HoTT Edible Garden

Published: 27 July 2020

Despite the twin challenges of lockdown and an exceptionally dry Spring and early Summer, we have managed to grow a wide range of produce this year. This includes 26 types of fruit and vegetables, ranging from staples such as broad beans, tomatoes and potatoes to more exotic offerings including a magnificent cardoon. In addition we have a number of fruit trees and bushes next to the Library garden on the way up to Victoria Park and a small bed next to the Library. All produce is left for the local community to collect for free, although some people prefer to leave a contribution towards next year’s seeds. 

Our aim this year has been to further model sustainability in our gardening. We have reused old tyres, plastic containers and fertiliser bags as planters and have been making our own compost in donated compost bins. In addition we have used our comfrey to make organic fertiliser by compressing it in an old drainpipe and, thanks to the Nook Inn, we were able to use leftover hops as a mulch.

Irrigation has been our biggest challenge, having relied until now on the goodwill of Longley’s cafe in the use of their outside tap, and latterly on donations by Bill of water into our water butts. Thanks to a grant of £365 from Kirklees One Community Foundation, however, we are now able to build a rainwater harvesting station modelled on one seen by Alison at RHS Tatton last year. We are hoping to build up a battery of water butts to make the most of the rainy weather and reduce our reliance on tap water. In the meantime, thanks to Peter for making funnels for the water butts which also do a good job of harvesting the rainwater.

Please visit the garden at any time to see what we are doing and help yourself to produce. If you’d like to join us, or just chat to us about what we are doing, there is usually a group of us (socially distanced of course!) at the garden every Wednesday morning from 10am until midday.