Abundance Manchester have a fruit and veg plot, located at in the car park of Manchester Bridge Club. We donate the produce to projects along with the fruit we harvest elsewhere, and the plot acts also as a pick up / drop off point.
This Spring (2011) we have decided to turn the plot over to fruit production rather than veg growing, and to no longer run it as a community plot. We have had serious problems with red biting ants invading the site and making it an unpleasant working environment. For this reason we will slowly be turning the land over to lower maintenance perennial crops – mostly tree and bush fruit that requires little soil disturbance. We will manage the site as a small core group. If anyone is interested in helping out with this that would be great – but we are no longer holding open plot sessions on Sundays. However the plot will continue to provide local, organically grown produce to people who can make good use of it. Contact Jenny for more details – jenniferfionaaird@googlemail.com.
Background
The plot was originally created in 2008 in an overgrown patch of the car park at Manchester Bridge Club. The owner kindly agreed for it to be used for veg growing and so after much tussling with brambles it was transformed into a giant raised bed, with the idea that the space would then be either be turned into a community allotment or handed over to a group who would like to use it. The Abundance Project seemed the ideal group to use this area. So now we have lots of veg beds for planting, created spaces for compost and leaves, had 8 baths delivered for planting in. Children from the Early Years Nursery often visitit the plot and were very keen to help with the veg growing. They were particularly intrigued and excited by the baths!
Pick up / drop off point
The plot also acts as an extremely usefull pick up / drop off point. If you have any surplus fruit or veg you bring it there will distribute it to various projects!
Latest News
What could be better than spending a couple of hours in the garden in the sunshine? Not much, and we’ve had four very good sessions so far this 2011 season. This is a busy time of year for gardens, with lots of seedlings to raise and planting to do, as well as controlling all those weeds that seem to love growing too! We’ve had lots of lovely sunshine, but hardly any rain, so the little plants need lots of watering too. We still need volunteers, so anyone who is free on a Sunday afternoon to come for a while will be made welcome. We also need plants, so let us know if you have any young plants or seedlings to donate. Here is a picture of the potatoes, which have got off to a good start.
Harvesting Veg
June 27, 2009 by fruitlover | Edit
This week we’ve been harvesting peas, broad beans, lettuce and kale. They have been donated to the hostel next door, which helps people with mental health issues move towards living independently. Aproximate distance food has travelled from soil to plate: 10 metres.
Broad bean ready for picking
Peas harvested from this bath
Harvested salad
Baths of salad
May 29, 2009 by fruitlover | Edit
We now have several baths of salad at the Abundance plot. Last Sunday some of it was harvested and donated to Stockport Cerebal Palsy Society, which runs regular cooking sessions.
Pond Creation
May 23, 2009 by fruitlover | Edit
Down at the Abundance plot we’ve been creating a pond to encourage biodiversity. We’re also hoping to get some resident frogs to eat the slugs so we have more veg left to give away!
Big changes
May 21, 2009 by fruitlover | Edit
The Abundance plot has been changing quite dramatically over the last 6 weeks. Here’s then and now:
The first pea
May 12, 2009 by fruitlover
The first pea has been spotted at the Abundance plot. Hopefully the first of many. We’ve also seen the first of the gooseberries. Exciting times! 
Photos: Creating the Abundance Plot
April 5, 2009
This page has the following sub pages.
