Comments for Abundance Manchester

Comment on Volunteering by Nick Taylor

Nick Taylor — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:14:05 +0000

Hi there

I’m currently studying towards a RHS horticulture qualification & would love to volunteer my gardening and maintenance skills in order to gain some experience for myself also . Please email taylornick93@googlemail.com

Regards

Nick Taylor

Comment on Getting Involved (first 2012 weekend pick coming soon!) by fruitlover

fruitlover — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:27:08 +0000

Hi Helen, apologies for the delay in replying. Thanks, that’s great you want to get involved! I’ve added you to the email list so you’ll hear whenever we’ve got activities planned in the orchard and picking elsewhere.

Comment on Getting Involved (first 2012 weekend pick coming soon!) by Helen Potter

Helen Potter — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:32:50 +0000

I am interested in volunteering at weekends at the Kenworthy Orchard. I will be up for picking fruit, fruit distrubution, food growing and even weeding.

Please could you send me further information or when best to come along and help to volunteer.

Will look forward to hearing from you

Helen Potter

Comment on Kenworthy Orchard by Suzanne

Suzanne — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:04:56 +0000

Hi Everyone, Just thought I would leave a note to say a big THANK YOU for the pruning course on Sunday. I learned so much that day and it was so great to be able to do the practical work too. I feel much more confident in caring for fruit trees now on our permaculture site. It was also lovely to meet you all and I think you are doing a wonderful job.

Comment on Kenworthy Orchard by fruitlover

fruitlover — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:44:26 +0000

Hi Pauline thanks for your comments and encouragement. Yes there is certainly lots of work to be done! You might have seen we’ve cleared around the bases of some of the trees to feed them and reduce competition from grass for the scarce nutrients in the soil. We’re also hoping to open it up a bit at the South end (furthest from the river) by taking the line of trees further back – it is really crowded in that area as you say, creating ideal damp and stagnant conditions for canker and other disease. And at the other end, the hedge needs serious work, as you say. It’s just a matter of finding the time to do it! Rod has been back on Sunday and he also suggested comfrey feed, we will try and do that soon. Thanks

Comment on Kenworthy Orchard by Pauline Kavanagh

Pauline Kavanagh — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:01:04 +0000

I attended a workshop approx 12mths ago in Jan/Feb where Rod Everett came along
with the intentions of showing novices how to prune an orchard, unfortunately I was
rather miffed at simple prunning techniques not even being suggested let alone carried out, most the workshop was Rod talking and on that occasion very little
prunning took place, I also remember well Rod said there was no need at all
to feed the orchard, which once established I would agree. Having visited the
orchard this summer, and the first impression on entering the orchard was it
was SUFFOCATING, bearing in mind the orchard was sited within Kenworthy
Woods which obviously creates a wind barrier. the orchard
floor has a dense carpet of rough grass (appearance similar to hay) obviously
this is also causing a major problem thus stopping rainwater penetrating the
soil.
As far as Abundance meddling! I hope they CONTINUE TO MEDDLE because
Kenworthy Orchard REALLY NEEDS THEIR HELP and what they are trying
to achieve is done is GOOD FAITH. Can I suggest that raking as much dead
grass away from he base of the fruit trees, spiking the ground (where possible
avoiding the root areas) prunning/trimming some of the hedgerows (NOT AFTER
MARCH – NESTING SEASON) this might sound drastic but its IMPERATIVE to
try to get air to circulate thus allowing the orchard to breathe, which I think
is the major factor in its decline. Come Autumn/Winter dormant period
I feed with diluted comfrey feed just to help give my apples trees a little
boost for the coming fruiting season.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST GOOD ON YOU ABUNDANCE KEEP UP THE
GOOD WORK!!

Comment on Volunteering by fruitlover

fruitlover — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:11:03 +0000

Hi Filomena. Thanks! Can you send us your email address then we can put you on the mailing list and you’ll hear about what we’re up to and how to get involved. Email debbieclarke_@hotmail.com as the abundance email is currently not working

Comment on Kenworthy Orchard by fruitlover

fruitlover — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:09:30 +0000

Dear Local

Just to respond to this….. I’m not sure what you think we’ve done to the apples as we do not pick them – not many grew this year, and then sadly they dropped in July before they had fully developed, as did most of the leaves. In response, we called in a professional horticulturalist with 50 years experience, who has told us this is due to a severe nutrient deficiency, because the trees have not been fed for 15 years. It looks like this will happen every year unless something is done, so we have recently started feeding the trees. Apple trees are cultivated species that, unlike most trees, do not thrive unattended, and some of the trees are on their last legs without some human intervention. This we have heard from several professionals we’ve had advice from. They need pruning, feeding and protecting from rabbits, all of which we’ve done or are doing. I’m sorry if you feel some of the wildness has been lost, but without a bit of meddling the orchard will steadily decline until there’s not much of it left.

Comment on About by fruitlover

fruitlover — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:05:00 +0000

Hi Gale,

Here’s the link to our page on how to set up your own Abundance! Feel free to get in touch if you have any further questions.

http://abundancemanchester.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/create-your-own-abundance/

Good luck with it!

Comment on About by Lisa Hutchinson

Lisa Hutchinson — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:54:54 +0000

Your apple and pear juice was beautiful will definately come and see you again x