Not too much news other than more rain happening in the Garden at present. This provides a bit of space to remember a remarkable liaison with Mike Beckett. Every month, for the last 5, or so years, I would get a timely reminder from Mike about the due date for an item about the Community Garden. The request assured me of the interest and value of the article.
When the weather had been ghastly, he would offer understanding. If there was nothing to write about, he would include a few comments on the state of his garden. He had the patience of a saint, with my total lack of technical skills, and eventually I have learnt to get content and photos delivered in a printable form! Along the way we shared stories, and the occasional photos of gardens and his grandchildren; always seasonal greetings and a bit of banter about plans, and the annual “we must meet up for a coffee next year”. Sadly, we never did. However, I still feel that I have lost a friend with Mike’s passing. RIP Mike! Maybe in another universe we will meet for a coffee.
Visiting the garden this week was not for the faint hearted, or for anyone without a good pair of gumboots! I think that the water table has finally caught up with us, almost swimming territory. So, no great work, and no advancement of our cover crop planting. However, we did manage a good harvest of broccoli and the first of our mini cabbages. There are more to come, but if last Wednesday’s uptake is anything to go by you will need to be hasty to the Larder. I filled the fridge, had a chat with Pam Shackleton, and came back to see that all but one head of broccoli had gone! This is great news; people are truly getting fresh produce. We will endeavour to keep it coming and plan to plant more brassicas as soon as the weather permits, in plots that are not exhausted and taking a well -earned rest after the summer crops. There will be a wee bit of a slow -down which is typical of a winter garden.
