Cooking on open fires Meadow Orchard site is off-grid, which means we don’t have mains gas or electricity. To cook at Meadow Orchard we use bottled gas (Butane or Butane / Propane mixed gas), Paraffin, Meths or Firewood. We have a number of different types of stoves and methods of cooking, Kelly Kettles, Rocket Stoves,Continue reading “The Fire Triangle”
Category Archives: Gardening
Homes for Solitary Bees
Solitary Bees and How to Create Habitat for Them
Did you know there are around 250 species of solitary bees in the UK? Unlike honeybees, solitary bees do not produce honey but play a crucial role in pollination. These fascinating bees build nests in hollow plant stems or small cracks in trees, laying eggs and providing food for their larvae. You can support solitary bee populations by creating ideal habitats, such as bundles of hollow reeds, bamboo, or drilled logs, placed in sheltered, sunny spots. By setting up these bee hotels or bug houses, you’ll encourage solitary bees to nest, enhancing your garden’s biodiversity. Learn more about how to build a bee-friendly environment and attract these essential pollinators!
Off-Grid Kitchen: Solutions for Outdoor Cooking
Learn how we built our practical off-grid kitchen. A simple two-burner gas hob and using reclaimed materials like a stainless steel sink and polycarbonate roofing, we’re keeping things functional and sustainable. Our volunteers have been busy finding ways to reuse materials, salvaging wood for the construction and creating a habitat wall for bees. With no mains water, we use collected rainwater and eco-friendly products to minimize waste. This kitchen shows how small changes can make a big impact on living more sustainably.
Herbs and Flowers for our Kitchen Garden
Help us create a vibrant and flavourful kitchen garden with our collection of herbs and flowers, including borage, chamomile, chives, fennel, lavender, and spearmint. Sowing seeds at the right time ensures a bountiful harvest, so start your garden indoors with a mini propagator or sow directly outdoors once the frost has passed. Discover the perfect sowing instructions for each herb and flower in our collection, from fresh chamomile tea to spearmint for relaxing brews. Explore the growing season and bring fresh, homegrown flavours to your meals.
Mini Windowsill Propagator
Germinating Broad Beans indoors Broad Beans are easy to grow, can be planted out early in the season or overwinter. Produce a good crop and being legumes fix nitrogen in the soil for future crops. That’s a quadruple win in our book! How to get involved If you’d like to help us get a headContinue reading “Mini Windowsill Propagator”
Off Grid Lighting for our Roundhouse
We’re currently installing low-voltage lighting in our Roundhouse Classroom. The setup includes a small solar panel to charge a leisure battery, which powers 12-volt spotlights. The addition of lighting will benefit our site users and enable the Roundhouse to be used during the winter when daylight hours are short. The Roundhouse has few windows andContinue reading “Off Grid Lighting for our Roundhouse”
Elemental Home Education Feb ‘25
Every Monday, Meadow Orchard hosts Elemental, a home education hub for children aged 5 to 8. This day-long program immerses children in nature, helping them connect with the world around them. Activities like bulb planting, weeding, and harvesting encourage mindful engagement. Elemental’s holistic approach nurtures empathy, compassion, and responsibility while fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world. Children develop mindfulness and an interconnected perspective, discovering their innate qualities in the process. To join or learn more, visit Elemental’s website or contact via WhatsApp
History of Meadow Orchard: From Tennis Courts to Local Green Space
The Meadow Orchard Community Garden in Crouch End, London, is a 1.5-acre site formerly used as tennis courts. The site, behind Hornsey Medical Centre, has a rich history, with aerial photos from 1947 showing tennis courts and allotments. It was home to two tennis clubs, Harefield Club and Circle 23, before declining demand led to the sale of the land to the NHS in the 1990s. In 2010, it became a community garden. Historical maps and local photos can offer more insight into its past. If you have photos or knowledge of the site, please contact us.
January at MOP
Discover the exciting progress we’ve made this winter at Meadow Orchard Project! From completing bulb planting and tree sapling collections to building a Three Sisters bed with our female volunteers, we’ve been busy. We’ve also installed nest boxes, mulched, and worked on the roundhouse lighting for upcoming spring events. Plus, we’re preparing for the Spring Solstice with yoga, Kung Fu, and a Singing Walk with Emily Hannah. Join us as we continue to nurture our garden, support local wildlife, and plan amazing community events. Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming workshops and activities!
Fedges v Hedges: Sustainable Living Willow Fences
Discover the benefits of fedges—sustainable, living fences that combine the best of fences and hedges. Made from fast-growing plants like willow, fedges provide a natural barrier that becomes stronger, sturdier, and more beautiful over time. Unlike wooden fences that deteriorate, fedges improve with age and offer an eco-friendly alternative. Easy to maintain, willow is perfect for creating fedges, and its cuttings can be repurposed for other garden projects. Learn how fedges can protect plants, enhance your garden’s aesthetic, and offer long-term benefits for both privacy and sustainability. Ideal for gardeners looking for a practical and attractive solution.
Meadow Orchard Project 