By Anna Sayburn
When I arrived at the Edible Garden on my second week, it was deserted. There had been heavy rain earlier that morning, so perhaps people had been put off by the weather. Undeterred and with new confidence in my weed-identifying abilities, I grabbed a trowel and got on with it.
Ten minutes later and another volunteer had arrived - and it was her first visit. With some alarm, I realised that might make me the one in charge. I explained what I'd been doing and we agreed that weeding the paths was pretty safe - nothing should be growing out of the bark mulch, so anything growing there was fair game.
We also conferred about watering. Despite the heavy rain, some of the pots needed water and some of the beds looked dry under the big green leaves of rhubarb and courgette. We got chatting and I discovered that my fellow-volunteer had also been motivated by a desire to meet local people, get involved in the community and do something positive for the environment.
To my relief, a seasoned gardener soon appeared in the shape of Robert, who gave us some quick advice before heading off to the Sensible Garden in South Norwood, to prepare for the spectacular opening with Captain Sensible himself. Robert pointed out the enormous courgette/marrow growing in the middle of the bed. We discussed that perennial question, what's the difference between a courgette and a marrow? A quick online search proved that they are one and the same, and its simply a question of size. You learn a lot at the Edible Garden.
We also conferred about watering. Despite the heavy rain, some of the pots needed water and some of the beds looked dry under the big green leaves of rhubarb and courgette. We got chatting and I discovered that my fellow-volunteer had also been motivated by a desire to meet local people, get involved in the community and do something positive for the environment.
To my relief, a seasoned gardener soon appeared in the shape of Robert, who gave us some quick advice before heading off to the Sensible Garden in South Norwood, to prepare for the spectacular opening with Captain Sensible himself. Robert pointed out the enormous courgette/marrow growing in the middle of the bed. We discussed that perennial question, what's the difference between a courgette and a marrow? A quick online search proved that they are one and the same, and its simply a question of size. You learn a lot at the Edible Garden.
Courgette or Marrow?
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