Garden of Aden update

[Rob Bowley]

Hi All,

Sorry there's been no progress for a while. I'm afraid we've been let
down, yet again - this time by Richard Grimshaw from Capital Growth
who was supposed to be supporting us - we were relying on him to
advise us on materials and provide us with quotes but he's been
completely useless and Daphne and I are frankly fed up of having to
endlessly chase people to do anything. Also, for various reasons I've
unfortunately not been able to dedicate any time at all for the last
month either.

So we're going for Plan B - pay someone to do it. Unfortunately this
will eat more of our money, but barring a huge surge in volunteers
with time on their hands we're never going to get this out of the
starting blocks.

We're essentially looking to build some raised beds as per the
excellent drawings and plans Daphne put together. We can get the raw
materials from a builder's supplier (railway sleepers & locks as shown
in Daphne's drawing) or go with raised be kits you can buy from garden
suppliers. Ideally whoever will do this will help decide what to go
with. Additional to this would be ordering and delivering some
additional compost (as the stuff down there is poor quality).

This is you where people can help - do you know anyone who might be
able to do this? Daphne has given me the number for a handyman and
Suzanne suggested a group who might be able to do it as well. If you
know of any experienced gardeners or handymen who will do paid work
please get in touch with them and see if they're interested and let me
know if they are.

Thanks,

Rob

[Suzanne Mullins]

Thanks for this update Rob and a big thanks to Daphne. I feel it is
well worth paying someone to get this started.

We never really discussed the finer details of how we will divide up
the planting beds.

I heard from someone else that their shared garden has caused a lot of
arguments (where all produce is shared) and I am strongly in favour of
dividing up the space into individual lots. Of course people can then
do their own swapping of produce if they wish, and I would certainly
like some sort of watering rota if people want to do this.

What does everyone think?

Suzanne

[ute hofmann]

Greetings Rob,

I have just forwarded your email to Geertje Dunning, who has extensive experience with gardening and wanted to come on board of the project initially anyway...she is interested and will get in touch....

would really love to see that happening soonish....

Blessings

mona 

www.bcomyourself.org
may our journeys be blessed

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From: Rob Bowley <rob.b...@gmail.com>
To: Gardeners of Aden <gardene...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tue, May 3, 2011 9:38:22 PM
Subject: Garden of Aden update

[ute hofmann]

Greetings all

great to see that the project has started to move again and yes indeed communication and commitment (my own one inclusive) was somewhat not exactly what was needed to the project into the actual manifestation state. 

Being inspired by an idea 2 years ago and getting all creative and excited about it is different from going through all the administrative processes necessary to actually bring it into this world. 

Thanks Rob and Daphne for being so steadily involved here and also thanks to Geertje for pointing it all out and offering now support on these fronts...

Please keep me posted about the weekend you have in mind...

Blessings

Mona

www.bcomyourself.org
may our journeys be blessed

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From: Rob Bowley <rob.b...@gmail.com>
To: Gardeners of Aden <gardene...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tue, May 3, 2011 9:38:22 PM
Subject: Garden of Aden update

[Rob Bowley]

Thanks Mona,

It truly has been rather an exasperating test of patience! However, hopefully we're getting close -  Marco (who lives upstairs from me) and I are going to co-ordinate soon, buy the materials and just get on and build the beds. It may be as soon as this Saturday if Marco's available. Obviously if anyone else is around to help that would be extremely welcome. 

However I'm yet to confirm, when I do I'll send an email around.

Rob

[ute hofmann]

Greetings Rob and everyone else,

Hope everyone is well and smoothly transitioning in those rather intense planetary times.

I have a few issues i 'd like to address

First of all i think 

1. we need a compost and a friend of mine has offered to build it right at the place where the ripped off plants are rottening away anyway... It's actually fairly easy to built and i think it would make a lot of sense to do it asap...

2. i would need a copy of the key for the little cage to put some more tools in 

3. I have been noticing that there are at least 2 (possibly 3) individual beds not used at all. I think it's a shame and i know personally 2 people that would love to have a space in our allotment, i find it important to keep an eye on using this space responsibly, it bringing the morals of everyone else down if you go there and see lots of weeds and general lack of care...

it took so long to get the funding in and i would suggest that everyone who has signed up really thinks about whether they want to actually use that space and if not let it (or maybe sublet it!!! for a season) to someone who wants to actually do the gardening...

