The Hounslow Community Farming Association is proud to be the local lead in Hounslow for Capital Growth...

...a partnership initiative between London Food Link, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, and the Big Lottery's Local Food Fund.

It is championed by the Chair of the London Food Board Rosie Boycott and aims to create 2012 new community food growing spaces across London by the end of 2012.  Capital Growth offers practical help, grants, training and support to groups wanting to establish community food growing projects as well as advice to landowners.

This page lists the current growing spaces available in Hounslow. Please get in touch with the relevant contact by clicking on their name.

Good luck and happy growing!

We need your vote! The HCFA has been nominated for a Natwest Community Fund award and there's only 3 days left!

If you vote for us we could win between £1000 & £3000 in essential funding so please click on this link to submit your vote:

https://communityfund.natwest.com/Vote

Please enter your postcode as TW3 3JJ and select the "Hounslow High Street" branch to bring up our list.

Thank you!

About the Natwest Community Fund (from natwest.com):

"The NatWest Community Fund forms part of our commitment to support the communities we work in. We've received over 18,000 nominations for the fund and regional panels have selected shortlists of three charities/projects for each local area.

Simply use the form on screen find the shortlist for your area and then vote for the charity or project which you think deserves to benefit most from our support.

The charity or project with the most votes will receive £3,000 with the two runners up receiving £1,000 each. Vote now."

Just a quick reminder that Andy Eddy, the head gardener from Osterley Park will be on site this Sunday, between 10.30am and 12.30pm, to deliver the Shrub Workshop.

This is a good opportunity to pick the brains of an experienced horticulturalist and learn all you can about shrubs and their uses – all for the bargain price of £3. Hopefully we'll see you there!

Because of the predicted heavy rain for Friday we've decided to postpone the HCFA BBQ Bonanza until another (and hopefully dry) day. We hope this late decision won't be an inconvenience to those of you who planned to attend.

It's likely this event will be re-arranged to coincide with the bonfire night event which was a big success last year so watch this space for more information!

We'd like to remind everyone that it's not too late to enrol on our new City & Guilds Level 1 in Horticultural Skills course which starts on October 1st. The course is being run in co-operation with Capel Manor Horticultural college at Gunnersbury Park and Hounslow Homes.

Enrolment takes place on 13th September so don't delay if you just want to improve your gardening skills and knowledge or maybe start a new career in horticulture find out more by clicking the link below:

City & Guilds course in Horticulture

Just a quick reminder about the composting workshop taking place this Saturday 28th August at the Faggs Road allotments. It's all well and good growing good produce in the first year but the key skill is to keep the soil alive and full of nutrients for the following year. Learning to create good compost is the main part of this strategy so please come along to learn how!

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

Just a quick reminder about the Brassicas workshop coming up on 6th June

Jessica from Kew Gardens will be delivering the next HCFA workshop on brassicas. We will be taken through the preparation, planting and pests of a number of brassica varieties including – Kale, Borecole, Purple Sprouting Brocolli, Red and Curly Headed Cabbage and Chard. We will also be looking at techniques for protecting brassica crops from pigeon.

Subject: Brassicas

Guest speaker: Jessica Evans

Date: 6th June

Time: 10:30 to 12:30

Venue: Faggs Road allotments - 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

Just a quick reminder about our Root Vegetables workshop this Saturday.

The guest speaker this time round is Ray Hulm, a Royal Paddocks allotment holder and experience grower. Ray will be demonstrating how to prepare and plant carrots, turnips, parsnips, beetroot, swede and scorzonera.

This workshop runs from 10.30am to 12.30pm at our allotment site off Faggs Road, in Feltham

More details can be found on our calendar here.

We hope you can make it along!

Another successful workshop on Saturday (17th April) saw the HCFA herb garden planted!

Just a quick reminder that the Herb Garden workshop takes place this Saturday 17th April at 10.30am.