Compost making – an environmental service?; a profitable business?; or food for the plants? Richard Wallis, the composting guest speaker, has convinced us that HCFA can manage its composting facilities with all three objectives in mind.

The bank holiday weekend meant that numbers were thinner on the ground than normal. Those who did attend were treated to an amusing and informative demonstration on the art of composting.

Richard explained the essential components of good compost – aeration, layering green (grass cuttings, hedge trimmings etc) and brown (wood chippings, bark etc) materials, heat retention and moisture. These factors all improve the structure of the compost and the microbial activity necessary for breaking down the organic matter into essential elements (nitrates, phosphorous, potassium, calcium etc) for plants.

We then set about turning…….. the theory into practice (and the compost pile). Richard showed us how to layer, turn/rotate and insulate a composting heap.

HCFA would like to thank Richard for his expert guidance. We were all left wondering why such beneficial materials are called a waste at all – as they say one mans waste is another mans compost.
 

Hounslow Community Farming Association is a regular stallholder at the Twickenham farmers market. All produce has to be grown within 100 miles of the market, the HCFA site is four miles from the market so it doesn't get much more local than that.

HCFA has also cornered another niche. We're the only organic (well chemical free since we haven't got the Soil Association seal of approval yet) vegetable stallholder at the market. Judging from the sales receipts and the interest we have had from passers by suggests that local and organic tick all the right boxes for markets goers.

So if you want unusual varieties of cucumbers, beans, chard, seasonal beetroot, carrots, turnips, potatoes, leeks and parsnips or our own homegrown honey come and visit us at the Twickenham Farmer's market!

www.lfm.org.uk/markets/twickenham/

Subject: At this time of year replenishing the soil, depleted of nutrients by this years crop, with well rotted compost is essential. This workshop will explain the theory behind composting – aeration, materials, heat retention, layering, turning etc – and practically demonstrate how to build a compost heap from scratch.

Guest speaker: Richard Wallis, experienced composter and composting consultant.

Date: 28^th August 

Time: 10:30 to 12:30

 Venue: Faggs Road allotments, Feltham - www.hcfa.org.uk/faggs-road-site

 Cost:£3 entrance fee

 We look forward to seeing you there.

 For further information contact Alex Morrell – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.hcfa.org.uk

Viola tricolor

Low to short plant, stems erect or ascending.  Flowers violet blue, yellow and white.  10 to 25 mm, the spur 3 to 5 mm. Found throughout Britain but never common - less common in the South East.

Courtesy of Naturespot - www.naturespot.org.uk

Viola tricolor

Low to short plant, stems erect or ascending.  Flowers violet blue, yellow and white.  10 to 25 mm, the spur 3 to 5 mm. Found throughout Britain but never common - less common in the South East.

Courtesy of Naturespot - www.naturespot.org.uk

Convulvus arvensis

A climbing or creeping plant to 2 metres, though often far less.  Leaves arrow shaped to oblong. Stalked.  Flowers white, or pink with white stripes. 10 to 25 mm solitary.

Courtesy of Naturespot - www.naturespot.org.uk

Picris echioides

Medium to tall bristly plant, each bristle arising from a pimple.  Stems well branched.  Leaves elliptical to oblong, wavy edged, pimply and bristly with winged stalks, upper leaves unstalked and clasping the stem.  Flowers yellow 20 to 25 mm numerous, florets all rayed, flower bracts with bristly margins, the outer heart shaped.  Papus white. 

Courtesy of Naturespot - www.naturespot.org.uk

Chenopodium album

Variable, medium to tall dark green very mealy plant.  Leaves variable, diamond shaped to lanceolate. Flowers tiny, green, in a leafy spike or panicle.

Courtesy of Naturespot - www.naturespot.org.uk

Maniola jurtina

The Meadow Brown is one of our commonest and most widespread butterflies, and a familiar site throughout the summer months across the British Isles. This is a brown butterfly with an orange patch on each wing surrounding a black eye spot with a single white ‘pupil’. The amount of orange on the forewings and the number of black spots found on the underside of the hind wings can vary.

The butterfly can be found in almost any grassy habitat, especially grasslands where the sward is of a medium height, where populations can reach thousands. Even in heavily grazed meadows, the butterfly can usually be found around the field margins. Typical habitats include grassland, woodland rides, field margins, hedgerows, road verges and even overgrown gardens. 

Courtesy of Naturespot - www.naturespot.org.uk