Latest Newsletter

Committee

Chairman: Nancy Stockwell. 01507 606993

Deputy chairman: Rosalie Stephenson, 01522 524055

Secretary: Jenny Hudd, Holly Cottage, 4 Redbourne Road , Waddingham, Gainsborough , DN21 4TD , 01673 818805

Treasurer: Patty Phillips, 01673 818272, email patty.bridgefarmconservat@virgin.net,

assisted by Kim Wood, 01507 578606

Education and events officer: Kim Wood, 01507 578606

Publicity/ newsletter: Jenny Ward, 01507 609259

email drjencam@connectfree.co.uk

Transport co-ordinator: Dave Cordingley, 01522 523640. Let Dave know if you can offer a lift to a meeting or if you need one.

Membership list: Philip Maddison: tel/fax: 01790 754570, email: madgardener@btdigitaltv.com. Let Philip know if you wish to be included on the membership list available to other members.

Thanks once again are due to Mr & Mrs Price of Harrington Hall for selecting LOGO as the beneficiary of the sum of £50 donated by Dennett’s Icecream at one of the Hall’s open days last year.

We have had a letter from HDRA thanking the local groups who have worked hard to promote HDRA. As with all charities, HDRA still need more funds for developing demonstrations, research, and overseas programmes and are therefore, looking for new members.

If anyone is interested who is not a member of HDRA please contact Jenny Hudd (tel. no. and address in col. 1) for details. A copy of their magazine Organic Way is sent quarterly to the group, and we have several back numbers if anyone is interested. Please think about joining HDRA as you are also promoting LOGO.

On a lovely sunny warm day at the end of April we visited Jenny Ward’s and John Jennings’ adjoining gardens at Little Cawthorpe. First we walked around Jenny’s cottage-type garden, all very colourful with hardy geraniums, late bulbs and various shrubs. Then we progressed on to the vegetable garden in between the two cottages, the fruit trees, heavy with blossom, and around John’s very old cottage, to the wilder part, looking lovely with hedge parsley growing in the grass as it sloped down towards a pond and stream. Moorhens nest around the edge, but they were too shy to appear whilst we were around. Mature trees surround two sides of the gardens and their new season’s leaves were just appearing in the spring sunshine. Back at Jenny’s cottage we had an excellent lunch sitting outside in the sun. As we were having coffee, a buzzard circled high overhead. Thank you Jenny and John for a most enjoyable visit.

On Sunday 6 June the LOGO stall was at Harrington Hall by kind invitation of Mr & Mrs D. Price. A sunny, warm and dry afternoon brought in the crowds and much interest was shown by many of the public – especially in the compost display. We sold a lot of produce resulting in takings of £135, £22 of which goes to LOGO funds. Several people left clutching membership forms.

Thanks to those LOGO members who manned the stall, to those who kindly donated their produce and to Philip and Susan for their help before and on the day.

On a glorious June afternoon several of us met at Hilary and Geoff’s allotments in Lincoln . The guided tour was certainly an eye-opener; numerous organic techniques are in use resulting in healthy fruit and vegetables (especially the brassicas). Stands of companion planting, wild flowers, even a pond, ensure a plentiful supply of food for wildlife. Geoff’s compost bins deserve a special mention – neat, tidy and full of wonderful rotting debris in various stages of decay, the finished product looking and smelling good enough to bag and sell. Hilary’s ‘deep bed’ of straw, grass clippings and muck for potatoes to save earthing up, seemed to be working well and I will certainly be trying it next year.

We ended the afternoon sitting around the shed in brilliant sunshine, drinking tea and coffee (hot water supplied by a camping stove arrange-ment that Baden-Powell would have been proud of) and eating cake – hardly believing we were actually in the centre of a busy cathedral city.

Midsummer. We had a lovely evening with Jonathan and Janet in their garden at Timberland. The house and garden are both fascinating but with a darkening sky we explored the garden first. Each garden we visit is a revelation and this was no exception. Janet’s art shows through in so many ways from the shape of the gardens to carved timber and interesting stones, the vegetable plot a picture. This garden is recycling and compost heaven. We had a demonstration on making comfrey liquid and heating up your compost heap. As we moved from the flowers and vegetables we turned a corner into a small orchard where the fruit trees were just the right height for picking fruit, with more plants growing underneath. The tour ended by moving down to a path by the dyke. This was a wildlife area. We were assured that they even had water voles., proving how essential gardens are for conservation The nine beehives were on holiday or at work in a neighbouring field. Janet and Jonathan’s home is a Primitive Methodist chapel that they are slowly converting with craftsmanship and sympathy. Here we ended the evening eating Jonathan’s cakes, and saw a demonstration of their beekeeper’s kettle! Our conversations were wide moving, from the history of Primitive Methodism, through archaeology to food—how to make the best sausages and how to pronounce ‘haslet’ the Lincolnshire way or everyone else’s. The rain held off until we drove home.

