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

workdays 16&17th feb & NGO challenge funding prep

thanks to all who participated in the workdays last month
alot was achieved...the shed was cleared of all contents




dismantled


 the tree infront cut down & the surrounding area cleared by little & large to make room for a bigger & better shed

 

polytunnel was getting prepared inside & out for the coming season

weeding & tidying up of communal areas

some folk worked hard fruit bushes where pruned & paths where cleared, some folk tried to look like they had done some work others didnt even try... just enjoyed a beer in the lovely afternoon sunshine ;o)

 

some of the kiddies made us lovely lunches of celery & acorns in the cafe

 some yummy pizzas, coffees & hot chocolates kindly supplied by our van man folks (dont forget to like piccolo mondo on facebook!!!)

a well earned rest by dad & daughter after a hard days graft...couldnt get a nicer spot for it!!

so thanks again folks all that could come & well done lots achieved...looking forward to seeing the NGO challenge funding put to good use with new shed, tools etc