We had a lot of people out today, including several children (and grandchildren) because it is a school holiday and also one dog.

We all enjoyed the warm sunshine, and got a lot of work done. We had some yummy cake and brownies with our coffee.

You can see how well the new crops are coming along in the beds and the polytunnels, so we had a nice Spring harvest.

The rain forecast for today held off, allowing us to work in the dry, eg to sow carrot and parsnip seeds.

It was decided to harvest the last of the leeks

and important news – our first asparagus spears were cut.

The rotovation was speeded up, including inside one of the polytunnels and among other jobs a raspberry patch was weeded and brassica stems chopped up to aid decomposition.

Last Thursday we had an excellent turnout, including lots of children who were off school, and one grandmother. The weather was wonderful, so we had our coffee break outside for the first time this year. And we also got a lot of work done.

Raspberry canes have been cut down and, with the help of children (off-school as it’s the Easter holidays), new strings have been added for support, in anticipation of a good crop.

Manure has been added to more patches and then rotovated in.

Of course weeds are growing, frost or not; careful weeding is needed on the patch of tiny onion shoots.

Brassica stems are removed and more broad beans sown, to replace those that vanished from an entire patch; a new problem, possibly mice?

Blackcurrant and worcesterberry bushes are in flower and yet again, we thankfully have boxes of produce to take home.

and there are plenty of salad leaves.

More seedlings including spring cabbage, were added in the polytunnel, while outdoors the autumn planted garlic is growing well amongst the straw.

We’ve had no frosts recently. Instead, warm temperatures for February, so weeding was possible outside, as well as in the polytunnel where salad leaves are ready; we’re just waiting until there are enough for us all to share.

Compost continues to be removed from the bins (as the sign says) and distributed on the patches.

As for the “take home” boxes, they’re very welcome at this time of year, making all the hard work worth it.