dedicated group of volunteer gardeners who meet every Wednesday morning.
They weed, trim, plant, and sow. In fact they do everything other than mow the grass; which is undertaken by the council who have a big mower!
I came across a fellow dog-walker, a while ago, who was building (or re-constructing) a raised bed in one un-visited corner of the garden. I asked him what they planned to plant in it, and he asked me, in return, what I would plant in it.
Of course I replied VEGETABLES, and I thought no more about it.
So you can imagine my delight when, on returning to Brighton recently, I found that the raised bed (above), and another small area (below), have been planted with Pumpkins. You can just see one in the middle of the picture above.
They have beautiful foliage, plus the advantage of bearing wonderful fruits. I'm just wondering how they will decide who gets them!
The garden also has an Olive tree (I missed the fruiting period), and a Fig tree, but I think they could go further. There is a Chestnut tree but the fruits are tiny. I think they should have a decent grafted Chestnut, a Victoria Plum, and maybe a few good Apple trees.
I would be happy to buy them if permission was given to plant them.
Why not?
Your Rest Garden sounds like a community allotment. How lovely they can work together for the community. You should give your tree suggestions to one of the gardeners.
ReplyDeleteOur olive trees won't be harvested till late November after they've had a lot more rain to plump them up. I think the young olives were sun burnt along with the grapes. Don't seem to be very many
I think the Olives we have here are more 'ornamental' than for eating; not unlike the one we had in France. However, I did prepare them one year and they were OK; but very small. More pip than olive!
DeleteGreat idea. Councils here are finally coming round to the idea that fruit for free in amenity plantings (parks and public places) can't be a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteA long time ago in Marrakech, I pinched a few Oranges from the main street, and later made Marmalade from them back in France. It was very good, and a better souvenir than most.
DeleteCommunity fruits are beginning to catch on, so suggest it to the volunteers! There are fruit orchards springing up all over....
ReplyDeleteVeg, too.... don't forget that in France, vegetables like Black Tuscan kale, Red Russian kale and Rainbow Chard are used very successfully in villahe and town flower beds and planters [originally to get around our regular hosepipe bans because we are allowed to water vegetables]... but they are attractive and require regular leaf harvesting to maintain them.
The pumpkins they've grown could be used to make something the volunteers could all share.... pumpkin pie, perhaps? Or a nice rich pumpkin soup to be communally consumed after a winter weeding session... we do a pumpkin soup that uses a can of tomatoes, veg stock [OXO], and a soupspoonful of Ras al Hanout spice as the other ingredients.... can be served hot or cold with cream!
Pumpkins usually end up in the soup here. I love them. I used to grow lots of Butternuts, and kept them through winter. I agree about the Kales, they are very decorative and could be grown anywhere.
DeleteWhy not join the group of volunteers Cro, that way you can become part of the “they”?
ReplyDeleteI would, but my back and hips won't allow me!
DeleteThere are so many wonderful people in this country who give their time and labour free of charge to improve our environment, care for others or raise money for desperate charities. I salute them all.
ReplyDelete