Big work this week – we moved the remaining 3 or 4 tonnes of compost into our storage area to be used later as we build more beds. Big thank yous to Sarah, Anna, Huw, Jessica and Saoirse.
We brought the rest of the plants fully out into the weather last weekend. They’ve all responded differently. The Jerusalem artichokes, Romanesco Cauliflowers, tumbling tomatoes and mint have shot up whereas the runner beans are having trouble coping with the wind, I don’t think the spring onions are too happy about things either.
The more tender plants will either harden to the mountainous conditions or wilt. However, one advantage of our container garden is the beds are all (just) movable so as we get to understand the roof better we will be able to plant or build according to the microclimates. There are a few sun traps and pockets of calm air, and with the heat radiation from all the brick and concrete I have high hopes for our cape gooseberries and papaya.
All preparations are under way for the launch tomorrow – we’ve built a barbeque, tables and benches and the stage, all from reclaimed materials of course. A heroic delivery of sails at 11pm last night was the last addition to the garden before the weekend.
Andrew Merritt’s giant sculpture was completed this week in time for the Sustainable Arts Awards hosted in the building. Six types of edible mushrooms are alive inside, brown oyster mushrooms are already beginning to fruit out of the upper left face. They will continue to live inside the wood until eventually the whole structure breaks down into compost – which we can use to plant more vegies!? Circus Kinetica have installed their lovely wind scultpures at the tall points all round the roof, photos to follow in the next post.
Harrison.
Fri, Jun 19, 2009
Harrison Leaf's Allotment in the Sky