Could people please voice a perspective on this issue...it's planting time after all...

Blessings Mona

 

m na

www.bcomyourself.org
may our journeys be blessed

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From: Suzanne Mullins <suzanne...@virgin.net>
To: gardene...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 5, 2011 12:13 AM
Subject: Re: Garden of Aden update

[Suzanne Mullins]

Hi Mona

1. Do you mean a wooden compost box? That sounds like a good idea. Or
we could get one of the council cheap plastic compost bins. I will
check what we have in the account. I think the compost heap would be ok
left as it is, but maybe it looks a bit untidy for the residents.

2. I can get you a copy of my key this week sometime and put it
through your door next weekend, what number are you again?

3.I think probably my plot appeared unused , sorry! (the one with the
metal pole in the middle and the one opposite) but I have now sorted it
out. I was waiting for better weather, but because it is not getting
any better I have now risked putting the seeds in yesterday anyway, I
am still waiting with the plants I have at home to put them out, as the
cold might be too much of a shock for them. I"m not sure if veg plants
(beans and tomatoes) are that sensitive though - anyone know?

Also as there is a hosepipe ban I have left a large plastic bottle out,
please feel free to use it, but put it back somewhere where it doesn;'t
look like rubbish and get thrown away - i haven;t checked if it fits
under the tap. I suppose we could get a cheap watering can too

Happy planting!

Suzanne

[Rob Bowley]

I was down there late yesterday and all the plots were looking tended to  so thank you everyone who has been down recently and got their patch in order. I appreciate the bad weather has made planting unfavourable - I'm primarily concerned that plots are weed free.

I have not heard from Kerry Huff, who has the plot next to mine. I've tried to contact her via email and a number Daphne gave me but not got any response. I took all the weeds out a few weeks ago but left the fruit plants. I think we can assume she is not in a position to maintain a plot right now. Mona - who do you know who would be interested in a plot? Please bear in mind they need to be a resident of Burma Court or Aden Lodge.

Mona - be awesome if your friend could build a proper compost! Keys were handed out on receipt of a signed constitution, which I've not received from you. I've attached a copy. It would be great if you could sign it and return it to me @ 1 Mandalay House, Clissold Crescent, N16 9AX

[ute hofmann]

HEy all!

thanks for your reply and yes it would be lovely to get a key posted Suzanne. it's number 19 aden lodge... much appreciated:)))

we gonna build compost bin as soon as possible just where the cpmpost is already piling up in that corner....

there will soon also a watering  can in that  metal cage...so no need to buy one

Rob i think one of my friends lives in a council estate, not sure which one...will let you know asap...

Blessings Mona

 

www.bcomyourself.org
may our journeys be blessed

From: Suzanne Mullins <suzanne...@virgin.net>
To: gardene...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, May 7, 2012 3:50 PM

[Marco Mandolini]

I have a big green compost bin going spare that I can take down the plots- so no need for your mate to build one!

Sent from my iPhone

[ute hofmann]

Greetings all,

Suzanne, not quite sure if you got me response concerning the key, i live in aden lodge number 19...would be great if you could get me a copy of the key asap.. much appreciated

Marco, when do you think you could bring your plastic compost down, as the compost in te corner starts piling up and i'd rather prefer we use it than the council removing it...

blessings to you all...mona

www.bcomyourself.org
may our journeys be blessed

From: Suzanne Mullins <suzanne...@virgin.net>
To: gardene...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, May 7, 2012 3:50 PM

[Rob Bowley]

Hi Mona,

Regarding the key you still need to return a signed copy of the constitution. I will print one out and bring it down this weekend (with a key)

Rob

[ute hofmann]

thanks Rob, that would be great....just let me know what time, maybe sunday as i will be moving a lot of stuff up and down anyway, so i will be about:)

 

www.bcomyourself.org
may our journeys be blessed

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From: Rob Bowley <rob.b...@gmail.com>
To: gardene...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 1:05 PM

[Marco Mandolini]

Hope to get the compost bin there this week!

 

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