In the Spring of 2011 we decided to turn the plot over to fruit production rather than veg growing, and to no longer run it as a community plot. It’s a sad decision but we have had serious problems with a colony of biting ants that have invaded the site, making it an unpleasant working environment. We have been unable to get rid of these despite trying various organic methods. 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. Thank you to everyone that has participated in growing veg at the site, we hope you’ve enjoyed it and if anyone is interested in helping out with looking after the plot regularly 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.
Archive for the ‘Food Growing’ Category
Veg Plot Update
Posted in Food Growing, News, Volunteering on 19 September 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Pruning & harvesting during food growing workshops
Posted in Food Growing, News on 19 September 2010 | 1 Comment »
Participants of Abundance Manchester’s food growing workshops have begun to teach others veg gardening skills! Here’s Rudo (left photo, on right) passing on her great tomato pruning tips!
In September a few of us harvested blackberries along the Fallowfield loop in Levenshulme – it was a perfectly sunny, autumnal morning. Elizabeth (left) and Jubreti (right) each managed to find a few handfuls!
The garden has been nurtured by people seeking asylum in the UK, some of whom regularly volunteer at the Abundance Manchester plot and help to grow food that is then distributed to those in need.
MCC’s Carbon Innovation Fund has enabled Abundance Manchester to run these much needed workshops.
Food growing workshops
Posted in Food Growing on 26 June 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Since March, Abundance Manchester has provided free food growing workshops to some of our recipient groups. Workshops aim to model how we can grow our own and reduce food miles with limited space and resources, as well as provide a social learning environment.
Visit the Abundance Manchester website for updates on the lovely fruit & veg participants are nurturing.
Workshops are funded by Manchester City Council’s Carbon Innovation Fund.
Beautiful Beans
Posted in Food Growing, Harvest & Distribution on 15 September 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Beans, courgettes, apples, tomatoes, marrows, pears and even grapes- in the last couple of weeks all this and more has been donated to Abundance! The veg donations have been particularly generous, with lots of unusually coloured veg donated from two allotment shows- check out the pink and purple beans! The fruit and veg has been distributed to The Boaz Trust project for destitute asylum seekers, Safestop hostel for young homeless women and Cornerstone, which provides meals for homeless people. Thanks for all donations!
An unexpected guest…
Posted in Food Growing on 11 August 2009 | Leave a Comment »
We had an unexpected but welcome guest at the Abundance plot last Sunday… A fox came by and had a look around, completely unphased by 5 of us! He / she even came up close to pose for a series of photos…
Veg Baths
Posted in Food Growing on 10 August 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Beans, courgettes, squash and tomatoes are all growing well in the baths at the Abundance plot..
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Unexpected Apples
Posted in Food Growing, Fruit picking, Harvest & Distribution on 2 August 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Our first apple picking session of the year came unexpectedly early! On Saturday we got our first call to pick apples, three weeks earlier than last apple season. We dusted off our home made fruit picking devices and headed to a house in Chorlton,where the apples were already ripe and falling from the tree. They were piled onto our new trailers and cycled to Cornerstone, a hostel for homeless people, where they were gratefully received by Sister Lucy. The following day we harvested from the Abundance plot, combined it with the generous donations from other allotments and delivered it next door to Safestop, a hostel for people with mental health needs.
Harvesting Veg
Posted in Food Growing, Harvest & Distribution on 27 June 2009 | Leave a Comment »
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
Posted in Food Growing on 29 May 2009 | Leave a Comment »
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
Posted in Food Growing on 23 May 2009 | Leave a Comment »
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!
