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Abundance, Events, News

FREE Fruit Tree grafting workshops

Coralie /

So, its March already, and Spring seems to have usurped Winter from its icy throne, temporarily at least…Like me you may be quite sceptical that Winter has given up the ghost completely but it seems the plants and trees are willing to gamble on it. What this all means to the pragmatists here at Abundance HQ is that we need to buck up our ideas a little, stop hibernating and do some grafting….fruit tree grafting, that is!
If you’re interested in learning the art of fruit tree grafting, in identifying your rootstock from your scion, your M26 from your St Julian A and having a go at doing it yourself, then look no further.
We’ll be running a number of open workshops on how to graft apple, plum, and cherry trees using the ‘whip and tongue’ technique throughout March and into April. The workshops are FREE and you will get to take your own tree home with you if you help us graft some more – we’re aiming to graft around 600 trees this year!
What to bring:
> Graftwood: The apple of your eye! If you’ve always wanted to propagate a special apple, plum or cherry tree then nows your chance. Bring graftwood to a session and make some baby trees with it. If you’re unsure how to take cuttings from said tree, check out thisyoutube video.
> Warm clothes: We will probably be outside for the session (with shelter), so please anticipate a cold day.
> Something to eat and/or drink: If you’re coming for the whole day (which is ideal) you may want to bring a packed lunch.

Below are the dates for the workshops. If you’d like to attend any of them please book a place by emailing or phoning me so I have an idea of numbers, as places are limited. N.B. Session dates are subject to change – there may also be more added.
March

Saturday 8th, 10am – 4pm: Greave House Farm Volunteer Day.
For instructions on how to get to the farm you can look at their website here. 

 

Wednesday 12th, 1pm – 5pm: Student EATS session, The Huerta (behind Yorkshire Artspace, Brown Street, S1)

Sunday 16th, 12pm – 5pm: Public session, School For Vegetables, Grimesthorpe Allotments (see events calendar for full address)

 

Saturday 22nd, 11am – 5pm: Public session, venue TBC

 

Sunday 30th, 12pm – 5pm: Public session, Meersbrook Allotments

April


Saturday 5th, 11am – 5pm: Public session, Meersbrook Allotments
Events

Tree Planting

Coralie /

An Ediculture tree planting event happening this Saturday (1st) on Meersbrook allotments.

They”ll be up there between 11am and 4pm so come along to help to stick a few trees in the ground and help make Sheffield an even fruitier city!

What you need to bring:

> Warm/weatherproof clothes

> A packed lunch if you”re thinking of staying a while

> Suitable footwear

> Your mates

When you arrive at the allotments please contact Stephen 07507578885  to get in/find the site.

 
Events, News

Sheffield Seed Swap in February

Coralie /

It’s our 3rd year in a row of February seed swapping at Heeley City Farm. Everyone is welcome – bring home-saved seeds to swap if you have them but don’t worry if you don’t – there’ll be plenty of seeds available for donation, including a massive assortment of weird and wonderful seeds from the seed bank of the late Richard Clare.

Entrance is free but donations for seeds are welcome. The farm cafe will be open serving hot drinks, food and cake.

Saturday 22nd February, 12-3pm

Heeley City Farm, Richards Rd, S2 3DT.

Abundance, Events, News

Abundance Week 2013

Coralie /

It feels a bit like Christmas when you’re a kid – the anticipation builds up for what seems like forever, the day itself comes, is glorious, then passes in the blink of an eye; the harvest season is almost over and if you’ve been in the thick-of-it, like we at Grow Sheffield have then you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Alas, its the time of year again when we say farewell to the harvest….but not without a mighty good send-off!

Around here we call that send off ABUNDANCE WEEK and its happening from November 22nd to December 1st (a bit longer than a week in fact…). There’ll be all kinds of frolicking and frivolity to be had from artful-browsing to apple-chopping, from cider-making to ceilidh-dancing!

You can keep up-to-date with what’s going on by checking our events page between now and the end of December.

Events, News

Organic Gardening Course- Theory

Coralie /

If you fancy a bit of winter inspiration to get you ready for the next growing season take a look at the course below on offer from Androo Thornton.

How to grow your own fruit and vegetables…and eat healthily.

Understanding the theory of organic cultivation for beginners and experienced gardeners (and a few practical tips too).

Starts Wednesday 15th Jan to Wed, March 19th 2014
Times :- 7 – 9pm
Hollinsend Methodist Church hall S12 EF, on the corner of Hollinsend and Mansfield roads.
120 and 44 buses from town.

