Welcome to the organic section of Grace & Flavour.
A section of the G&F garden - about a third of the site - is committed to organic principles of cultivation. It is our aim to produce fruit and vegetables without using chemicals; working with nature to garden in a sustainable way. We can't claim the fruit and veg will be 'organic' as the land is not soil association approved but we will be growing organically produced fruit and veg.
Our second season is well under way. We have already planted broad beans and garlic in the autumn, they have really overwintered well. The spring sowing has begun with shallots parsnips, radish, and sugar snap peas. We have ordered a huge range of organic seeds, tubers and bulbs to plant. The sowing and planting record will be updated each week. See the record here Organic sowing and planting record
Now cropping (produce available for members of Grace & Flavour to buy on Saturdays from 9.30am):
Kale, Spring Cabbages and a few spring onions
Please have a look at our Plan for 2011.
Things to do Spring 2011
Prepare beds - we are digging these in order to remove as many perennial weeds as possible and to create well defined beds
In the next couple of weeks we will sow and plant carrots, salad crops, first early potatoes, spinach and red onions
We need to set up seed beds for brassicas and leeks
We produced an article for Dorking Transition about our experiences last year. Read the article here.
Which part of the garden is it?
When you walk into the garden you can see there is a path going down the centre, known as Hollier Avenue. Most of the section cultivated against the wall on the far side is the organic section.
Do I have to sign up to join the organic section?
No, anyone can come and help us at any time. The more the merrier!
Do I have to work on the organic section to buy the produce from it?
No! But we'd welcome anyone at anytime to come and give us a hand.
What's in the smelly dustbin?
Our nettle fertiliser - it's just nettles with water which is left to steep for about a month before it is diluted and watered onto the plants.
Are there plans to extend the area you now have?
Yes! We've agreed to take another 10 metres or so of land to grow fruit and some perennial crops such as artichokes and rhubarb - more details to follow!
We look forward to seeing you down at the garden,
John, Ray & Justine