Dennis Touliatos, an organic grower at The Plot, reports on the relocation to Summerhouse Community Farm and the start of an exciting new phase.
I have been an organic grower at The Plot for nearly five years, and usually May is the month when the growing season truly gets underway. By this time, the beds are prepared, the compost has been spread, and the first seedlings have made their way into the freshly cultivated, fertile tilth—the fluffy, welcoming soil that gardeners are so fond of talking about. It is a month of optimism, when plans made over winter begin to take shape in the field.
This May, however, has been very different.
Transforming the site into productive growing space
Rather than planting into familiar beds at The Plot, our attention has been focused on a major transition. We have moved to our new home at Summerhouse Community Farm, a site recently purchased by LESS. Until now, the land has been a pasture on a gently sloping hillside stretching down towards the canal. While it has tremendous potential, it is not yet the productive growing space we have become accustomed to working with.
Laying the foundations for success
The move has presented both exciting opportunities and significant challenges. Instead of nurturing young crops, much of our time has been spent putting up stock fencing to prevent sheep and horses from wandering into our growing area, planning a rabbit-proof fence to protect future crops from the furry inhabitants, and exploring options for bringing water onto the site for irrigation.
Establishing a new community farm requires patience, hard work, and vision. Before the vegetables can grow, the foundations need to be put in place.
Inspiring volunteers
Although there are fewer crops to admire than in a typical May, we’ve been making great progress behind the scenes. The energy and enthusiasm of the volunteers and supporters who join us every Thursday from 10am to 2pm, regardless of the weather, have been truly inspiring. Together, we are beginning the process of transforming a pasture into a thriving community farm that will provide opportunities for learning, volunteering, food growing, and connection with nature.
While this May has looked very different from previous years, it marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. The seeds we are sowing right now may not all be vegetable seeds, but they are laying the groundwork for a vibrant future for The Plot. We look forward to sharing our progress over the coming months as the site begins to take shape and the first crops finally find their place in the soil.
New volunteers are always welcome to join us!
