I'm in shock

[its hilly]

I've finally got a small patch cleared and set up for builders bag raised beds at the building I rent for my horses. Happy bunny me, veg at last
Then I googled to try to find any more grazing to let in our area, and came across the local primary school offering a 'community share' scheme on their land. Contacted them expecting it to be an allotment thing and went round today for a chat.
Only to find they are offering one 24' x 15' ish plot, complete with raised beds, polytunnel, shed and water in return for which I have to be happy to let the kids go with teacher to learn about planting growing etc. And I can have a small chicken run too. And they dont mind that Im a total novice..and there are no restrictions on what I can grow etc...
I'm doing handstands..and I'm terrified..its a lot of plot for a newbie and will be watched by everyone..
Boy am glad I'm on the vine!!!!

[basketcase]

Sounds great - congratulations! She says, slowly turning green...

[Bigmallly]

Sounds fantastic, enjoy the experience.

[Hans Mum]

well done you, will you be able to access it during school holidays?

[jackyspratty]

Wow what a fantastic idea! Our local primary wants to set up a gardening group but nothing on that scale! I am gobsmacked! Lets hope it a trend setting idea! Do you have to share the produce with the school?

[FionaH]

WOW great news!!!!!

[Flummery]

Weyhey! You can all learn together. Start with easy stuff - early potatoes (bung em in, leave em to it) and drama stuff - pumpkins are magic for kids. Peas - everyone loves peas (except all the people who are now going to post messages about how sincerely they detest them!) Well done you for finding them. May it be a marriage made in Veg Heaven!

[ginger ninger]

That's absolutely brilliant I.H, I've got that Giddy feeling for you...I'm soooo jealous. Have fun and enjoy.

[Two_Sheds]

Brilliant!

(you'll have to be CRB checked? Just in case you happen to be on the same land as the children at some point, and in case you look at them funny)

[Eden]

Wow, what a fabulous idea!! Congratulations!!

Just a thought though, who will be entitled to all the veg grown there? At our school they have a similar set up, and the kids often take home veg and eggs. I think I'd want to know if the kids will be having veg, so that more can be grown?

All the best of luck!!

[binley100]

Sounds brilliant. I'm sure you'll cope fine and the kids will love it .

[elizajay]

That's a wonderful idea and if you have any failures you and the children can both learn from them, so it will be a benefit to all. I am sure that having an audience will give you a great incentive to work little and often on the plot. Enjoy it.

[Hans Mum]

Brilliant!

(you'll have to be CRB checked? Just in case you happen to be on the same land as the children at some point, and in case you look at them funny)

OMG i hope not the ones we are waiting for (NHS) at the moment are taking months to come through

[Jeanied]

Great news Its Hilly- this could be the start of all sorts of wonderful things for you, as long as you like children! (Don't laugh, folks - I reckon I regularly meet children-haters in schools!)
On the topic of the old CRB checks - as a volunteer I think they come through faster than the full enhanced checks - but it would be a good idea to start off now before you need to get on the land pdq to put stuff in! The school should know all about which forms and how to fill them in- and you can track the progress of these online now. We discovered that it was the police slowing the process up on ours!

[Pumpkin Becki]

That's really fabulous news its hilly! I thrilled for you.
I agree with Flum, pumpkins are fantastic fun to grow (even for big kids like me), maybe you could set up a thing where the children sew a variety of seeds for you, they get to watch them germinate. Then when they are big enough you plant them out (the plants, not the kids) and you all watch them grow on and bear fruit.