Planting Veg and Planning a Bake Sale

 On Wednesday this week, we weeded two of our raised beds ready to plant some vegetables and salad plants the next day.

 There was also a bird in the Betty MacKenzie greenhouse, struggling to get out.  Connorhan rescued it and set it free!

 On Thursday, we raked the beds and started to plant them up...

...with lettuce, beetroot, rocket and some curly mustard.

A new member Elly, along with Sara, Danielle and Dale were also planning a bake sale to raise money for the club.  We'd really like to buy a Kelly Kettle (with a whistle) so that we can make hot chocolate in the garden on Activity days and Garden Parties!

Also on Tuesday, two of our summer volunteer team came in to see how things are getting on.  They were looking about to see what jobs they can help us with over the summer break - thanks guys!  Also Mr Locket came in to talk about moving the greenhouses!  Oh no!  We want to re-locate them, to make space for a platform to be cut for an "outdoor classroom".  This will enable us to practise our gardening techniques whatever the weather as well as running more activities for visiting groups.  Watch this space (it will take a while, but we are working on it!)

 Meanwhile, Danielle and Dale have started studying a "Certificate in Practical Horticulture" course certified by the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh.  Here, they were practising cutting plant material - always just above a "node" (which is where the leaves grow from).

 The cut should slope away from the node to prevent rain water pouring onto it and causing it to rot.

 They also practised taking some cuttings - of our Cotoneaster franchettii (as if we needed more!  It grows all round the school buildings!)

 Meanwhile Lupins have started flowering in the wild flower border...

 ...along with buttercups and rosebay willow-herb.

 The competition sunflowers continue to push skyward in the OJ greenhouse...

 ...and our RHS level 3 plants are doing well standing in water.  We really must get them planted asap!

First Years Sow Poppies to Remember The Fallen

 Another busy week, with many pupils gardening at the Academy.
On Tuesday, a group of first year pupils - three elected from each history class due to their enthusiasm for the subject - gathered in our new orchard garden.  Their mission was to sow poppy seeds to remember the fallen from World War I.  The seeds were provided by the Royal British Legion as part of their national campaign to commemorate the lives of those lost 100 years ago.

 Before sowing the seed, the ground needed weeding a little.

 They also raked the soil to break up any lumps and ensure even germination.

 The packs of seeds were opened...

 ...and mixed with sand so that everyone could sow a handful and to space the seed out more.

 Everyone sowed the seed...

...then they were watered.  This will ensure the seeds are in contact with the soil and moist to start the germination process.

 Later that day, Mr Shearon came to visit our garden to see what was growing and how everything is set up.  He is planning a garden at Grantown Grammer School and hopes to teach our Growing Hub Award there which is great news.  Danielle showed him round the garden whilst Miss Swallow was busy teaching.

 On Wednesday, DiGGers were introduced to the Growing Hub Award and we looked through the list to see what we could "tick off" already.  They will be learning new tasks, visiting another garden and sharing what they learn with others in order to gain level 2 or 3 in the award.

On Thursday, the Forest School group stayed in school and planted another apple tree in the fruit orchard.

 Danielle and Ryan lifting the turf.

 Meanwhile Dale cuts down the tree protectors to allow the leaves to photosynthesise better!

 Dale and Ryan digging out the soil...

 ...we put well rotted horse manure into the bottom of the hole and forked it in to help enrich the soil to feed the tree this summer.

 After planting the tree, we put the turf back upside down - again, this will rot and feed the tree.  We then filled in any gaps and air spaces with the good top soil we had lifted.

Ta-da!  Job done.

 On Thursday, DiGGers had lots to do.  Before we started, Rhiannon shared out cake her mother had made.  It was absolutely delicious with an tangy orange sweet taste!  Thanks to Rhiannon's mum!

 We did some energetic weeding after the cake.  We need to clear the raised beds ready for our plug plants.

 We found lots of bugs and grubs in the soil and of course lots of wriggly worms.

 Our RHS level 3 prize of a "large vegetable garden" arrived at the end of the day on Thursday.

 There are lots of plug plants - lettuce here, packed in straw in a cardboard box.

 Leeks...

 ...peas and runner beans...

...beetroot, rocket, courgettes.. and more!

Miss Swallow unpacked the box and left them soaking up water for the weekend until we can start planting them out next week.  The Interdisciplinary gardening classes start up again next week luckily, so between us all, we should be able to get them planted out.

Sharing our Forest School experience and Potting on Competition Sunflowers

This week, we really had to pot on the competition sunflowers - you can see how big they have grown!

They were all needing more space to grow so we potted them up into larger pots where they will stay for the rest of the competition.

It was a special week too because our Forest School Group who are working to achieve their John Muir Award welcomed Tarradale Primary School's Eco-Group children to see a slide show and accompany them to Evanton Woods on Wednesday morning.  Several DiGGers are members of the Forest School group - can you spot Danielle and Connorhan in the picture?

 On Tuesday afternoon - Danielle helped cook Potato and Leek soup (home grown potatoes of course) for the whole group - 26 people!

 Simon talked about the Evanton Woods project when we arrived...

 ...then we carried all the kit down to an area near the river.

 I think Danielle has gained a "friend for life!"

 Simon split the group into three teams (our Forest School group were the team leaders) and set them their first challenge - to collect the correct sized wood to build a fire.

 The pieces were a certain thickness for each group (matchstick - pencil - thumb width) and the length of the palm of your hand.

It must be DRY which means collecting it from OFF the ground.

Cutting the wood to size with loppers (thinner pieces snap easily by hand if dry enough)

 Simon sorts the wood into size-piles

We then had a demonstration of fire-lighting.  Tarradale Primary school's teacher was given the challenge: "Can you light the fire with the flint and steel?"  Click the link below to see a video clip - did she do it?  ("No pressure Mrs Boardman!")

Simon and Danielle took charge of the fire (and soup) whilst the teams were set a shelter building challenge: "Build a shelter (for one) with no more than 5 pieces of string and incorporating triangles and rectangles in your design.  It will be tested by throwing water over the structure whilst one person is inside!!"

 Some groups used the saw horse (in the background of the picture above) to cut larger wood to length.  At midday, we were all called to have soup, baguette and cake (thanks Mrs Lynch!)

Alexander (left) was this group's team leader.  He looked after them really well.

 We all sat round the fire to eat.  The "Fire Circle Rule" is that no-one must walk across inside the log circle - you must step over the log and walk round the outside!

There was enough soup to have seconds!

 Next it was time to judge the shelters...

...luckily there was not enough time to test them with water!!! 

Some children wanted to sleep the night in their shelter!  It was time to head back to school however.  Everyone had a wonderful time and Tarradale Primary hopes to arrange regular visits to the woods in future.

Whilst all this was going on, there was a real sense of teamwork up at the cabin area - with the extension and cladding being prepared.

 Meanwhile, back in the garden lots of crops are coming on well in the greenhouses.  These are runner beans...

 ...pumpkins and squashes...

 radish and salad...

 geraniums for colour...

 ...peas...

 ...wild flowers and hellebores...

 ...more peas...

 ...more pumpkins (hope all Dingwall Academy's primary schools are doing well with their competition pumpkins?  Let us know by leaving a comment!)...

 ...and cabbages!

 It's all looking very productive...

and outside we have lots of fox-gloves and poppies to plant out.  These will attract the insects as well as looking lovely and colourful.