The visit this year was very well attended, and two parties were led down the garden path by Hamish and Kim. The white mulberry was intriguing, even though the berries don’t get a chance thanks to the birds. Hamish had taken some seeds from the black mulberry on a visit to Edward King House in Lincoln Cathedral precincts a few years ago, and these may prove more worthwhile as a dessert (eventually).

The polytunnel wasn’t too hot, and vine and kiwi fruits thrive within. The goats peered over the fence at us as we wandered around the business end of the garden, but that was all I saw of the livestock as I was in Hamish’s party.

The pond had huge astilbes growing by it, much bigger than mine, and an old American pillar rose rambled over the ancient apple tree. The most astonishing item was the enormous verbascum growing near the kitchen window. It must have led surely to the giant’s castle.

Then lunch(plenty of it) round the big table in the kitchen—ham and cheese, soup, and Kim’s home made bread. Cake to follow. Thanks for all the hard work year after year.

A fine sunny morning brought early shoppers out but we were soon caught by heavy showers. Despite the weather the Lincoln Circle Dancers and Singers and Early Music musicians entertained in celebration of the summer solstice. Produce sales were good and £114 was taken. One of our regular customers has joined LOGO and several more expressed interest and took away membership forms. Cries of ‘Wot, no blue eggs’ were heard from disappointed customers………

An opportunity to trap moths and other nocturnal insects rarely seen at close quarters. Butterfly Conservation is running this event from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Chambers Farm Wood National Nature Reserve (between Wragby and Bardney). Those members who came to the Fulbeck Victorian Garden visit will have seen a sample of beautiful moths which our member, Steve Green, had caught in a light trap. If you are interested ring Patty on 01673 818272.

We expect 200-300 visitors so there is a lot of preparation to be done. Volunteers to help before and on the day are requested. We need to put up the farmers’ market stall, organise the produce for sale, put together displays on organic techniques, composting, and set out the LOGO and HDRA promotional material, set up tea tables, put up information signs and generally make the place reasonably tidy. Anyone who can help at any time during the week before the 7th will not be short of a job, and we are happy to supply refreshments whenever you come. People to man the stalls on the day are also needed, so even if you can spare an hour or so it will be much appreciated. The sun always shines and it is a very jolly day. (Tempting fate here. Don’t blame me if it rains. Ed) The LOGO stall is run like a farmers’ market stall and makes money for both LOGO and the producers.

Sunday 8 August. LOGO is invited to have a stall at Harrington Hall open garden in aid of the National Garden Scheme, 2–5 p.m. . Volunteers please.

Saturday 21 August. Farmers’ market, Castle Square , Lincoln , 9–4. Help and produce always wanted.

Saturday 18 September. Farmers’ market, Castle Square , Lincoln , 9–4. Help and produce always wanted.

Sunday 26 September. Pam and Ivor Davey volunteered to host a second garden open to members for the apple season. Take the Wragby road out of Lincoln and turn left in Wragby towards Louth. Then left at West Torrington just after the derestriction sign. The garden is on the left just before the prairie starts. From 11 am .

Saturday 16 October. Farmers’ market, Castle Square , Lincoln , 9–4. Help and produce always wanted.

Saturday 20 November. Farmers’ market, Castle Square , Lincoln , 9–4. Help and produce always wanted.

Saturday 18 December. Farmers’ market, Castle Square , Lincoln , 9–4. Help and produce always wanted

SATURDAY 7 AUGUST

BRIDGE FARM, SNITTERBY CARR

Looking for inspiration to convert to organics? You need look no further than Bridge Farm, a Soil Association certified organic farm on the bank of the River Ancholme.

Tour the cottage garden, vegetable plots, orchard, polytunnel and wildlife ponds. Enjoy a stroll along the river bank and see the varied wildlife.

Visit the Golden Guernsey dairy goat herd, Bonnie the Gloucester Old Spot pig, Billy the horse, cattle, free range hens, ducks and geese.

Stalls and displays for Lincs Organic Gardeners Organisation, Henry Doubleday Research Association, Tools for Self Reliance, Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

Sales of organic produce including our own handmade Goats Cheese, Eggs, Sausages, Vegetables, Honey and a wide selection of Plants.

Where we are: Bridge Farm is 15 miles north of Lincoln & 8 miles from both Market Rasen and Brigg. Follow A15 north from Caenby Corner then follow the “Open Farm” signs.