Have started season 4. Wow a year we have been up and running and can now count ourselves as successful. We have two families started and another two to come in and we are using the fifth garden to start up a childrens garden. The chooks are doing really well though one is broody at present and desparately needs hormone replacment therapy.

MID SEASON 25TH AUGUST 2009

We have taken the cloches of as the first sign of spring is here. The growth is awesome compared to gardens without the winter cover. The families are coming in regularly though it looks like we will loose one family soon as they are heading to live in Christchurch. We will miss them as their almost daily visits are special and we all really look forward to seeing this family. We are feeding the veg lots of worm pee and compost and sheep manure. Very little in the way of bugs at present its still too cold. We have the chooks working with us providing manure and pleasure.

CLOCHE CITY
- Season Three Begins
June 22nd we started season three with five new families. These families have been chosen as they all connect through their children and we hope they will benefit as a family unit. We decided to use cloches for the first time to see if it made a difference and I cant believe how different it is. By that I mean the temperature is up by at least 4-5 degrees inside these plastic houses and this will allow us to complete the season with the families taking away the food at a difficult time of year for growing. They planted the caulis broccolis cabbage lettuces and some of the herbs under the covers and already they have doubled the size. We are feeding with worm pee which we dilute to weak tea colour and making comfrey tea in a big bucket also for feeding. So far all is great with the kids loving it insisting the parents bring them down. We have Chooks coming soon so watch this space for Debbies photos.

SEASON TWO FINISHESClosed off the second season of the allotments and now we are waiting for the third to start. Its very slow now things arent growing at all we need a glasshouse to speed it all up. We are looking at getting chickens to enable us to take another step in self sufficiencey Also maybe some bees to get the veg going faster as well. Next season starts on 22nd June. Iv e been getting the Kinpack sheep shit down as fast as i can go also the Tui Compost so this time we are not taking the soil out we are just replenishing so its going to be interesting to see if there is a difference. Have introduced some worms to the plots as they couldnt seem to get through the gravel

Well weve done it again another season finished and very successfully. Its been totally different this time as we have had to grow into winter but all the families have enjoyed it again. We had one family pull out due to a very sick child but four completed the season. The family that have been mentoring have done well so all in all its done what we wanted. The new season starts on 22nd June with 5 new families, but before this we want to get a glass house so we can grow the seedlings and also we have promised the families free seedlings every month for the duration of our ownership of the business. We have also decided to put chickens into the garden centre to not only get the eggs for the families but to also get the manure and apparently they will help us to keep the bugs at bay. I dont know what they are going to do with our plants but we will find out soon I will keep you posted.

The families are once again showing enthusiasm for the gardening. Only one family seems to be a bit slack in turning up and alot of their vegies are going to seed. I find it very difficult to leave the gardens when I see things like this, I want to go and pull out the ones going to seed and tend to everything as we gardeners do but I must leave it or they will not learn. We have two very dedicated families, one with three boys, and a single couple and I believe they are getting alot of pleasure from learning how to garden. They have all been picking lettuces celery spinach silverbeet and tons of herbs and now the carrots are ready and soon they will be able to pick the broccoli. Its great to see them come in and the kids love to run around the garden centre and love to help the staff at work. We are using the worm pee from the worm farm and also the compost bin is in full use. Yesterday we planted feijoas, grapes, berries, figs and cape gooseberries around the perimeter of the allotments so when the fruit is ripe they can have fruit as well.

INSTANT VEGETABLE GARDEN

Exclusive to Palmers Browns Bay
26 Anzac Road, Browns Bay Phone 09 479 4558

A successful exit strategy for the committed vendor
Create a point of difference in a competitive market
Establish an emotional selling advantage with prospective purchasers
Add sustainable value to your property
Completely removable

Includes: Raised garden bed 1.8 long x 900 wide x 400 high
Tui Garden & Vegetable Mix
Your selection of seasonal vegetables and herbs
Delivered

Installed

Planted

$559.00
(introductory offer to March 2009)
● Go to work in the morning and come home to your own sustainable vegetable garden.
Start eating from your own garden in two weeks from planting.

● YOU PROVIDE: 1. Level site for raised garden 1.8 x 900
2. Wish list of 12 maximum vegetables and herbs
(quantities may vary dependent on growth area required).

● Refresh your garden in a few months with our great selection of seasonal vegetables and
herbs (optional extra)
● Includes checklist to help you grow healthy, happy, huge vegetables

● A delivery charge will apply to locations outside of the East Coast Bay suburb

● Prepay and collect 100 Bonus Points