The United Nations have designated 2016 as the International Year of the Pulse (peas and beans to you and me). As vegetables they are relatively easy to grow, they give lovely crops and capture nitrogen from the air and lock it up in the soil, which is one reason why we tend to leave the roots of these plants in the soil at the end of the season. Peas and beans are also excellent for insects such as bumblebees.
To celebrate, why not grow a variety you haven’t tried before, try and save some seed for next year (broadbeans are good ones to start with) or save beans for drying and using during the winter? http://www.fao.org/pulses-2016/en/
Pruning Workshop
As part of the Community Growing Group skill sharing programme, Peter Samsom is delivering a practical session to introduce the art of fruit tree pruning. The event is now fully booked but you can get involved in shaping future events by participating in our survey below.
Incredible Edible Trip
Working with Misty Blue Farm, we organised a minibus of workers and volunteers from the Spennymoor area to visit Incredible Edible Todmorden and find out how they have transformed their town. We came back buzzing with inspiration and ideas!
Composting Workshop
Led by Rachel Gatland of Durham County Council, and hosted by Shildon Alive! we braved the snow to learn all about what should go into a successful compost heap. The delicious stew and dumplings helped keep us cosy in the shed!
Our skill development events aim to help growers learn new skills, meet other growers and see different gardens. They are relaxed, fun and usually involve some kind of food sharing.
This is where we invite you to share information about your garden and the projects you are involved in. We will need you to provide a couple of paragraphs and an image.
For illustration purposes, here's some of the inspirational prize-winning produce from Crook's inaugural Allotment Show 2015!
A tried and tested, Growing Durham certified 'easy and delicious' seasonal recipe:
You can use any of your own dried beans or use a tin of beans (Peter used cannellini beans). Kale is a vegetable that no winter garden should be without and Peter skipped the chicken and just used a veg stock cube. Let us know what you think via the Facebook page.
Gardeners can get a bit twitchy at this time of year - especially if we get a nice fine day. It's still a bit early to be sowing most things but if you have a greenhouse, polytunnel, cloches or coldframe you can make a start with
sweet peas
broadbeans
spinach
salad onions
Toilet roll tubes are great for sowing peas and beans as they give plenty of height and biodegrade when planted out. If you fancy a go, why not have a look at the video clip on this excellent blog http://www.veggingoutwithadam.com/broad-beans/
Or if, like me, you have suffered wind damage this winter, best get that greenhouse mended...
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You are receiving this newsletter because you are either a member of the Community Growing Group, or the Food Partnership network and we hope you'll be interested.
If you would like any further information our mailing address is:
info@fooddurham.net
