A personal account by Dennis, Grower and FarmStart Trainer at the Plot, April 2025
I’ve always had the feeling that when the sun is shining and the skies are blue, everything is going to be fine.
This spring is one of those times—we’ve had sunshine for weeks now, and the soil has finally dried out enough to let us prepare the beds for the seedlings we’ve been patiently raising since February at the polytunnel at White Lund.
There’s a quiet tension to this time of year—a kind of buzzing stillness. The beds are filling, the sowings are doubling, and the polytunnel is bursting with trays. At the same time, there’s restraint. We wait. We check the forecast. We wonder if we should have waited one more week. And we celebrate every true leaf, every sign of life pushing through.
The nights haven’t been too cold either, and despite the clear skies, we’ve avoided the dreaded late frosts. This season couldn’t have started in a better way—giving us a strong head start for our organic market garden.
April also marks a turning point in the rhythm of the team. The new FarmStarters, who joined in March, are now digging in—literally and metaphorically. From learning the art of sowing in straight lines to the finer points of soil preparation, they’re starting to make The Plot their own. The early hesitation has given way to laughter, curiosity, and the beginnings of confidence. As we walk the field together, the sense of shared purpose grows stronger.
We’ve also harvested the first salad leaves of the season—cut-and-come-again mixes for our local food hub Gather. It’s a small but deeply satisfying milestone: organic food grown with care, reaching local plates. It’s what we’re here for.
April may be unpredictable, but it’s full of promise. Every day feels like a step forward into the growing season, into possibility. There’s plenty of work ahead and plenty still unknown—but the land is waking up, and so are we.
Our last few crop-share places are available. Register for yours now via this page.
