How to grow fava beans shoots from Vertical Veg

A little maintenance for our wheelbarrows

Topping up the raised planters with a mixture of compost and topsoil

Our planters receiving a little TLC......

Growing carrots - free fact sheet from Garden Organic

Companion planting – plants which have a mutual benefit to each other.

There are many ways in which you can work with nature to help grow crops successfully and ward off many pests by planting strong-smelling plants next to a row of vulnerable vegetables.

For example, the following plants can help deter pests from your crops:

Basil – wards off whitefly when planted amongst tomatoes

Nasturtium – attracts aphids away from beans

Alliums – confuse carrot fly and protect against slug damage

Lavender – confuses pests

Coriander - helps to repel aphids

Mint – the strong scent helps to deter onion fly

Nettles – attract cabbage white butterflies, keeping them away from brassica crops

You can find a free companion planting guide on the Thompson and Morgan website here

Preparing to sow early some seeds in the poly tunnel

RHS School Gardeners of the Year Awards 2015

Do you have any pupils (individuals or groups) that are passionate about gardening? Or perhaps a teacher that is dedicated to encouraging outdoor learning? The search is now on to find the most talented and inspiring young gardeners and gardening teachers for the fourth RHS School Gardeners of the Year competition.

You can nominate them for an awards in this year's RHS School Gardeners of the Year!

Schools across the UK are invited to nominate their gardening stars for three coveted awards:

RHS Young School Gardener of the Year

RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year (teacher category)

RHS School Gardening Team of the Year

Entries are now open until Friday 1st May 2015.

Shortlisted nominees will be required to make a short video about themselves which will be watched by an experienced judging panel headed up by ITV’s Love Your Garden presenter, Frances Tophill.

More information can be found on the RHS Campaign for School Gardening website here.

Crops growing right through the winter in our poly tunnel

Tidying our lawn edging

Free month by month "what to do" growing guides

Whether you have all day to spare or just half an hour, there is always something to do in the garden. Thompson and Morgan, The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and Gardeners World have produced free month by month guides that may help you to choose;  what, where and when you can start off growing your flowers, vegetables and fruits.

Thompson and Morgan: http://www.thompson-morgan.com/in-the-garden-this-month

RHS: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/january

Gardeners World: http://www.gardenersworld.com/what-to-do-now/week2/

How to grow garlic - free advice from Garden Organic

Maintaining the raised planters keeping them tidy and free of weeds

We find January the ideal time to start planning your growing season

Preparing for a new growing season - maintaining our hand tools

Preparing to help maintain our wildlife friendly banking areas

Thank you to Cumbria County Councils Barrow Community Grant panel

Thank you to Cumbria County Councils Barrow Community Grant Fund panel which has enabled us to purchase a new laptop.

RHS Grow Your Own veg planner

Free fact sheet from Vertical Veg - The Art of Growing in Containers

Vertical Veg has produced a (free) fact sheet - How to grow food successfully in containers in ten straightforward steps.

For your free copy, enter your name and email in the bar at the top of their web page here.

Local media coverage of our Grassroots Giving grant award from Skipton Building Society

North West Evening Mail article

We would like to thank the North West Evening Mail for their article about our community garden/grow your own scheme and how it can be supported.

Encouraging wildlife into your garden

Would you like to encourage wildlife to your garden?

Thompson and Morgan have produce free wildlife gardening guides which give a great insight into how you can encourage wildlife into your own garden, from simple things like growing wild flowers, to installing ponds and creating wildlife habitats and more.

For more information please visit their website here.

Some of our crocus beginning to flower

Some welcomed visitors basking in the sun