THE DIGGERS AT WHYTE PLACE

THE DIGGERS AT
WHYTE PLACE 2012
AUGUST Introduction to bee keeping with David Wright from Edinburgh & Midlothian Bee Keeping Association
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Hello!
Please find enclosed a breakdown of our activity from
January to December 2012
Its mid-December now and the growing season is winding its way down now
for the current year. We started off mid-February with a good potting shed
clear out and planning ahead for the coming growing season. Although we
did carry on a weekly get together throughout late 2011 into 2012. This gave
us a chance to plan such trips to private and public gardens in and around
Edinburgh such as Doctor Neils gardens in Duddingston, Pillars of Hercules
organic farm and shop in Falkland and a trip over to Hopetoun House with a
guided tour by their Rangers staff. The mild winter was such that we didnt
have to alter any of our trips out and about
January
Dr Neils Garden
guided walk
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Gardening Activity
Building on 2011 we installed a new growing area outside
Katarinas window with the specific aim of growing climbers
such as beans, tomatoes and peas.
We also developed a new growing area along the drying green specically to
plant up autumn and summer fruiting bushes. The hope was that these fruiters
would be a yearly producer of berries that all residents could pick and use as
they wish. February was primarily given over to creating these areas. Digging
over the areas, building raised beds and working into existing beds in the area
gave us great motivation to plan ahead and work out how we could liven up
the areas. We managed to get some locals to bring on some plants for us on
their window sills such as hardy tomatoes and peas so that when growing
conditions started we could be ahead with the intention of harvesting some
earlier produce.
June
Tying pea plants
March
sewing seeds
February
Preparing the
ground for
sewing seeds
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August
Watering the raspberries, blackberries, & goji berries
Every year that passes offers local residents the opportunity to feed on the
previous years endeavours and carry on the same or learn from experience
on what grows best where. Again we rotated crops with one bed given over
to onions; white and red, leeks and chives bordered by some at leaf parsley
which gave a crop all year round. Whyte place really is an ideal space for a
garden. It gets very little harsh weather and is protected by the severe cold
frosts because of its proximity to the sea. The second bed had spinach, carrots
and an array of lettuces such as lambs, mustard leaf and the third had fennel,
beetroot and parsnips.
September
Sarah harvesting carrots
Our new fourth bed had all the brassicas such as cabbages and broccoli.
As mentioned earlier we planted about 50 fruit bushed such as raspberries,
blackberries, goji berries, gooseberries and blueberries. The drying green/herb
garden has a wonderful array of herbs and plants such as parsley, thyme, sage,
chives, marjoram tarragon and also the yearly plants such as nasturtiums and
Jerusalem artichokes.
.
August
beautiful beets
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February
Gardening visit to
Kailzie Gardens
Peebles.
March
Drinking tea from
Hedgrows with our
expert Chris Maceeld
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JULY
Chris harvesting produce
Gardening activity
Again this year expert Chris Maceeld from Bridgend community allotments
was on hand on Fridays to offer us that expert advice and guidance.
Spring kicked off with some glorious weather and ended with a cold snap.
But nothing was to prepare us for the summer months and the wet weather
that engulfed the nation. The plants loved it but it was hard to plan our days
activity. There are some hardy individuals on the project and I am glad to say
it didnt dampen our spirits. August and September were great bumper crops
for us especially our peas, beans and leafy produce. We bagged up all our
produce on a Friday ready to hand out to folk that wanted it or use it in our
cooking lunches. The Diggers at Whyte place remains a great weekly opportunity
for people to catch up and get involved. Folk have made friendships and share
weekly goings on which such a valuable resource for all the participants involved.
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October
green tomato
chutney cooking
Other activity
Cooking
From veggie plot to cooking pot...
Using produce from the garden weve been cooking up a storm so far this year
with recipes form Veggie curry and handmade rosemary & atbreads, soups,
nasturtium & walnut pesto, green tomato chutney, and delicious berry jam!
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Fishing
2012 seen the establishment of our angling club.
This has proved to be one of our most popular activities this year with local
residents getting involved but also wider link living residents coming along and
getting into it as well. We try and have a once a month outing to places such
on the River Almond with Cramond Angling club, River Tweed, Markle shery
in East Linton and next months trip to Yellowcraigs in East Lothian. We intend
to run a y tying date in the coming weeks with Douglas C. Hall from West
Lothian Angling association.
August
Fishing with Crammond Anging Club.
August
Success for George!
Other activity
September
Fly Trying with Douglas Hall from
West Lothian Angling Association
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Bee Hive Making
Beehive making and beekeeping
We have started our beehive making down at Chippendale school of furniture
with the intention of placing them in an Edinburgh and Midlothian beekeeping
association apiary next year. Our intention is also to set up an introduction to
beekeeping course with the organisation next year.
JULY
Bee HIve design sketch by Vic MacRea
September
Chiselling bee hive handles
& making dove tail joints
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Visual Arts Group
JUNE
Designing Franks artwork
for screen printing.
July
Franks screen printed
Elvis collage
Book Group and Writing Group
Our book group has been running steadily over the year with
lots of great literary discussion and poetic banter.
Again this is a monthly group with a consistent number of participants offering
their views on the chosen book, poetry or theatre outing. We have also invited
published Scottish writers to a Q&A session about their writing. This has been
really inspiring to hear about their writing rst hand. and has sparked really
interesting discussions and debates about the themes, ideas and narratives
behind the novel or short story with the writer in person.
They explore a wide range of skills and talents whether its bespoke embroidery,
graphic design and screen printing, drawing, painting, video and animation
production. Individuals are given the opportunity to develop their skills
and learn new and interesting techniques that suits their pace and ability.
There are a keen number of gallery goers who are regulars on our tours to new
and interesting exhibitions such as Lesley Hunter, FBD Caddell, Picasso,
Van Gogh and Kandinsky.
The Visual art group have been meeting up on a weekly
basis and with artist Kathryn Elkin have been developing
new and existing ideas.
November
Visual Arts group sketching
& writing in Crammond