For anyone who wants to learn more about organic growing.
To enrol, questions: email- [email protected]

This course is for beginners or experienced growers. It’s a 10 week indoor course where you can look at the theory of organic gardening, soil management, ecology, sustainability and growing food naturally.

A ten week classroom based course taking you through the steps you need to grow your own food in a garden or allotment. The structure of the course will involve discussion of ideas, experiences and hopefully give you the tools to look at your garden, allotment or patio in a different light. We shall also discuss nutrition, politics of food and go down a few unplanned avenues. It will be lively and fun. Notes will e mailed out.

Over the 10 weeks we shall be looking at:-
Understanding timing and the seasons.
When to sow and harvest
Organic materials and fertilisers. What to use and when.
Composting. Soils and site planning.
Crops and how they grow.
Plant propagation – seeds and cuttings .
Growing systems Healthy plants , pests and diseases
Perennials , fruit and pruning
Seeds, harvesting and storage.

 

Events

Seed Saving Workshop

Coralie /

Seed Saving Workshop, Plot 90, Hanging water Allotments. 11am-5pm
During this day workshop you will learn techniques on how to save seeds from you own fruit and vegetable varieties – a very important skill indeed, especially with the possibility of more multinational corporations buying rights for seed production.

Please contact Stephen on 07507578885 if you’d like to reserve a place. The session is free and there will be tea and cake provided!
Events, News

AUGUST: The Multifaith Forest Garden

admin /

One of our most popular volunteer events is BACK! You are invited to join us at the Multifaith Forest Garden at Parkwood Springs on: Saturday 10th August 11am – 2pm. The day will be a general maintenance day. In addition, thanks to Sheffield University volunteers we now have a new compost bay that requires the finishing touches and filling. The day will be hosted by Ed Thatcher. Ed’s contact number is: 07816596228

The garden is looking wonderful and there are plenty of currants to pick, so bring your tubs along. It’s a great time of year as the energy of nature is displayed in it’s true splendour, unfortunately this includes some pretty prolific weeds – any help to keep on top of these would be greatly appreciated. The volunteers from the university did a great job clearing meters of oil seed rape and rosebay willowherb. There will also be another chance for a guided walk around the garden for those who haven’t visited before.

We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has worked on, and visited the forest garden over the past months. We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones as we move towards another summer in the garden. There are several workdays coming up, so put these dates in your diary!

Saturday 10th August, 11am until 2pm

Saturday 14th September, 11am until 2pm

Saturday 12th October, 11am until 2pm

Saturday 9th November, 11am until 2pm

Saturday 14th December, 11am until 2pm

For more information, email [email protected] or call 0114 2580784

Events

Healthy Soils and Green Manure Saturday 9th March 10 – 3pm

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Delivered by Dr Anton Rosenfield, this is a great opportunity to find out more about Green Manures. Anton is a research officer at Garden Organic and has worked extensively with green manures and soil. He has run trials in far flung locations of the country and carried out training for farmers, growers and community groups.

Taking place from 10am until 3pm on Saturday 9th March 2013. The session is split in to two parts;

  • From 1oam until 12pm Anton will be taking us through “caring for soils”
  • From 1pm until 3pm Anton will introduce green manures showing how these often overlooked plants can improve your soil allowing you to reap the benefits in future crops.

Please bring your own lunch, hot drinks will be provided.;

This event is FREE but places are limited so please register your attendance at gstraining.eventbrite.com

Contact: Ruth Hepworth on 0114 2580784 or e: [email protected] 

Events

Spring workday at Lowes Garden Sat 23rd March

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Help us develop a community garden in south Sheffield that needs a little tender loving care!

At Lowes Garden, Abbeydale rd from 11am to 3pm

We’ll be pruning and re-staking existing trees, weeding in order to sow ground cover crops, mulching and planting fruit bushes. 

For more information on any of the events or workshops or to book a place for one of the grafting workshops please email [email protected] or ring Daniele on 07535653842. 

Events

Apple Tree Grafting Sat 16th and Sun 17th March

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Come and learn the art of apple tree grafting at the school for veg outdoor classroom. Enjoy fantastic views of the city whilst learning how to make your own Sheffield apple tree. Take your tree home and watch it grow!

Workshops are free.

At Grimesthorpe Allotments, Grimesthorpe Rd from 11am to 4pm.

For some detailed information on the benefits of grafting please look here.

n.b. Both workshops are the same – you do not need to attend both but can if you like.

For more information on any of the events or workshops or to book a place for one of the grafting workshops please email [email protected] or ring Daniele on 07535653842. 

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