Stephens Connors adventures in Poland Summer 2013

Stephen Connor one of the MCA Gardeners visited Poland earlier this summer here is Stephens account of the trip:

From the 26^th May until 16^th of June this year I was fortunate enough to participate in a horticultural volunteering project in Poland. The project was a joint co-operation between two charities, Capacity London and Rybnik Europa Poland. This involved a reciprocal arrangement between the two charities were three volunteers from the town of Rybnik in southern Poland were on work placement in London and three volunteers, including myself were on a work placement in Rybnik.

The theme of the project was ‘Creative Uses for Communal Green Spaces and I am convinced my selection for participation in the project was influenced and decided by my involvement and experiences with MCA, which I outlined in my application for the project.

Subsequently, I have been asked to write a Blog for MCA outlining and recording my participation in the Capital London “Open Green Spaces” volunteer gardening project in Rybnik. I kept a daily log during my time in Rybnik and I have used some of this as synopsis of my visit illustrated with appropriate photographs.

 

 

 

May 27^th - Arrived at Rybnik and was given outline of the practicalities by Maria (our project co-ordinator) of our stay in Rybnik such as bus timetables shopping and banking. Taken to accommodation and had an opportunity to visit the Stodoly area where we would be working in a municipal garden nursery/garden centre for the local council.

 

May 28^th - Visit and introduction to placement at Zamyslow Wodociagi. The manager, Maria explained the work we would undertake and gave us a visit to the site and introduced us to the 17 staff. Maria also explained the nature of the work and our role in it. This included potting up composting and preparing plants for customers as well as working in the Green houses. This was a great introduction to horticulture in this area of Poland which due to heavy industrialisation had difficulties with contaminated land. We also outlined our particular areas and background in horticulture in our respective countries.

The team at the Gardening Centre

Poland appears to be a country firmly within the European Union and keen to develop cultural linguistic and economic elements of it’s society. The unemployment rate along with immigration were a constant topic of conversation, something we Irish could identify with.

 



Learning new skills and interacting with the locals.



 

June 1^st - Visit to Bison Park and Pszczyna with Grazyna, a Volunteer who had returned from London gardening project and Maria. An enjoyable visit and wonderful gardens who are great hosts.

 

June 3^rd- - June 13^th Start of volunteer work at Kompostowni civic nursery . Induction re Health and safety and work colleagues. Due to the atrocious weather we were unable to work outdoors or visit town parks or roundabouts to assess potential planting schemes. The weather deteriorated as the week progressed which restricted our work experience outdoors.

 

 

June 3^rd- - June 13^th Start of volunteer work at Kompostowni civic nursery . Induction re Health and safety and work colleagues. Due to the atrocious weather we were unable to work outdoors or visit town parks or roundabouts to assess potential planting schemes. The weather deteriorated as the week progressed which restricted our work experience outdoors.

 

Flash flood an example of the weather conditions that badly damaged the greenhouses.



However the staff were very accommodating and took time to teach and share skill with us. I was mindful that they had work to get on with yet they took time to engage with us. A lot of the plants were similar to those in Ireland despite the different climates and as the staff were very skilled they taught how to take cuttings and propagate successfully and economically.

 



We saw how the staff had developed environmental and recycling schemes with water and composting. Using purpose built heavy plant and traditional methods.

 

 

 

June 7^th - Visit to Kanios commercial garden centre. A beautiful day weather wise which added to the visit making a highlight of our trip to Poland. Amazing extensive gardens giving us an insight to plants and horticultural landscaping of Poland. Lots of ideas to take away and try out both in in my own allotment and garden.

We had ample opportunity to avail of civic life in Rybnik, The location of the accommodation was ideal for cycling, walking and jogging in around Rybnik and surrounding areas such as Rudi. I visited local sports centres to swim and went to the cinema. Everyone was so helpful despite my limited polish and it gave me an insight into life in Rybnik.

 

 

 

 

I also saw the developments in terms of infrastructure such as business and “urban” sprawl” and “modernisation” which had both positive and negative impacts. It was a bit like Ireland with the cessation of the political conflict with massive development with from such sources as European funders.

 

 



My abiding memory will be the beautiful landscape, friendly and hospital people and the support from the Grundvig project. It was a fun, eventful and excellent learning experience on many levels. I would highly recommend it.

