Welcome to the SRT blog No. 122

Posted on October 27, 2022 in Welcome to the SRT Blog

28th October 2022 – Welcome to our blog post No.122

James Kenyon attended the opening night at the St. Albans Museum art show as some of James’ work was being exhibited. Fantastic.

And Ian – Head of horticulture presented the winners of the Kings Langley Parish Councils summer garden competitions. He then did a talk to them on fruit pruning and raised over £400. Thank you to the residents who were there and donated to the raffle.

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At Northchurch the veg harvest continues. Spot Ian trying to hide behind the tomatoes. They were all being harvested as there is not enough sun to ripen them now. Then the plants were taken out. And later….

Pete, Jonny & David have been getting the compost ready for spreading in the poly tunnel – the no dig methodology. Sean wheeling it over there.

Volunteer Laura on hen house, cleanout duty.

Roxy & Shona harvested the last of the raspberries.

A team were over at Aldbury clearing an area on the allotments. Lee found a toad, Christian said he didn’t like donkeys but we think he was won over.

Daisy is cleaning out a jumbo squash ready for chopping for chutney and freezing with volunteer Les. The squashes were peeled and the chickens will get all the discarded insides. It’s a natural dewormer for them.

There were lots of autumnal looking veg boxes this week. Thanks to Hemel Food Garden for the swedes and celeriac from their allotments.

Chop, chop, chopping in the baking group. Making apple cakes for the Halloween activity event day yesterday. More chopping, preparation for baking beetroot brownies, this time.

Taylor strimming at Bell Lane cemetery.

A team were emptying the potatoes from the giant black pots. They have really grown in size over the last few weeks with the rain we have had, as they weren’t watered in all the hot weather we had in the summer. The green top growth kept them slightly damp, so they did alright. Charlie sorted them for the farm shop.

The half term Halloween activity event had all 20 places taken. Pumpkins were carved – with a little help from the adults as it is hard work. Decorated and painted by the children who were wearing great fancy dress outfits.

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Halloween is coming at Hemel Food Garden. Halloween craft session in the greenhouse creating some paper bats this time.

Fantastic job clearing the paths at Berkhamsted school – the team were managing the leaf blowers really well to get the job done!

The first batch of Christmas robin tree decorations well under way.

Team Chipperfield. Finished off the hedge planting and all edged. Great job!

Outside contract in Apsley. Excellent work by Calum and Robert mowing the lawn, weeding and clearing the hedge cuttings.

Mikes team refurbished and created a partition in the log store.

Someone else is running the morning meeting!

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The Activity Centre have been busy making jams and chutneys. Now it’s time to quality test each of the new production batches.

More reindeer in production – need plenty to sell in the farm shops and at markets.

Sophia and Luka picking apples that a kind allotmenteer donated to us.

Ed & Sophia preparing lunch.

Annette & Becca at the market stall yesterday.

Here’s *Sunny* the Sunnyside reindeer who is going to be raffled in November – in time for putting up the Christmas decorations. He’s a large version and has been made by trainees at the Activity Centre over the last few weeks.