Tuesday 25 June 2013

Community Gardener Job

 

Community Gardener

Deen City Farm, Growing Gardens Community Project

We have secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund Local Food Scheme to further develop our Growing Gardens Community Project, at Deen City Farm, South London.  The Growing Gardens Project aims to provide a hub for the local Community giving opportunities to people from all sections in the community to engage in food growing.

We are looking to recruit a Community Gardener to assist the Garden Project Manager in delivering the Growing Gardens Community Project with emphasis on delivering the specific outcomes within our Local Food Funding.  This will include creating a new allotment area, supporting volunteers, helping to co-ordinate workshops and our green fingers educational tours, community events and general garden maintenance.

The ideal person will be creative, enthusiastic and committed with a passion for horticulture the environment. You will ideally have Practical knowledge of gardening with special reference to organic principles and food growing. An understanding of how community-based organisations work and previous experience of working for, or participating in a community based organisation. We are looking for someone who is able to supervise, co-ordinate and work with a wide range of people of all backgrounds including disadvantaged groups/ individuals and/or children.

Part-time across 3-4 days per week, including some weekend working.  Fixed term 1 year contract. Salary £13,700-£15,800 pro rata per year dependent on experience.

For more details and a full job description and person specification please visit our website www.deencityfarm.co.uk to download.

For further information or an informal discussion about the post please contact Louisa Loakes on 020 8545 2178 or e-mail louisa.loakes@deencityfarm.co.uk

To apply for this post please download the application form via our website and send it along with a covering letter and a copy of your C.V. to Louisa Loakes, Deen City Farm 39 Windsor Avenue, Merton Abbey London. SW19 2RR

The closing date for this post is 8th July 2013 at 5pm

With regret, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  Please note that the successful applicant will be asked to undertake a CRB check. Deen City Farm is an equal opportunities employer and registered charity, No. 1008028.



 

Shed Building Day


Poster coloured by volunteer Alexia
 
 
All are welcome to come and join us build our shed down at our allotment at Phipps Bridge, just bring yourself along and a packed lunch and meet us in the garden at 10.30am on 10th july 2013! 

Thursday 20 June 2013

The moving garden

 
Yesterday Flo and I were amazed by how many bees were buzzing around the garden, we took it upon ourselves to film some of the activity....
 
A little competition between the two of us,
which video do you think is the best?
 
1
 
 
 
2
 
 
 
3
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
5

Wednesday 19 June 2013

Elderflower Cordial time


Its that time of year again.....elderflowers are out! 

Elderflower cordial is one of my favourite drinks, so i always end up making litres and litres of it. It costs little to make, is quick to make, is exciting to make and is very rewarding with a little bit of sparkling water on a summers day.

This year I have used a recipe from river cottage, I like to experiment with the amount of lemons and flowers I add, making it to suit my taste....


Ingredients

  • About 25 elderflower heads
  • Finely grated zest of 3 unwaxed lemons and 1 orange, plus their juice (about 150ml in total)
  • 1kg sugar
  • 1 heaped tsp citric acid (optional)

What to do

Inspect the elderflower heads carefully and remove any insects. Place the flower heads in a large bowl together with the orange and lemon zest.
Bring 1.5 litres water to the boil and pour over the elderflowers and citrus zest. Cover and leave overnight to infuse.

Strain the liquid through a scalded jelly bag or piece of muslin and pour into a saucepan. Add the sugar, the lemon and orange juice and the citric acid (if using).

Heat gently to dissolve the sugar, then bring to a simmer and cook for a
couple of minutes.

Use a funnel to pour the hot syrup into sterilised bottles. Seal the bottles
with swing-top lids, sterilised screw-tops or corks.

Please see the river cottage website for all you need to know!


Happy summer drinking!

Thursday 13 June 2013

Spoons are cool

 
 
 
 
Our Spoon carving Workshop coming up on 20th July 2013 will be run by barn the spoon...... click on this link to see him at work! (we have a few spaces left!, if you fancy joining us just let us know on 020 8543 5300)
 

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Open Gardens Wonderful Weekend



A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came down over the weekend to visit us for the Open Garden Square Weekend. It was such a lovely day and we were very happy to see so many people supporting the project. The poppies were out to welcome people, we had oodles of cake, lots of duck hooking and even the sheep, ferrets, edna the owl and a bunny came to visit us in the garden!

aaahhhhh what a great day we had!

A special thank you to those who bought us cakes for the cake stall, they were all very yummy and well received! And to those who manned a stall for us and bought down an animal to see us! (cheers Tom)

Here are a few (quite a few, i got a little carried away!)photos from the day.......
   





















































































































Many thanks Lu & Flo
See you next year!