Fw: [landandliberty_news] Forest Garden News June 23rd

[Guest guest]

-

" Graham Burnett " <grahamburnett

<eco_vegans >; <landandliberty_news >

Sunday, June 23, 2002 6:57 PM

[landandliberty_news] Forest Garden News June 23rd

 

 

 

I visited the forest garden at Manchester Drive, Leigh On Sea today for the

first time in a few weeks. Alot of grass had grown up but the thick mulches

of cut grass and weeds I'd put around the bases of the trees I'd planted

during winter & spring have been effective in holding moisture and keeping

down weed regrowth so these were fairly clear. Most of my time I spent

re-defining the paths, which were just starting to become indistinct, and

pulling up and cutting grass which I used to top up the mulches. I also

slashed back a fair bit of bramble which had also been re-encroaching using

my Chillington grass slasher which I recently obtained from the Permaculture

Magazine. On the plus side, it looks like there will be another good crop of

wild blackberries this year- last year's got made into wine, I made a couple

of gallons which went in a very short period of time- in fact it never even

made it to the bottling stage- delicious and highly potent- some of my more

<ahem> 'left-field' postings at Eco-Vegans & elsewhere have no doubt been

fueled by this brew :-)

 

Of the willows I planted in winter, 5 have survived and seem to be doing

well, although 4 have died. These I will replace in autumn or winter with

fresh cuttings. I'm not sure if the willows have produced enough growth this

year for me to have a go at creating some living willow sculptures or

furniture, but you never know...

 

The dwarf family apple tree (unsure which varieties!) that I obtained from

my mother's garden where it has never done very well was for the first time

ever laden with fruit, as was the Own rootstock Katy apple that I obtained

from Phil Corbett's 'Cool Temperate Nursery', and it broke my heart to have

to remove it all! Still, tempting as it was to leave it all, my logical

right brain managed to convince me that the trees need to put their energies

into getting established in this first year after planting if I'm to reap

the full benefits in later years...

 

I also noticed that the ORS Katy has a little damage around the base, looks

like strimmer damage but since that isn't possible maybe it's rabbits?

Anyway, I've created a protective barrier using cuttings from the slashed

back brambles which I hope will be effective, and also has turned a

'problem' into a 'resource'...

 

I was surprised to see that a peach which I grew from a stone several years

ago and has ever since sat in a pot looking miserable that I decided to

plant at the forest garden is actually growing away healthily, although I

seriously doubt that it will ever fruit... On the downside though I do seem

to have lost a 'Stella' cherry on a 'Colt' rootstock which is a shame. it

has no leaves and looks very forlorn, although still has green wood just

below the bark so you never know.

 

I noticed that Ron's plum on his neighbouring plot (also a forest garden) is

fruiting abundantly, so I guess a couple of plums will go in next autumn as

well- there's still plenty of space.

 

The rowans & hazels that I planted are also looking good...

 

Still havn't done any grafting yet, but the rootstocks that Ron & I obtained

from Phil Corbett this winter are looking good and healthy...

 

The week after next ron & i will be doing an 'alternative tour' of

Manchester Drive allotment site, including our plots, and some of the wilder

areas, such as the Northern area of the site which has ben 'neglected', but

is in fact re-establishing as ash and oak woodland, and from whence we have

been harvesting ash poles for green woodworking projects. This is as a part

of the Manchester Drive Allotment Society Open Day, and is at the invitation

of Leigh Town Council & 'The Committee'- a sign that attitudes are at last

changing to accept 'other' ways of allotment gardening than straight rows of

veggies???

 

Still havn't got a website with photo's of the forest garden together yet,

watch this space...

 

I also fitted in a visit to my 'Zone 2' veggie production allotments today,

dug up the first of this years new potatoes, and some nice young beetroots-

you know summer's arrived when you have beetroots for tea and your first pee

of the following morning is bright pink! It scared me the first time it

happened but I'm used to it now...

 

Cheers for now, Graham Burnett

 

www.landandliberty.co.uk

 

 

 

This list is for announcements only regarding Land & Liberty and the

Manchester Drive Forest Garden project- if you'd like to become involved in

interactive discussion and debate why not join the Eco-Vegans & Earth

Citizens e-list- send a blank email to;

eco_vegans-

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Graham

 

You are making me hungry with talk of this lovely fresh produce. Your

forest garden sounds marvellous. Be careful using placing the bramble

cuttings around the base of the tree for protection - they root themselves

very quickly and you could end up with another bramble thicket.

 

Jo

 

 

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.370 / Virus Database: 205 - Release 05/06/02