It’s been a busy month up at Eves Hill Veg Co. Our four new trainees have started, hit the ground running and been absolutely wonderful to have around.

Tasha, Clint, Kat and Ollie all bring a range of background, experience and skills with them and so the project grows.

We’ve been busy finally getting the tomatoes in the ground and now have almost all the salads for summer planted.

The field has been prepped (thanks to Jeremy and Barry for their tractor work) and awaits planting, the new polytunnel is up and full of plants (thanks Broadland District Council) and plans are emerging for our compost toilet.

Spring might have sprung around us, but the poor and mostly cold weather has set us back somewhat with the growth of our salads, and we are clinging on to small harvests at the moment watching leaves grow slowly.

Onion planting at Eves Hill Veg Co. Photo: supplied

Izzy our apprentice is growing from strength to strength, supporting the trainees and volunteers with the weekly tasks on the volunteer Wednesdays and supporting Tom, who has been bringing a range of groups and visitors to the farm, as well as getting stuck in with the general planning, running, harvesting and site care.

Over recent weeks we’ve welcomed the team from Stepping Stones, a project in Norwich for adults with learning difficulties, who brought a group of brilliant gardeners with plenty of experience from their own allotment, and wonderful cake for break time.

We also welcomed a group from YMCA in Norwich and Great Yarmouth, all of whom had been involved in a gardening competition within their residences. It was a pleasure to host them and we thank them for their help in digging the trench for our polytunnel.

Other visitors this month included 20 students from UEA studying international development studies. They came to Eves Hill Veg Co to learn more about sustainable food production, acting local and how this links with national and international food movements of solidarity, support, research and campaigning.

We’ve also got news coming up about a new programme we will be running from July with Norfolk Community College working with anyone who has been out of work for 12 months or more. This will enable us to run gardening clubs and courses at the site in Booton and at other community gardens nearby. More to follow.

• Our next open day will be Saturday 26 May. We’d love some help with the preparing and planting in our field (time to put the sweetcorn and courgettes in the ground) and helping us stay on top of the weeding. We’ll be there from 10 am – 2 pm, there will be family-friendly tasks from 10.30 am – 12 noon, and at 12 noon there will be a tour and talk about the site and our work. Bring lunch if you’d like to; we provide tea and flapjacks.
• Eves Hill Veg Co will be at the Reepham Food Festival on Sunday 27 May. We’ll have information about what we do and plants for sale – expect herbs, tomatoes and some ornamentals.
• Timber frame roundhouse course – Owen is running a course at Eves Hill Veg Co in sustainable building techniques (and helping us build a shelter, too). The course runs over two weekends in June.
• Veg bags – these start again end of June when the abundance returns. If you want to be added to our weekly e-list or text list, let us know.
• Volunteer Wednesdays – these are from 10.30 am – 4 pm every Wednesday and are open to everyone; there are buses from and to Norwich (we pick you up in Reepham). Beginners are welcome; you don’t have to know anything about plants or gardening, just fancy coming along and lending a hand. Contact us for more details.

Hannah Claxton
Eves Hill Veg Co
07876 354363
info@eveshillvegco.com