 

http://www.grundtvig.org.uk/

 

Stephen Connor
MCA Gardener 2013

 



Good weed v's bad weed

Hi Gardeners, over the years there have many questions about what to do with the weeds. We all get weeds no matter how much we tend our plots. The universal definition of a weed is an unwanted plant. On the plots this usually means something we did not plant to enjoy eating. Once removed by hoeing, forking or  pulling out, the weeds should be put in the compost. However, pernicuous weeds will continue to grow quite happily in the compost. As part of our funding we have invested in tumbling composters to allow individuals to learn about making their own compost with the hope of using it to enrich the soil and recycle nutrients.

Fill with weeds and spent vegetables

The composters are easy to use - screw off the lid, put in your weeds, replace lid, open clip and tumble.



Tumbling composter







Ensure clip is closed to open lid.

Open clip to tumble



Now, onto the technical bit - the pernicuous or bad weeds which should not be put in your composters are: creeping buttercup, dock, bindweed, couch grass, ragwort and best to keep thistle out due to the prickles! These should be placed under black plastic in the compost bays at the back of the site. Please note the bays in front of the shed are to be removed to make way for a sunny terrace. All we need is some sun..







Dock -  remove as much as the of the thick root as possible, be warned they grow deep!



Ragwort - this is deemed a noxious weed in agriculture





Creeping buttercup -try to remove most of the thick white roots using a hand fork. Any roots left in ground will happily grow again.





Creeping buttercup with spreading white roots



Couch grass





Couch grass - grows with underground roots called rhizomes, which produce new shoots, it spreads rapidly. Distinguishable from other grasses by the rhizomes, for example if you pull a bit and more comes up its likely to be couch grass.

The new compost bays - best used for bad weeds and big sods removed from edges of plots.

HAPPY COMPOSTING

Lorna mca

NGO challenge funding fully utilised!!

Thanks to all who worked incredibly hard to get the funding spent in such a short period of time!!  A fantastic achievement & not forgetting those unfortunately no longer with us (due to relocation overseas) who put so much work into the application!! 

The most obvious addition is the new shed which is amazing. 

 The contents of which will make all our tasks @ MCA so much easier with such excellent equipment. 

hopefully we will get some wonderful fruit from the orchard for many many years to come!!

Thanks to NIEL & again to all involved in the application & use of the funding we recieved!!!!

April workday

Thanks to all who participated in the workday sunday! Lots of little jobs completed but it all adds up to a tidier safer place for all :o)

 trees in the orchard where secured to posts

 Rare moment captured of our glorious leader doing some work...or was it all just for the camera?!?

The herb garden is starting to really take shape & looks well!!

kids helped to pick up any stones & any debris around all the plots that could damage the brand spanking new lawnmower purchased from the NIEL funding.  NB if all gardeners could do this on every visit it would ensure the lawnmower lasts us a long time!!  many thanks in advance :o))

Keith kindly instucted us on how to use the new mower...simples

There was a general tidy up & some lovely buns...thanks Gwen!!

some work was done in the polytunnel on tuesday past...fingers crossed for a healthy crop this year!!

 & cant have work without a good ol chat along the way & a few words of wisdom from the glorious leader ;op

I skipped off a little early but many hands really does make light work & every little bit helps as a well known supermarket says!!  Doesnt the new shed look amazing too!!

Thanks to all able to come!!!

Goodbye winter

It's official - winter is over, or at least it is at mca. To mark the end of winter we got together for a good old BBQ. Amazingly the April sun shone all day and we kept busy with childrens crafts, creating a straw lady and eating cake.

lots of children and paint...



make beautiful flowers


There was the MCA spring tradition -  get children to help make a straw lady (who represents winter) and then burn her.

old tights, children and straw...

there she goes, winter's gone in a puff of smoke


To celebrate our successful funding application, Magda made an amazing shed cake. Looking forward to many happy days in our new shed.

Very yummy 'SHED' cake

it didnt last long!!

some new additions to the MCA extended family & friends

Some of the big kids enjoying themselves.

 thanks again to the guys of  picalo monda for more yummy pizzas etc  dont forget to spread the word  & those on facebook like & share- picalo mondo at the minnowburn )

looking forward to the next event & heres hoping we are as lucky with the weather!!!

Lorna (& a few additional bits from Sinead)
MCA