Bake Sale a Great Success!

On Friday, DiGGers members organised Bake Sale themselves.  Danielle made giant chocolate buttons with various toppings and Dale make a great number of cup cakes and shortbread.

The cakes spell "DINGWALL DIGGERS"

Putting the cakes out ready for break time.

After both break and lunch time, there were very few items left!

We raised a grand total of £50!!  Along with Danielle and Sara's previous efforts raising £13.60 we now have £63.60 towards our dream Ghillie Kettle! 

Meanwhile on Wednesday we started to weave in and prune back the willow seat.  As you can see, it really needed a "hair-cut!"

 Miss Swallow also collected a trailer of bark from the wood yard...

 ...and the Certificate in Practical Horticulture class brought it up to refresh the path in front of our shed.

 We also did some serious weeding in order to plant out some more of our plug plants - various lettuce, cabbage and some leeks too.

 On Thursday, Danielle is weeded and raked the "Pumpkin Mound" ready to plant out the pumpkins after we have added manure to the soil as they will be hungry plants.

Dale took charge and showed Paula and Carrie how to make fresh "comfry stew"

In 3 weeks we'll strain off the water and have excellent liquid plant food.

 The previous bucket has been standing out in the weather and rain for many months, so we used it to water the competition sunflowers....

...and one of the hanging baskets.

 Tuesday evening was Dingwall Academy Prize giving.  The flower arrangements looked wonderful - many of the plants came from our garden.

 Mrs Kinsman selecting lupins...

 ...and cow parsley.  She also took some poppies, honesty with its lovely round seed heads and comfry.

Later that day, the Certificate in Practical Horticulture class practised the technique of taking cuttings - here we are propagating buddleia.

Even the next day, the cornflowers and buddleia were still looking good.  We were proud to provide lovely colourful plants for the display.

Many hands make light work

We had lots of people helping in the garden this week...

 ...trying to get a Rotavator started.  This will help us till the soil and get our potatoes in at the top of the garden (somewhat late but hopefully they'll catch up now the soil is warming up)...this remains a continuing saga...

...building two more storage sheds to free up space in our DiGGers shed so we can all get in when it rains and do activities round the table.  More pics to follow (it was pouring with rain today!)

 This was not in our garden, but up at Evanton Woods with our Forest School Group.  We all had a shot at working this mobile milling machine and several slices of timber...

 ...were donated to us for the garden.  We plan to make a seat and some lovely "waney-edged" signs with lots of horticultural terms on them!

 The group admire the smooth cut.

The pieces just fitted into the mini-bus!

 Back at the garden, we got stuck in with weeding raised beds as we need to get our plug plants into them soon.

...almost there!

Is it just a bunch of tools?  Or is it garden ART?!

 Ta-da! Doesn't look much, but this should grow into a nice crop of lettuce and rocket!

 Leeks going in

 On Wednesday afternoon, the CPH bunch (Certificate in Practical Horticulture - certified  by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) test out four different types of hoe.  The path and bench area was much improved afterwards!

 Danielle's favourite was definitely the classic Dutch hoe.  We had second Dutch hoe with a different angle, a draw hoe and an oscillating hoe.  More pics to come soon.

On Thursday, in the pouring rain, we moved the table as the roof was dripping (needs re-felting again!).  Here you can see us varnishing large wooden plant signs to make them longer lasting.

There was also a meeting in the shed on Thursday with representatives from RoWAN (Rosshire Waste Action Network) and RHET (Royal Highland Education Trust).  We are planning a Summer Garden Party on 24th June for primary schools to enjoy activities and food here.

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.