Open Day - Sunday 21st August 2011

This weeks activities:

More late summer sowing - Last week we sowed Broccoli, Chard, Coriander and Parsley, but there are more seedlings in the greenhouse to go out. The idea is that the Herbs and salad will bush out during the autumn and not go to seed as they did in the spring, with the Brassicas hopefully producing next spring.

Wooden Figure Carving - Have fun adding to the artwork on our welcoming scar-crow/shaman. We have some knives and chisels to lend out but only to those old enough or accompanied by parents.

Hard Labour for men - We have lots of fresh wood to work with at the moment from the Sycamore we sacrificed and it can all be used for making furnature for the sitting area and building a rain shelter. Weather you know about wood work or not, just build something, aslong as its safe it will do the job.

If anybody would like to cook, there is always plenty of food here to work with. Free teas and coffees as usual. For more info call 07905 283114



Open Day Workshops - Sunday 14th August 2011

Elderberry Wine Making

This week we will be testing the plum cider from a few weeks ago and picking elderberries to make wine for the winter. If you know elder trees near you please collect some to bring along, we can't have too many!

Late Summer Sowing

August is the time for sowing leaf vegetables for autumn and winter which would otherwise go to seed if grown in mid summer. These include Coriander, Parsley, Cabbage, Chard, Celery, Lettuce, Spinach and Kale. We'll be experiementing with growing these things for the winter both indoors and outdoors.

Free tea and coffee plus a homegrown meal.

Call 07905 283114 or email syonlanecommunityallotment@gmail.com for more information.

Open Day - Sunday 31st July 2011

There is an abundance of food to be harvested and cooked on the allotment at the moment, so do come and help eat it. There will also be work going on at the front of the site where we have cut down a sycamore tree to make way for an ornamenal vegetable and flower garden. Seeds are all over the place and ready to be collected, please bring small packets if you want to take some home with you.

Free Tea, Coffee and food will be available all day from 12p.m.

All ages are welcome.

Email syonlanecommunityallotment@gmail.com or call 07905 283114 for more information.



Open Day - Sunday 24th July 2011

Plum season is upon us and there are many more than anyone can eat at the moment, so please come along and take some home with you! We'll be making jam, wine, cider and vinegar with them. There are also millions of seeds ready to collect and dry including Parsnip, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Spinach and Brussel Sprouts. If you have a skill you would like to teach at Syon Lane (even if you're not an "expert") contact us. We now have temporary shelters which can be put up if it rains.

Free tea, coffee and food will be available all day from 12pm.

Open Day - Sunday 17th July 2011

The following FREE workshops will be running this Sunday:

Coil pot making - Ever wanted to make your own cups and bowls from local Brentford clay? We have an experienced potter who will give us an introduction to shaping and firing clay.

Seed Saving - Lots of vegetables are going to seed at the moment so it's a good time to learn about drying and storing them. There will be plenty for you to take home and sow next spring.

Pickling - Learn how to store excess summer produce and wild food for the winter in tasty pickles. Please bring your old coffee and jam jars!

As usual there will be free tea and coffee on all day from 12pm until dark, and a home cooked vegetarian meal at some point in the afternoon. For further information call Andrew on 07905 283114 or email syonlanecommunityallotment@gmail.com.

Sunday 10th Open Day Events

The planned events for this weeks open day are:

Propogation of soft wood cuttings
Non-permenant Henna tattooing for children and adults
Mural painting for children and adults
and Seed collecting

Free food, tea and coffee is available all day as usual and visitors are invited to look arround the whole site.

Welcome to Syon Lane Community Allotment's blog

Syon Lane Community Allotment is a strip of land next to Syon Lane train station in west London which had been un-used for 20 years until a group of permaculture enthusiasts were offered it on loan for 3 years. We have re-opened it as a forest garden and permaculture demonstration center, a growing space for local schools and also an outdoor area for arts and crafts. Open days are every Sunday from 12pm, and admision is free. Visit this blog to keep up to date with the free workshops that will be running every Sunday. Visits can be arranged on other days by calling Andrew on 07905 283114 or emailing syonlanecommunityallotment@gmail.com