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Tales from the vegetable bed
Or “Meganics” by Jo Rea
We are fast approaching my favourite time of year. September is nearly over and the last of the summer sun is struggling to shine through to warm the ground and ourselves. We have had a terrific harvest this summer. The greenfly and caterpillars an even better one! I, with the help of my group of clients, have run the department known as organics or Meganics (as one client calls it) for the last two years. Together we have learnt and experienced the highs and lows of growing vegetables and it will continue to be an adventurous journey!
Each day I try to organise my willing, and some not so willing, group into action. We have come through the busiest time of year where we sowed and planted and watched our breath taking display of salad leaves decimated by the tiny green bug and our rows of cauliflowers dancing like green skeletons in the wind. But all our hard work was not in vein as we have produced a bumper crop of potatoes, rhubarb, tomatoes and squashes as well as copious amounts of green leaves and peas to sell at Walberton market or here in the centres shop.
As the colder weather is beckoning our jumpers out of retirement, our work load is slowing down and we can enjoy the more leisurely activities our department benefits from. Like woodland foraging for fir cones to decorate the Christmas wreaths, sorting through the seed packets for any last minute entries and one of my favourites seasonal past times, building a huge fire where we can enjoy eating steaming hot, home grown baked potatoes with butter.
Enjoy the setting sun and keep your winter woollies close at hand.
You can visit our centre 7 days a week and enjoy our vegetables picked fresh and available in the shop. We currently have tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, peppers and a good selection of oriental salad leaves that have a bit of a kick. These can be used as a lettuce leaf or try them in a stir fry. Our fennel can be cooked in this way too. We also have huge butternut squashes and green hokaido pumpkins, perfect for a warming soup topped with a cheese crouton. There are leeks, savoy and white cabbages to buy and two varieties of kale available. We have a choice of root vegetables like carrots, swede and turnips too. And to enhance your cooking, we have a fine selection of fresh herbs that include basil, parsley, oregano, mint and thyme. If you visit our shop we can pick fresh to order or you can phone through and place an order which can be collected later in the day. In the next few weeks we will have pumpkins ready for Halloween, parsnips and celeriac.
In the front glasshouse we are selling seasonal vegetable seedlings so you can have a go at growing at home and currently have peppers and chilli plants, coriander and thyme.
Aldingbourne Trust Community Team win First Prize for Community Work - Youth Action Network Shine09 Award
The Aldingbourne Trust Community Team went to the RICHMIX centre in London to be awarded First Prize for innovative community project for the work they have carried out in the local community.
The team also received a cheque for £1000 which will be put toward developing the project further.
More publicity about the event, both locally and nationally will follow shortly.
The team have been working in partnership with Southern Rail in delivering stunning floral displays in over 19 Southern Rails stations to raise awareness & challenge pre-conceived ideas relating to people with learning disabilities. Since starting in 2007, they have expanded greatly and have been discussed with great interest. Consequently, they have been approached by various other stations to do similar work with. Following this they aim to set up their own Social Gardening Enterprise!
Have your say in our forum!
Join many others in topical discussions regarding subjects relating to learning disabilities and The Aldingbourne Trust. We welcome ideas, suggestions, comments, news and much more! To register for free on our forum, click on the following link:
Happy chatting !
Wood Pallet Recycling Service
Go Green by recycling your wooden pallets and helping the environment. For more details, click on the following link:
Seasoned Logs - Autumn 2009
Aldingbourne are currently preparing a new venture to provide an additional service to its customers by starting to sell seasoned logs in the Autumn - watch this space for more info.
Custom Cakes for All Occasions
Do you need a special cake for your Birthday, Anniversary, Wedding, etc? If so, why not support your local charity and contact us with your requirements.
All cakes are made to order and decorated at ‘The Acorn’. Produced by the students under the supervision of Chef Rhys Spirovski.
Cakes can be delivered locally if required.
Please contact Rhys for more details on 01798 873533.
A selection of cake previously ordered:
Are you looking for a venue?
Have you considered using our function rooms for your party, evening class, special event or wedding reception?
Our rooms are available for evening and weekend use. For more details, please contact us on 01243 542075.
Gifts @ Aldingbourne
Visit our newly refurbished shop offering a selection of Aldingbourne produce and gifts from local crafts people, including jewellery, hand crafted fabric bags, household gifts, woodland bowls, greeting cards, items made from hazel and birch, plants (camelias, acers, etc). Free range pork also available on request.
John Cole (www.themagicofmushrooms.com), a local master craftsman producing unique wooden mushrooms and garden sculptures from locally sourced wood, has linked with Aldingbourne to display his crafts in our gift shop.
If you are a local craftsperson and interested in working in partnership with Aldingbourne by displaying your products in our Gift Shop, please contact Michelle McKinley-Bell on 01243 544607.
Art & Craft Service News
Browse our Gift Shop at Aldingbourne for latest artwork and crafts.
We need your help!
We are in the process of re-vamping our shop at Aldingbourne Country Centre which will be re-opening shortly with new stock from local craftsmen as well as our own produce.
We would welcome any display material such as wooden crates, fruit boxes, wooden display units, basketware, etc that would create a rustic country feel to our shop.
We are seeking volunteers to assist our clients to make craft items, such as greeting cards, to sell in the shop. In addition, we would welcome any donations or contributions of craft materials such as fabric, card, coloured paper, buttons, etc.
If you are interested in helping us in this area, please call Michelle McKinley-Bell on 01243 544607.
Also, if anyone has an interest or knowledge in building eco friendly houses using environmentally friendly materials, please contact us on 01243 544607.
SUSSEX SADDLEBACKS SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Aldingbourne are hosting rare breed pigs which are being looked after by a local group "Sussex Saddlebacks" - including some of our services users.
The breeding sows, Lavender, Rosie and Bella (Sussex Saddlebacks) have been joined by Elsie (an Oxford Sandy and Black). The large male has been named Burdock, and has sired a number of litters. Burdock is sponsored by MPM2. Pictured below are the latest arrivals.
If you are interested in purchasing meat from the scheme, please email Sussex Saddlebacks (sussexsaddlebacks@gmail.com) or visit their website - http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/sussexsaddlebacks/
Elsie with one of her litters.
