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 October 7, 2013 at 19:57

Thanks very much to the herb-planting volunteers who came to the station today (see the photos).  Stage 1 is now complete, with the first 'carriage' full of hardy passengers: sage, rosemary and thyme.  (Just a parsley away from 'Scarborough Fair'!)  Please admire and nurture them over the winter (weed and water), ready for harvesting next summer.  

I've asked First Capital Connect if they can top up the compost in the second container, and speed up delivery of the third container - then we're done!  Thanks again to everyone for your enthusiasm.

Comment by Lindsey Berthoud on October 7, 2013 at 21:16

Well done Mary & co! I got stuck at work so sorry I couldn't help you but when I got off the train at BP I exited opposite the planted up planter and it looked very smart indeed. 

Comment by Mary Blake on October 8, 2013 at 10:55

Hi Lindsey and Diana, not to worry, there were plenty of hands on deck!  It was more by way of introduction yesterday.  Please watch the events listings and this blog for any future group activity, but the main task is ongoing to keep the planters tidy and watered.  We just have access water when the ticket office is open (6.30-10.30am), but First Capital Connect are going to ask Network Rail if we can a water butt on the platform - fingers crossed.  Kind volunteers are watering today and tomorrow, then Metcheck are predicting rain to give us a day off..

Comment by Mary Blake on October 15, 2013 at 18:33

Hello herb-lovers,  here's an update:

The good news - the rain has kept the first planter well-watered, and noone's pinched any plants!

The bad news - the third planter and top-up soil promised last week still haven't arrived; I'm chasing up to get a definite eta so we can get the rest of the plants in as soon as possible.

Thanks for hanging on in here!

Comment by Lucia on October 18, 2013 at 14:08

Herbs look great. Sorry I missed first planting Mary, been traveling a bit for work...when need arises I could water on a Mon, Weds and Fri en route to work or on other days in the afternoon and bring my own water as live v near station and could bring my little person to help...

Comment by Mary Blake on October 18, 2013 at 14:39

Thanks Lucia, that would be great - hopefully the watering won't be too onerous through the autumn/winter.  Hope your little one enjoys it!

Comment by Mary Blake on October 23, 2013 at 17:15

Huzzah!  The third planter has now arrived, closely followed by more soil.  So Trish, Katie and I have put the remaining herbs (sage, rosemary, more lavender) in their new home.  Please weed, water and litterpick them, and spare a few encouraging words (or thoughtwaves) as you pass.  Thanks to First Capital Connect, the Aldingbourne Trust and all you good Bowes Park folk for your support and enthusiasm.

Comment by Lindsey Berthoud on October 24, 2013 at 12:20

Spotted this morning - looking good! 

Comment by Trish Dyson on October 25, 2013 at 15:57
Passing by last night I noticed that some creature ( or person??) had had a good old scratch around in the final planter, and had uprooted one of the sages. I repaired as well as I could but won't be around now for a while, so please could everyone keep an eye on the planters, look after them and give them some water if it stops raining!
Comment by Mary Blake on October 25, 2013 at 17:29

Thanks very much Trish for being on the alert!  Maybe a fox??  We've still got a bit of money for replacement plants, but I'm also away for a while.  So whoever else is around please mount a herb vigil!

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