Gardening at the Little Potting Club is part of a process. Whether the end result be flowers, fruit or vegetables it is a bonus on gardening education and awareness of where our food comes from.
We garden with a seed to mouth approach and if this is not possible we will buy in plug plants to bring on and grow for the veg beds. Over the years of running the club we have grown many different varieties and have learnt that it is best to grow what we eat. Although we do sometimes experiment with growing new and unusal varieties. Our vegetable beds are limited so we think about the space we use and the environment we grow in.
Come harvest time we either take home our produce or if possible we cook and eat it there and then. Such as potato salads and freshly cooked corn on the cob.
Stripping the leaves to washing and cooking it.
Our food is grown as organically possible and we use peat free compost. Growing alongside wildlife to enchance what we grow and plant for nature to benefit from. We purchase locally where possible and strive to support local small business' first.
Families have the opportunity to taste the difference in home grown produce. Particualy with corn being one of the top hits for families in noticing the quaility and freshness of the produce. Peas are another favourite with a sweet and juicy texture that many families enjoy in tasting. Runner Beans along with different varieties of Dwarf and French beans are another favourite when noticing taste differences.
Potato salad ingredients from our own produce.
Every year for the past five years we have run our potato team growing competition. Each team is named after the potato variety they grow, such as this year is Team Rocket and Team Charlotte. Each team grow to see who will harvest the most, smallest, largest and the most funny shaped potato.
Each team recieve a certificate
This light hearted competition is always good fun. We cook the potatoes afterwards. Once we discovered a potato in 2022 that resembled a duck which everyone found hilarious.
On top of growing food we plant out and grow flowers. As we run in a public park we plant these flowers out for all to enjoy. The vegetable garden has no fencing and so is open for anyone wishing to walk through and observe the garden beds throughout the seasons.
The flowers we plant out are both annual and perennials along side building up every year the spring bulbs in the park to add a little colour and early nectar for Bumblebee queens in the wider park. Such as crcous, daffodils, tulips and alliums. All who visit the park are able to enjoy what we plant out. We strive to plant native species where possible and we add to annual pots every year, particually with wildflower species.
It isnt just the children who benefit from gardening our flowers and food. Lots of families are very supportive of their children's engagment and are keen to learn themselves. With many taking this gardening knowledge back home to apply in their own garden or small growing spaces.
Even the local Police Community Support Officers want to get involved.
We choose which activity to take part in.
Sometimes not all children may want to garden. We run with a forest school ethos and so some may choose to take part in something different. Many of our younger participants prefer to water and take alot of pleasure in refilling their watering cans over and over again. Or some choose to dig and move soil around the garden, which comes in handy when we refill the vegetable beds. Others really enjoy washing plant pots to help maintain good gardening practices.
The wheel barrow is another top favourite at the Little Potting Club garden. Many children enjoy using the wheel barrow for small jobs around the garden or for tasks and activities in the wider park.
As too are the spades.
We collect seed where possible and observe where the seeds come from, how they are produced and why we save them. From flower to vegetable seeds we often collect to either eat or plant next year.
We observe how dwarf and runner beans produce seed if the vegetable isn't picked for food.
On occassions we often find ourselves gardening in creative ways. Such as contributing to the RHS growing in small spaces.
To creating our own runner bean arbour.
We plant bulbs, trees and other plants out in the wider park.
As we run all year at the Little Potting Club we have the opportuntiy to observe and experience the seasonal changes both in the garden and in the wider park.
spring - summer - autumn - winter
We strive to reduce plastic usage at the Little Potting Club.
Gardening at the Little Potting Club is more than just planting plants. It is start to finish, seed to mouth, sowing to growing, composting to spreading, individual to community.
Gardening all year in spring, summer, autumn and winter.