Herb-growing on Bowes Park station platform

Is anyone interested in communal herb-growing on the Bowes Park station platform?  Herbs would be grown in large pots, weeded and watered by commuters and harvested as needed by them on their weary way home..

This is being done successfully by the 'Incredible Edible Todmorden' project in Yorkshire - see photo at (http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/projects/community-her...)

Capital First Connect who run the station are open to the idea in principle, and would like to see plans.  Sustainable Bowes Park has some money left over from the Enfield Residents Priority Fund to pay for pots and seeds; the most important factor is volunteer labour!

The containers would be large and heavy enough to be immovable by any mischief-makers, waist-high for easy access, and filled one-third hard core (at the bottom), one-third with polystyrene as a filler, and the top third with compost and water-retaining crystals.  Then planted with drought-tolerant Mediterranean types (rosemary, thyme etc). 

Water may need to be carried to the station, depending on whether tenants/staff can supply it.  Weeding would ideally be done by regular station users while they wait for their train in the mornings.

Please let me know if you can offer any watering/weeding help, or have any comments or suggestions. 

Thanks very much,

Mary Blake

for Sustainable Bowes Park

Views: 1550

Comment by Mary Blake on September 30, 2013 at 21:25

Hi Phoebe

One variegated sage would be just the job to go in the middle of one of the containers, thanks very much!  We're sorted for the rest, I'll let you and the others know the planting date asap.

Comment by Mary Blake on September 30, 2013 at 21:30

It's all happening on the herb front, folks! 

The Grand Plant-In will be next Monday, 7th October, 5-6.30pm on Bowes Park station platform, led by our adviser Martine.  I will bring all the necessary plants (except for Phoebe's kind donation of a variegated sage), please bring your gardening gloves, trowels and forks and hopefully many hands will make quick work.  Thanks one and all..

Comment by Trish Dyson on September 30, 2013 at 21:51
Excellent, congratulations on organising! I'll be there.
Phoebe - if you have loads of sage I'd be grateful for a sprig or two...
Comment by Phoebe Davidson on October 1, 2013 at 8:16
Ok looked at it yesterday. One root lots of sprigs. Don't know if it will make a cutting but is very pretty
Comment by Mary Blake on October 1, 2013 at 8:27

Thanks very much Trish for your help.

Phoebe, are you able to supply a whole sage plant, or shall I get one to play safe?  We've got enough of everything else now.  Thanks again.

Comment by Lindsey Berthoud on October 1, 2013 at 11:45

That's great news Mary, I'll try and come along.

I can create an event on here, so other people are alerted to the Grand Plant-In, if that's OK? 

Comment by Richard McKeever on October 1, 2013 at 11:49
Comment by Lindsey Berthoud on October 1, 2013 at 11:51

aha! thanks Richard

Comment by Phoebe Davidson on October 4, 2013 at 17:11
Looked at sage plant again. Has lots of leaves but only one root. Will try cuttings but will take a while. Suggest buying one for now and I can supply additional ones, if needed, later.
Comment by Mary Blake on October 4, 2013 at 22:17

OK Phoebe, in that case I'll bring enough for all the planters.  We'll leave space for them to spread, and cross our fingers that our good tlc makes sure they do!  Thanks very much for your interest.

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