FoodSmiles St Albans

Last week our team added a little more growing and storage space to our polytunnels with clever hanging shelves! Winter is a great time to make improvements like this and work on paths and buildings on the plots 😀

New article on the @SustainableStA blog is by our community garden co-ordinator and committee member, Naomi. Want to know how to grow more food with less work? #permaculture #gyo #naturesabundance

Do you have green tomatoes ripening on a windowsill at home? Nicola sent us a recipe she found online: Green Tomato Marmalade! She says "the results are triumphant. One not to miss - and one you certainly can’t buy in the supermarkets!" allotment-garden.org/recipe/1778/gr… #oneplantpromise

Carol sent us photos of the gorgeous 'Friggitello' peppers she's been growing at home - they've been VERY productive! What crop has done really well for you this year? #OnePlantPromise

We asked all our #OnePlantPromise participants what problems or obstacles they anticipated when growing their own - here are the results in a world cloud! Is there anything our emails haven't covered sufficiently yet?

Our July #OnePlantPromise email is out, with tips on managing plant disease, summer feeding of crops, drying herbs and a #PlasticFreeJuly challenge! Have you got yours? Sign up here! foodsmilesstalbans.org.uk/p/st-albans-on…

A great piece on growing your own in a small space, such as a balcony or doorstep! #OnePlantPromise bbc.co.uk/news/uk-528440…

Our #StAlbans #OnePlantPromise June email went out yesterday with watering tips, how to prune tomatoes, companion planting info and how to get started growing food for winter. Not signed up? More info here! foodsmilesstalbans.org.uk/p/st-albans-on…

Our Summer Newsletter is out now! You can view it on our website here: foodsmilesstalbans.org.uk/2020/06/summer…

#30DaysWild starts tomorrow! Have you signed up? Do something wild each day throughout June and get closer to nature! Good for you, good for kids, good for the planet!

@Heathdweller No, we don't sell our farm produce - it is shared among our members. You can pick your own salad leaves, herbs, berries and more at our #IncredibleEdible gardens in #StAlbans town centre though! All details on our website: foodsmilesstalbans.org.uk/p/about-us.html

@FoodSmilesStA @Earthworks_ Fabulous idea. Are you making up produce boxes for sale delivery please?

Are you taking up our #StAlbans #OnePlantPromise May Mini-challenge? This month add one plant to your garden to attract beneficial insects such as hoverflies, ladybirds and parasitic wasps, to help naturally balance pests! I'm adding calendula. What are you adding?

Radishes and mustard-type leaves are some of the quickest crops you can grow. Gonna have these and a big handful of peashoots & herbs in some good bread with good mayo - my favourite springtime sandwich! #OnePlantPromise Are you eating anything from your garden yet?

Although our usual group sessions are of course all on hold for now, at our farm sites we've still had a 'skeleton staff' harvesting veg for our members each fortnight so that no food goes to waste. These pics are from our latest harvest - and what a magnificent lettuce!

It is done! I've planted out all my tender veggies. Planting out is a crucial time to watch for slugs and snails - I went slug-hunting twice after dark and one of my courgettes still got nibbled! Have you planted out yet? Let's see! #OnePlantPromise

So pleased with how our community gardens are looking, despite a bit of neglect! This is #IncredibleEdible Russell Avenue. A big thank you to our waterers! 😁

Still more frosts to come! See metcheck.com/WEATHER/frostr… for the current frost risk. If you've already planted out, protect your plants on cold nights using horticultural fleece, bed sheet, plastic sheet or even cardboard propped up on sticks to cover your crops! #OnePlantPromise

Our #StAlbans #OnePlantPromise May email is out now, full of tips and links on organic pest control and low-carbon gardening, and our May Mini-Challenge for a greener garden! If you haven't seen it, please check your spam folder! :-) foodsmilesstalbans.org.uk/p/st-albans-on…

Have you made the #StAlbans #OnePlantPromise yet? foodsmilesstalbans.org.uk/p/st-albans-on…… May's email will focus on organic pest control, preparing your plants for planting outside, and low-carbon gardening. Sign up now!

It's May!! The month to sow beans, basil, maincrop potatoes, and to plant seedlings out (when nights are warm enough). Also still time to sow loads from seed: lettuces, courgettes, squash, carrots, beetroots, chard, spring onions, leeks & brassicas for winter. #OnePlantPromise