With persistent warnings of shortages of fresh vegetables there seems to be even greater enthusiasm for grow-your-own produce -- and that was certainly the vibe at an event organised by Barnet's Incredible Edible campaign aimed at encouraging home cultivation in gardens and on unused land.
Gardening tips were on offer in the group’s community garden outside St John’s United Reform Church in Mowbray Road, New Barnet.
In a hall inside the church, tables were laid out with a vast array of surplus and donated seeds ready to be swapped or exchanged.
Volunteer Heather Elston (above, far right) answered questions about planting for the year ahead.
She showed visitors the transformation achieved through the cultivation of a strip of land alongside the Mowbray Road pavement.
Autumn fruiting raspberries, three dwarf apple trees, a peach and fig tree, together with herbs such as marjoram and rosemary are already thriving.
Volunteers are hoping to extend the garden to take in land at the rear of the church.
Wendy Alcock founded Incredible Edible seven years ago as a self-help group to encourage more people to grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers.
For people in flats or without gardens, the group encourages local residents to create community gardens on waste or unused land.
The annual seed swap is now in its fifth year and was even more popular this year given that seed suppliers and shops are said to be running out of some favourite varieties given the increased uptake in home cultivation.
Ms Alcock (above, right) was on hand to give advice to Medhi Razi who had seen the group’s Facebook campaign promoting the seed swap and who wanted ideas for flowers than could be grown in his cousin’s garden.
One possibility was to plant some ever-popular sun flowers, but he was advised there were plenty of other options for small garden.
Daniella Levene (above), who is the inspiration behind Barnet Community Harvesters, who pick and distribute surplus apples and pears, was on the hunt for flower seeds such as knapweed for a bee garden which is being established in a community garden at the Welsh Harp reservoir.
Ms Alcock was delighted with the success of the seed swap and did not want to dampen the enthusiasm of those who attended, but home cultivation of fruit and vegetables did require patience as well as skill.
Salad crops would take a couple of months to mature and the timescale for lots of vegetable was three or four months or even longer.
Another Incredible Edible supporter, Dave McCormick of Barnet Friends of the Earth gave advice on home composting.
Bins for cold composting of plant matter such as leaves, and grass were available at a discounted price from Barnet Council and he encouraged gardeners to take advantage of what could become a cheap and regular supply of home-produced compost.
