The summer abundance is still upon us - our zucchinis and cucumbers have had a truly bumper season, tomatoes are ripe, and we look forward to harvesting sweetcorn and blue corn soon! Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that the sun is setting earlier in the evening and we’re starting to transition our garden beds to their autumn and winter crops, or a nitrogen fixing cover crop where heavy feeders had been.
We’re pleased to say that we’ve had more volunteers than ever generously sharing their time and skills with us, and we’re stoked to have composting back on the menu at our Thursday evening volunteer sessions. Recently volunteers have helped us to upgrade the seedling hardening-off area, harvest oats and make a raised bed for asparagus.
If you’ve been to the farm recently, you might have noticed that many of the plants are going to seed. Fear not, this is not neglect but intentional. Seeding plants make a great talking point for school and education visitors and we can do seed saving activities with them and volunteers. We are saving and reusing more of our own seeds, to increase our self reliance on the farm.
We enjoy everyone’s company and time so are pleased to offer them some of the tasty produce from the māra. It also feels wonderful to donate masses of produce to the Newtown Community Centre’s meals and the Home of Compassion Soup Kitchen - sharing the aroha and nutritious fresh kai with those in need in our community.