Meadow Orchard Project

Companion Plants for a Thriving Garden

Nasturtiums are a vibrant and versatile addition to any garden, offering beauty, benefits for pollinators, and edible delights. Their bright red, orange, and yellow blooms attract bees and ladybirds while deterring pests like aphids. Easy to grow from seed, they thrive in poor soil and require little maintenance. Both the flowers and leaves add a peppery kick to salads, while the seeds can be used as a spicy seasoning. Join our Gardening Club WhatsApp group to sow nasturtiums, share tips, and enjoy a bountiful harvest together. Sign up today and bring colour, flavour, and biodiversity to your garden!

Nasturtiums: A Beautiful and Beneficial Addition to the Garden

Join Our Gardening Club: Gardening Activities for March

Looking to deepen your gardening skills, grow your own food, or connect with others passionate about sustainability? Join our Gardening Club! We meet every Wednesday and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM to explore everything from composting and propagation to companion planting and no-dig gardening. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, our site leaders will guide you through eco-friendly practices, irrigation methods, and sustainable gardening techniques. Sign up today and become part of a vibrant community, share tips, and enjoy hands-on learning in a fun and welcoming environment. Let’s grow together!

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Reusing materials There are so many ways you can help contribute to Meadow Orchard Project. One super easy way is to save materials which can be reused in the garden. Cardboard toilet roll tubes and kitchen roll tubes make great flowerpots or root trainers for potting on seedlings and germinating broad beans. Brown corrugated cardboard,Continue reading “Reduce, Reuse & Recycle”

Wood fires and the dangers of wood smoke

The benefits of wood fires Sharing an open fire can foster connection, relaxation, and conversation. It can help create a calm atmosphere, evoke nostalgia, and enhance social experiences. The fire serves as a focal point for storytelling, music, drumming, song or games, adding to the enjoyment and potentially making the gathering more memorable and meaningful.Continue reading “Wood fires and the dangers of wood smoke”

Transition Towns Finsbury Park & Crouch End

Want to get more involved in local green initiatives? Want to support or implement practical projects around food, energy, waste, transport and nature in our community? Want to help address social injustices and decolonise our lives? Want to be part of a growing international movement of connected local communities creating change? It sounds like youContinue reading “Transition Towns Finsbury Park & Crouch End”

Growing Tomatoes, Chilies, and Herbs: Fresh Salsa Ingredients

This season, we’re growing a variety of salsa ingredients in our Community Garden, including plum tomatoes, basil, sweet peppers, coriander, chili peppers, and onions. To ensure the best harvest, sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost or directly outdoors when the soil warms. Use well-draining soil and keep plants in a sunny spot. Basil and tomatoes thrive in warmth, while coriander and onions prefer cooler conditions. Start your seeds in small pots or trays with drainage and watch your garden flourish with vibrant, homegrown ingredients perfect for fresh salsa all season long!

Join Our Gardening Club: Hands-On Wednesdays and Saturdays

Wood Firing: Unique Handcrafted Pottery Update

At Meadow Orchard, we’re excited to harvest our yellow London Clay for pottery, perfect for low-temperature wood-fired ceramics. The site, once tennis courts, is rich in clay and ideal for sustainable, locally sourced materials. Our permaculture ethos aligns with using local sustainable materials. We’ve built a clay roundhouse, a natural puddled clay pond, a clay oven, a clay rocket stove and now pottery feels like the next step. In spring, we’ll begin harvesting and testing the clay with local artists and ceramicists. Early test results are promising, and we can’t wait to share the process. Get in touch if you’d like to join us on this creative journey!

A Guide to Open Fires: Choosing the Right Fire Lay

A Guide to Open Fires: Choosing the Right Fire Lay

When building an open fire, selecting the right fire lay is crucial. Here are four popular types: Teepee, Pyramid, Lean-to, and Log Cabin. The Teepee method is ideal for quick, hot fires, while the Pyramid provides a steady, controlled burn. The Lean-to is great for windy conditions, and the Log Cabin ensures a long-lasting fire. Each method has its unique benefits depending on your environment and available materials. Consider factors like kindling, fuel wood, and airflow to maximize fire efficiency. Experimenting with these fire lays will help you optimize your open fire for cooking, warmth, and more.