Gardening Club

[Dane End Dolly]

Hi everyone

Our village has just started up gardening club, we meet once a month (in the evening) and i wonder if anyone has ideas of what we can do and if anyone knows anybody in East Herts & surrounding areas that would be able to give an interesting talk/lecture.

We are open to all and any ideas please.

Many thanks

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'd draw up a list of the 12 meetings and allotcate a subject to each one, then find speakers to suit. Eg

Jan - winter colour in the garden
Feb - seed sowing
Mar - growing under cover
Apr - fruit
May - veg
Jun - herbs
July - saving water
Aug - cutting flowers
Sep - harvesting fruit/veg
Oct - seed saving
Nov - garden planning and landscaping
Dec - social evening

I'd get one or two local garden centres involved - they've always got a couple of experts in and would be happy to come along, I'm sure (or hold one of your meetings at the garden centre if they have a late night opening and a cafe)

I'd also get the local catering college in for a 'making the most of your crop' type cookery evening, or someone from the local WI to talk about preserves etc etc

You could hold one of your meetings in the local waterstones (if they have a cafe) and see if one of their book buyers can talk you through useful books for the gardener....

oh - and use the people you have - you're bound to have a dahlia/greenhouse/vegetables for showing expert in your allotment ranks, and if you haven't, ask the secretary of the nearby allotments if they have anyone who would come and give a short talk.

[zazen999]

I'd draw up a list of the 12 meetings and allotcate a subject to each one, then find speakers to suit. Eg

Jan - winter colour in the garden
Feb - seed sowing
Mar - growing under cover
Apr - fruit
May - veg
Jun - herbs
July - saving water
Aug - cutting flowers
Sep - harvesting fruit/veg
Oct - seed saving
Nov - garden planning and landscaping
Dec - social evening

I'd get one or two local garden centres involved - they've always got a couple of experts in and would be happy to come along, I'm sure (or hold one of your meetings at the garden centre if they have a late night opening and a cafe)

I'd also get the local catering college in for a 'making the most of your crop' type cookery evening, or someone from the local WI to talk about preserves etc etc

You could hold one of your meetings in the local waterstones (if they have a cafe) and see if one of their book buyers can talk you through useful books for the gardener....

oh - and use the people you have - you're bound to have a dahlia/greenhouse/vegetables for showing expert in your allotment ranks, and if you haven't, ask the secretary of the nearby allotments if they have anyone who would come and give a short talk.

You're good - you're very good.

[SlugLobber]

Flippin eck, Hazel, if you organized my local 'Horticulture Society', I'd have joined long ago!

[sewer rat]

I'm secretary of our local gardening club, which was formed just over a year ago. OUr programme for 2009 looks like this;
February - Japanese Gardens (talk by member of the club)
March - Growing Veg for Showing ( I'll be paying close attention)
April - Daffodils (this is a visit to Brodie Castle with a tour guided by Head Gardener, as they have a vast range of daffs)
May - Fuschias (Dan Dan the Fuschia Man - back by popular request)
June - Visit to a "nearby" and newly set up Allotment Site
July - Evening Visits to two local gardens
August - Chrysanthemums
September - Bonsai Growing
October - AGM and Alpine Trough Making
November - Container planting and Slug Proof Plants (local garden centre)
December - Christmas Social

Our first year included talks by Dan Dan the Fuschia Man, Begonias, a visit to Poyntzfield Herb Garden, Local Garden Visits, Greenhouse Gardening, Composting & Recycling, Plant Photography and a visit to my veg plot.

You will find that whilst it is good to try and get speakers to talk on seasoally relevant subjects, it is not always easy.
I also suggest that you try and get speakers for the whole year sorted as soon as poss so you can let members have a programme for the year. You can always reserve the right to change at short notice.

We also went on a bus trip (subsidised by membership fees and plant sales at local events) to two specialised nurseries in Strathspey.

Good luck

[Dane End Dolly]

Thank you guys for your ideas, it is appreciated

Kxx

[Finedon.Dandy]

Kim

Contact list for Enfield/Broxbourne area;

Capel Manor (well known as a first class horticultural college

Middleton House (always short of volunteers they may see it as a possible recuitment exercise)

Phoenix Rose Garden Centre (just lost Craft Central so will be looking for extras to rebuild that empty part of business?) - also there is a bonsai man there (have contacted him as a possible exhibitor for Enfield Craft Group so he knows of me so tell him I sent you!)

Also there is alot of history in the area, in Enfield anyway - Crews Hill didnt just spring up recently "growing companies" have been all over the sourounding areas for over 100 years. You know the council estate near Lavender Hill Cemetary - that used to be covered in old glasshouses. Why not contact a local historian?

Paradise Wildlife Park - do they have a gardener who doesnt just do it to earn a living - i.e. has a passion for it?

I know a bee keeper in Barnet if thats any use?

What about Barry at the Wildlife Resure service (located in Trent Park) for the wildlife aspect?

There are quite a few very good allotment societys in Enfield too - try the Grange Park Horticultural Society - PM me if you want an introduction and/or number as my Dad is a member. Their Autumn show was always very good. Also Joe Swift has an allotment in Enfield - he might appreciate some more coverage! - you never know!

If I think of anything else I will let you know, good luck.

Tammy

[Dane End Dolly]

Oohh Tammy

you are one top babe, thank you for that.

Kxxxxx

[Finedon.Dandy]

Your welcome!