Summer meeting in the sun

Today was the first of our seasonal garden volunteer meetings, and what a sunny day to have it! Amoungst other things we discussed our

Harvest Festival

which we have coming up on.... 

Saturday 29th September 2012  

We are planning a day of fun and festivities and will keep you posted!

An Introduction to Beekeeping Workshop

Growing Gardens Project

Beginners Beekeeping Workshop

This day will help beginners gain a general understanding about bees and what it involves to look after them, so if you are thinking of  keeping bees or are just interested in them,

it is a great chance to gain more knowledge! Find out the importance of bees, the life cycles of bees and the hive, pollination and honey, diseases, general hive management and much more!. As part of the day we will also be taking a trip to visit the Wimbledon Beekeepers Associations apiary at Morden Hall Park. Please bring your own wellies and packed lunch.

Date: Sat 11th August 2012

Time: 10.30am – 3pm

Price: £20 for visitors, £15 concessions, volunteers £10

Location:

Deen City Farm

39 Windsor Avenue

Merton Abbey

London, SW19 2RR

www.deencityfarm.co.uk  

To book a place please call us on 020 8543 5300 or email Louisa on louisa.loakes@deencityfarm.co.uk  

Andrews bus wheelbarrow



Welcome Flo

We are very pleased to welcome to our new Community Gardener Flo

to the garden project. 

Flo about Flo

 "well...I grew up within a family who have always been passionate about gardening, this lead me on to to pursue my career in garden design. I studied at University college Falmouth, Cornwall, which was a particularly inspiring place to learn. I went on to work at The Lost Gardens of Helegan and then in Scotland for the couple of years - my knees started to ache from the damp weather their so I decided to come back down south. Since being in London I am now working as Community gardener at Deen City Farm. I smiled when I first saw the garden, a lovely surprise hidden away. I am really excited about our Harvest Festival which is coming up soon and the new allotment area. "

**********

Flo Profile

Favorite colour: Gold
Favorite garden: My Mums
Favorite vegetable : potato
Favorite musician: Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves of Destiny
Favorite Plant: Digitalis
Favorite bird: Black bird

Farm Club's lovely food drawings!

Some lovely vegetable pictures by the kids at farm club...

Wimbledon Wunderland

Just down the road from the farm and garden is Wimbledon College of Art. They have just started their own blog page. I just wanted to show you Franks wonderful Orchid collection. very beautiful.http://wimbledontechnicians.myblog.arts.ac.uk/the-garden/franks-orchid-page/

Introduction to Food Growing Workshop

Growing Gardens Project

Introduction to Food growing  Workshop

The day will include all you need to know to get started in food growing and what to do in your garden now. You will learn about crop rotation, sowing, planting and harvesting, planning what to grow and more. 

The workshop will be run by Ecolocal—All welcome and no experience needed—Refreshments provided please bring a packed lunch.

Date: Sat 18th Aug 2012

Time: 10.30am – 3pm

Price: £20 for visitors, £15 concessions, volunteers £10

Location:

Deen City Farm

39 Windsor Avenue

Merton Abbey

London, SW19 2RR

www.deencityfarm.co.uk  

To book a place please call us on 020 8543 5300 or email Louisa on louisa.loakes@deencityfarm.co.uk  

Back in the day

While sorting through my files yesterday I came across this photograph, which I believe was taken at the old site of Deen City Farm down Church Road. What a wonderful photo. Then... I came across the photo, below on the back it reads ' Derelict allotment in the centre of a high rise estate, soon to be developed as a community garden.' Initially i thought it might be the phipps bridge allotment, but i am unsure.  I have been told by someone local to this area that the three high rise building to the right no longer exist? If you have any ideas, do let me know!

  

Then...I remembered that we had some more photographs from the old site in our portacabin. I have taken photos of these to share. Are you one of these people? They are just such lovely pictures!



Today and the weekend

Pop along to the garden over the weekend. We are part of the Open Gardens Squares Weekend.....

Open Garden Squares Weekend is organised by the London Parks & Gardens Trust (LPGT), who work to protect and promote London's green open spaces.

Here is a little bit of history about OGSW...

Squares are one of the defining features of London. Like other European cities, London has its grand civic spaces, but no other city has developed the garden square in quite the same way. 
London squares are different because they were built for people to live in. The layout of Georgian and Victorian squares created an ordered, spacious arrangement of streets and leafy open spaces which has made an enduring contribution to the quality of life in London. 
Today, London’s squares are a vital part of the city’s fabric: a focus for local communities, attractive to tourists, and pleasant places for Londoners in which to live, work and relax. They can also be a haven for wildlife, important links in the green chain between the city’s parks and back gardens, and occasional oases in built-up areas. 
Social changes, two world wars, building development and neglect all took their toll on squares in the 20th century. The London Squares Act of 1931 was hugely important in protecting more than 400 of the city’s squares from being built over, and without it many of the squares we enjoy today may not have survived. 
Today, private squares with their mysterious, shady gardens co-exist with those run by councils, more open in their layouts and often with playgrounds and sports facilities. Public ownership has allowed more people to enjoy the delights of squares, which provide vital access to recreation and green surroundings in poorer urban areas. 
Events such as Open Garden Squares Weekend allow public access each year to many of the private squares, ensuring that their contribution to London’s environment can be appreciated by all. 
Awareness of the value of London’s parks and gardens has grown in recent years, and there is renewed commitment to the conservation and improvement of squares, both public and private. English Heritage has undertaken several major restorations, and many smaller renovations have been completed, thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, local authorities and others. 
This site tells the story of squares, and highlights how much has been done - and remains to be done - to preserve this integral part of London’s landscape.

Volunteers have been putting the bunting up ready for the weekend....

Tickets for the weekend are available in our farm shop. 

To find out about other gardens that are part of the weekend click on this link... http://www.opensquares.org/

And today.... many thanks to Volunteers Alex and Randy for creating our 2012 front bed. Alex has grown all these plants from seed and Randy has helped to plant them out. There is an assortment of Calendula, Nicotiana and cosmos, I will look forward to seeing them all in full bloom - a colourful and cheerful entrance to the farm, I think!   

Have a great Diamond Jubilee weekend everyone!

Flag by Volunteer Andrew

Just a short note to wish everyone a wonderful jubilee weekend and If you haven't already got anything arranged...The farm is celebrating jubilee weekend by joining in with the BIG LUNCH on the 3rd of June.  There will be lots of tables laid out so bring a picnic 11am - 3pm. Come and join us, the more the merrier! www.deencityfarm.co.uk