Gardening – Page 3 – Meadow Orchard Project

Nasturtiums: A Beautiful and Beneficial Addition to the 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!

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!

Join Our Gardening Club: Hands-On Wednesdays and Saturdays

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!

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.

February Garden Plans

February is a key month for preparing your community garden in the UK. Focus on composting to enrich the soil and mulching to protect plants from frost. It’s also a great time to plant onions and broad beans, which are hardy and can be started early for a head start on the season. Ensure soil drainage is good, provide support for growing beans, and keep weeds in check around onions. By starting these tasks now, you’ll lay a solid foundation for a productive year. Careful preparation in February will lead to a thriving garden come spring and summer.

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!

The Soil Foodweb

Organic gardening At Meadow Orchard we try to practice organic growing, relying on complex natural ecosystems, working with nature to maintain healthy and fertile soil. Mycelium Networks Paths at Meadow Orchard are mulched with waste organic matter, branches and a deep layer of woodchip. These paths create drainage, help retain moisture and provide support aContinue reading “The Soil Foodweb”

Growing Together: Meadow Orchard Fosters Community & Sustainability

At Meadow Orchard, we believe in the power of community and sustainable gardening to foster a more connected, eco-conscious world. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, our garden provides a welcoming space to learn, grow, and contribute. In this post, we’ll explore key initiatives, share sustainable gardening tips, and highlight ways you can get involved this season. Join us in building a thriving, eco-friendly community through collaboration and education.

The Polytunnel

Introduction We have a good sized polytunnel on site, approximately 14 x 24 feet. The polytunnel supplied by First Tunnels is ideal for growing salad leaves out of season and crops such as tomatoes, aubergines and chilies. We are using self watering containers for growing tomatoes, to help reduce irrigation requirements. These containers have givenContinue reading “The Polytunnel”