Gone mint bananas

I love mint.

Its smells amazing, tastes amazing and is a welcome friend in our garden. Last week we put in a new bed of mints. There are many different types of mints and we have tried to cram in as many as we can, here is a long list for you.....  

mint mint

Apple Mint

Berries and cream mint

Chocolate peppermint

Swiss Mint

Tangerine Mint

Ginger Mint

Grapefruit Mint

Basil Mint

Banana Mint

Lime Mint

Lavender Mint

Orange Mint

All our mint...

...and their are still many more mints to go!

About mint...

Originally taken as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains, it is to this day the most called upon herb for soothing a great deal of ailments from indigestion to heartburn and the common cold to bad breath. That's not all; mint can also provide a cooling sensation to the skin helping to treat minor burns and skin irritations due to its anti-inflammatory properties and it can ease and unblock the breathing and respiratory passages as well as relieve headaches; cup of mint tea anyone?

Why not make your own mint...

If you would like to know how to take cuttings from mint click this link How to grow mint from cuttings

or you can...

Pick a small bunch of mint, wash it and pop it in a good favourite mug, pop the kettle on, pour the hot water over the leaves an leave to infuse. Add a little sugar if you like, simple...enjoy!  

Community Gardener Job

 

Community Gardener

Deen City Farm, Growing Gardens Community Project

We have secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund Local Food Scheme to further develop our Growing Gardens Community Project, at Deen City Farm, South London.  The Growing Gardens Project aims to provide a hub for the local Community giving opportunities to people from all sections in the community to engage in food growing.

We are looking to recruit a Community Gardener to assist the Garden Project Manager in delivering the Growing Gardens Community Project with emphasis on delivering the specific outcomes within our Local Food Funding.  This will include creating a new allotment area, supporting volunteers, helping to co-ordinate workshops and our green fingers educational tours, community events and general garden maintenance.

The ideal person will be creative, enthusiastic and committed with a passion for horticulture the environment. You will ideally have Practical knowledge of gardening with special reference to organic principles and food growing. An understanding of how community-based organisations work and previous experience of working for, or participating in a community based organisation. We are looking for someone who is able to supervise, co-ordinate and work with a wide range of people of all backgrounds including disadvantaged groups/ individuals and/or children.

Part-time across 3-4 days per week, including some weekend working.  Fixed term 1 year contract. Salary £13,700-£15,800 pro rata per year dependent on experience.

For more details and a full job description and person specification please visit our website www.deencityfarm.co.uk to download.

For further information or an informal discussion about the post please contact Louisa Loakes on 020 8545 2178 or e-mail louisa.loakes@deencityfarm.co.uk

To apply for this post please download the application form via our website and send it along with a covering letter and a copy of your C.V. to Louisa Loakes, Deen City Farm 39 Windsor Avenue, Merton Abbey London. SW19 2RR

The closing date for this post is 8th July 2013 at 5pm

With regret, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  Please note that the successful applicant will be asked to undertake a CRB check. Deen City Farm is an equal opportunities employer and registered charity, No. 1008028.

 

Shed Building Day

Poster coloured by volunteer Alexia

 

 

All are welcome to come and join us build our shed down at our allotment at Phipps Bridge, just bring yourself along and a packed lunch and meet us in the garden at 10.30am on 10th july 2013! 

The moving garden

 

Yesterday Flo and I were amazed by how many bees were buzzing around the garden, we took it upon ourselves to film some of the activity....

 

A little competition between the two of us,

which video do you think is the best?

 

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

5

Elderflower Cordial time

Its that time of year again.....elderflowers are out! 

Elderflower cordial is one of my favourite drinks, so i always end up making litres and litres of it. It costs little to make, is quick to make, is exciting to make and is very rewarding with a little bit of sparkling water on a summers day.

This year I have used a recipe from river cottage, I like to experiment with the amount of lemons and flowers I add, making it to suit my taste....

Ingredients

• About 25 elderflower heads
• Finely grated zest of 3 unwaxed lemons and 1 orange, plus their juice (about 150ml in total)
• 1kg sugar
• 1 heaped tsp citric acid (optional)

What to do

Inspect the elderflower heads carefully and remove any insects. Place the flower heads in a large bowl together with the orange and lemon zest.

Bring 1.5 litres water to the boil and pour over the elderflowers and citrus zest. Cover and leave overnight to infuse.

Strain the liquid through a scalded jelly bag or piece of muslin and pour into a saucepan. Add the sugar, the lemon and orange juice and the citric acid (if using).

Heat gently to dissolve the sugar, then bring to a simmer and cook for a
couple of minutes.

Use a funnel to pour the hot syrup into sterilised bottles. Seal the bottles
with swing-top lids, sterilised screw-tops or corks.

Please see the river cottage website for all you need to know!

Happy summer drinking!

Spoons are cool

 

 

 

 

Our Spoon carving Workshop coming up on 20th July 2013 will be run by barn the spoon...... click on this link to see him at work! (we have a few spaces left!, if you fancy joining us just let us know on 020 8543 5300)
 

Composting Workshop coming up next month in the garden...

Open Gardens Wonderful Weekend

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came down over the weekend to visit us for the Open Garden Square Weekend. It was such a lovely day and we were very happy to see so many people supporting the project. The poppies were out to welcome people, we had oodles of cake, lots of duck hooking and even the sheep, ferrets, edna the owl and a bunny came to visit us in the garden!

aaahhhhh what a great day we had!

A special thank you to those who bought us cakes for the cake stall, they were all very yummy and well received! And to those who manned a stall for us and bought down an animal to see us! (cheers Tom)

Here are a few (quite a few, i got a little carried away!)photos from the day.......

   

Many thanks Lu & Flo

See you next year!