Hurrah for the sun!!!

At last... a full day at the farm this week, with no break for rain! And we're really getting ready now for the open day on Saturday. ( Saturday, 12^th May, between 1 and 4pm. We'll be having a barbeque, pizza cooked in the pizza oven, some great family activities and stalls selling plants, produce, baked goods and crafts.) The continuous rain has put everything behind.

water logging in the wooded area last week

You can see from the picture just how wet it was this time last week and after yesterday's absolute deluge in Wolverton I was expecting the worst when I went up this morning but even though the pond is nearly overflowing the water is beginning to soak in, so all should be well by Saturday!.

On the bright side, the rain has made it easy to pull out the weeds and we were able to get stuck in weeding the strawberries. 
The sun was shining, we were all happy,  working together and chatting and remembering picking fresh strawbs last summer and eating eton mess in the shade of the trees!  Aahh! the good old days of summer and sun!  
I remember weeding the strawberries last autumn, but the couch grass and creeping buttercup have grown back.This isn't as disheartening as it might seem... there's a comforting sense of continuity about the inevitability of weeds. 


The strawbs have been invaded
by creeping buttercup: Agilmente

The creeping buttercup, though, was in danger of swamping the strawbs and it gives off chemicals that inhibit the growth of other nearby plants so, even though it is quite pretty, it had to come out. Creeping buttercup grows in any areas where the soil is disturbed and can tolerate both waterlogging and a moderate drought - so not surprising that it's thrived this year!! It isn't a prolific seeder, compared with other weeds - most plants will produce 687 seeds -  but it does also spread by runners, as its name suggests. The runners had managed to get in among the strawberry runners, so it was quite a difficult job getting them out - as one of the trainees said "how come weeds always get into the most difficult area?" ... that's the nature of weeds!

The prison estates guys who came to help us chip the wood obviously took pity on us and have donated four very nice wooden benches for us to sit on - so no more perching on logs at tea break! We're very grateful!

If you  want to get philosphical, want to help grow strawbs for eton mess or just think helping at the urban farm is for you come along on Tuesdays after 10.00 for a chat or contact Dave at : dave_meara@hotmail.com