A frosty start to the day

Welcome and thank you to our most recent sponsor Kimberly-Clark

Seven tips for growing tomatoes in containers

Ten great crops to grow in containers - free advice from Vertical Veg

Growing crops in small space? Vertical Veg has produced a list of 10 great crops you can grow in containers.

For more information please visit the Vertical Veg website here.

Spring sowing and planting into surface compost outside

Crocus adding colour to our lawn edging

A robin keeping an eye on what we are doing today

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

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year

We would like to thank our friends; neighbours, partners, sponsors and funders for their continued support throughout the year and wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Christmas holiday refuse collection arrangements

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY REFUSE COLLECTION ARRANGEMENTS

• Normal Collection Day Thursday 25 December - will be collected on Saturday 27 December
• Normal Collection Day Friday 26 December - will be collected on Sunday 28 December
• Monday 29 December - Normal arrangements
• Tuesday 30 December - Normal arrangements
• Wednesday 31 December - Normal arrangements
• Normal Collection Day Thursday 1 January - will be collected on Friday 2 January
• Normal Collection Day Friday 2 January - will be collected on Saturday 3 January

Barrow Borough Council Xmas holiday opening hours 2014

What to do in December - Free advice from Vertical Veg

Vertical Veg offers free advice on how you can maintain outdoor winter crops and keep up a fresh supply of, nutritious food by moving some of your growing inside.

For more information please visit their website here

Cadas pop up shop

Barrow & District Disability Association - Santa's Grotto

Skipton Building Societys Grassroots Giving funding success

We would like to thank all those who voted for us in Skipton Building Societys Grassroots Giving Initiative in which they asked the public to vote on who they believe should be awarded £500 funding. The winning groups were announced this morning and we are pleased to confirm, that with your valued support, we have been successful with our application. Thank you.

For more information and a full list of winners please visit the Skipton Building Society website here

Growing garlic - free advice fromThompson and Morgan

"Knowing when to plant garlic is important to help you get the best crops. Garlic is best planted between November and April although you will generally get a bigger and better crop if you plant it in the autumn......................."

For more information please visit the Thompson and Morgan website here

 

Large white caterpillars feeding on some of our nasturtiums

Early morning dew

Woodland Trust free tree packs for schools, communities and youth groups

"The Woodland Trust have over 3,000 free tree packs to give away to schools, communities and youth groups for spring 2015. The tree packs have been generously funded by lead partners Sainsbury’s, IKEA FAMILY and Biffa Award, also funded by WHSmith, Wilko and players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

August 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War and they would like you to take part in a once-in-a-generation tribute for those who lived and served, by creating a growing legacy that will stand tall for centuries to come.

Over the next four years they're offering more than three million free trees to help communities, schools and youth groups create special, living memorials.

About the tree packs:

There are a range of packs available in quantities of 30, 105 or 420 trees.

The trees are young saplings about 20 - 40cm high and tree protection is recommended"

"The closing date for spring applications is scheduled for 7 January 2015, but offers may close earlier if over-subscribed, so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. All applications will be reviewed independently and packs will be delivered to successful applicants in March 2015"

More information can be found on the Woodland trust website here.

Fallen fruit......

Barrow and District Disability Association job vacancy

BARROW AND DISTRICT DISABILITY ASSOCIATION 

Part-time DISABILITY ADVICE AND BENEFITS ADVISER (21 hours pw) to June 2016

Salary £19,817 (pro rata)

The Association is looking for a fourth member to join our Disability Advice and Benefits Service.  The person will be required to provide general and more complex disability information and advice and welfare benefits advice, including preparation of appeals to a wide range of clients.

Applicants must have an in-depth knowledge of disability and welfare benefits and eligibility criteria, and experience of advising clients on these.  Knowledge of the appeals process would be an advantage.

The successful applicant will be required to work Monday, Thursday and Friday 9.00am to 5pm with one hour for lunch, and will be a driver with access to a car.

Applicants should provide a c.v, letter of application and names and addresses of two referees.  

Further details of the post available from the Projects Officer, 71 – 77 School Street, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 1EJ, telephone 01229 432599 or debbierobley2@btconnect.com.  

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 12^th November, 2014.

How to grow garlic in containers video with Thompson & Morgan

Autumn colour

A small white butterfly enjoying our late flowering phacelia

October jobs in the edible container garden - advice from Vertical Veg

"October is a time of change in the container garden. We say a fond farewell to our warm weather friends – the tomatoes, chillies, runner beans etc – and welcome in the cool weather crops like rocket and kale"

Vertical Veg offers free advice for October jobs in the - edible container garden at: http://www.verticalveg.org.uk/what-to-do-in-october/

Choosing the right strawberry plant - Free advice from Gardeners World

“You can buy strawberries all year round in supermarkets but, even in season, they're expensive and rarely taste as good as home-grown fruits. They're ideal for growing in containers on a patio or balcony - plant five in a 45 cm diameter pot or up to 10 in a growing bag. Plants should fruit well for three or four years”

Discover which type of strawberry plant is best for you, in Gardeners World Magazine at: http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/features/fruit-veg/choosing-strawberry-plants/5035.html