Selsley Week 8

It's slowly coming together now. We've just planted some blackcurrants, wild garlic, wild and climbing roses (petals are lovely in a salad), very small lavenders, foxgloves (not to eat, but the pollinators love them) and the Jerusalem artichokes have just started to show. With some of the money we raised at the Spring Gardening Event, we've got some raised beds and when we've finished digging the vegetable plot, we can start to put them in place. Freds fence is fabulous - really rustic and once the roses start to grow along it I'm sure it will be beautiful.

We love the sense of community here, people walking by stop to have a chat. Everyone has said that it's good to see the site returned to what it used to be. All we need now is a group of people who want to share a community growing space! If you're interested in what we're doing here and want to be involved please give us a call on 01453 700 011 or e-mail us at info@downtoearth.coop

Mycobacterium Vaccae

There is a bacterium in soil called Mycobacterium Vaccae that when ingested and breathed in increases Serotonin! Increased Serotonin not only decreases anxiety making people happier it also makes people (and animals actually) smarter. So the kids are onto something when they're eating the dirt? (Dogs too) It's great that a lot of schools over recent years have increased outdoor learning; many Schools have gardens these days where the kids may learn hands on biology and have a go at growing. Down to Earth would love for kids to be more involved in projects. Parents are welcome to bring their children with them when they come and see us/work with us. There may be some instances where it's not appropriate so perhaps checking via a phonecall first would be best - 01453 700 011

Anyone interested in increasing their IQ and decreasing their stress levels would be most welcome to join us up at Selsley on a Monday morning for a bit of soil therapy. Give us a callto find out more

Plant Swop at Crown and Sceptre

On Sunday the 22nd April there will be the annual Plant Swop at the Crown and Sceptre pub on Horns Road. It begins at 2pm and ends at 4pm. Sunday lunch at the Crown and Sceptre has a great reputation so perhaps Lunch, Plant Swop and a couple of drinky's in the beer garden would be a lovely afternoon out for some? They also have a great selection of local Ale from Stroud Brewery! You'll probably need to book your lunch because they're very popular 01453 762588.

The event is free! If you don't have any plants to swop then a small donation will be fine; all donations made will go towards Down to Earth's work

Check out the Crown and Sceptre's website
www.crownandsceptrestroud.com

You can also find the event on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/events/148151435313742/ 

Wild Garlic Pesto Risotto

Wild garlic (or Ramsons) is a bulbous, perennial plant which grows wild in damp woodlands. It can be found from late January through to late spring and all parts of it can be eaten. Some care needs to be taken when forgaing for Wild garlic because it does resemble Lily of the Valley. However it is easy to distinguish when you rub its leaves as it gives off an unmistakeable garlic scent. In fact if you're in woodland and there is a fair bit of it about you can smell it in the air.

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. It's great added to mash, put in a salad or made into a pesto. Below is a great recipe for all you wild garlic foragers!

Wild Garlic Pesto Risotto (the best risotto i have ever tasted, and Vegan too)

Serves 6

For the Pesto:

Large double handful of wild garlic leaves

Small handful of cashew nuts - lightly toasted

Small handful of walnuts - lightly toasted

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tsp salt

4 tsbp olive oil

1 small clove garlic

Blend all of the ingredients up together until smooth and pesto-ey

For the Risotto:

1 Onion

500g Risotto Rice (brown is nicer but takes a bit longer to cook)

Small saucepan of warm vegetable stock

Olive oil

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

In a large saucepan, fry the onion in a splash of olive oil until soft.

Add the risotto rice and stir for a few minutes until the rice is well coated with oil.

Pour in the lemon juice and stir to de-glaze the pan

Add the warm stock a half-cupful at a time, stirring until it is absorbed and the rice begins to "squeak", then add more.

The rice will need stirring almost constantly.

After about 20 mins stir in half of the pesto.

Continue to gradually add stock and stir until the rice is al dente (the time this takes will differ depending on what kind of risotto rice you use -  white or brown - but the packet should have a rough guide to how long it takes to cook).

Stir in the rest of the pesto, apart from a few spoonfuls to dollop on top of the dish.

Taste and add salt and pepper if it needs more seasoning.

Serve topped with a few roasted vegetables and some dollops of wild garlic pesto

Enjoy

Land at Selsley - week 6

We can see the progress we're making now. Most of the veg side is cleared, digging is well under way and the soil seems very good. We planted some jerusalem artichokes at the back of the plot and some raspberry canes on the fruit side. Tea and coffee are always on the go and most weeks our chats cover growing techniques, politics and generally putting the world to rights! Next week we hope to put the compost bins in place and do more digging! If you'd like to come and join us please give us a call on 01453 700 011

Land at Selsley week 5

Work getting the Selsley land cleared and ready to use as a Community Growing Space and Training ground is still happening each Monday if anyone would like to join us. It's amazing what can be done in a couple of hours a week - we've started to lay a path (re-cycled chippings) and put an edge along the side, as well as digging the soil over ready to put some raised beds in on the flat vegetable side. On the other side of the plot it's quite steeply sloped so we've decided to put fruit shrubs there - we've now planted our first donated gooseberry bush! Also on the way are some raspberries and tayberries - oh and jerusalem artichokes for the veg bit. The first pallets have arrived to make our compost bins which should be in place and functioning next week.

OK they're not the most exciting of pictures but you get the idea! Anyone interested in helping us please call 01453 7000 11 or e-mail us at info@downtoearth.coop

Spring Gardening Event - 15th April

Down to Earth, Transition Stroud and Gloucestershire Coppice Group, are organising a Spring Gardening Event for Sunday 15th April at Victory Park in Ebley. It's aimed at people who are interested in growing their own food and various people and Organisations will be there to share their growing advice and sell their garden related wares. Down to Earth will be on hand for any gardening queries and will also have for sale bean poles, hurdles, veg plants, fruit trees, shrubs and local charcoal. Avon Vale Landscaping will have compost. The Bee Guardian Foundation and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust around Stroud will be sharing their great knowledge of our helpful garden friends the pollinators and other garden wildlife. Woodcraft folk have said they will come and do some Facepainting and maybe some garden art...... Saskia's flower remedies wil be there.... the full list of contributors is yet to be confirmed but so far it looks set to be a really lovely afternoon.

If you're interested in, contributing to, or helping out at this event please get in touch. Our phone number is 01453 700011 and our e-mail info@downtoearth.coop