With the warmer weather the plants are growing at a tremendous rate – particularly in the poly tunnel. Students have been very busy nurturing, watering and weeding the vegetable plots, raised beds and wild flower beds in addition to the routine work.
Our three beds of potatoes are growing very nicely and we must extend our sincere thanks to Keith Summers (parent of Ellie in Year 10 and Daisy in Year 7) for generously donating the seed potatoes that the students planted a while back.
Everything we are growing, with the exception of the strawberry plants, has been from seed by the students. This includes for the tomato plants and cucumber plants in the photos. They are even bigger now as I took these photos just over a week ago.
One unexpected success has been the sunflowers. In addition to the ones we planted outside, the students planted around 30 inside the poly tunnel in pots and those have now been taken home by the students and staff. Such was the demand we have planted another 200 or so and I expect all of those will head off to new homes in around a week or so.
Penny and Lucky, our lambs, have more than doubled in size since their arrival and all are doing very well. Mistletoe, our Devon Long Wool, has taken to wandering off with plastic buckets on her head – her latest party trick.
I must also take this opportunity to extend my ongoing gratitude to Marie Berry (mum to Phoebe in Year 11 and Grace in Year 9) for her unwavering support and help with the sheep.
Sadly we lost one of our guinea pigs recently to old age so we are now down to two. One of those is getting on a bit now so we will be looking for new additions in September. They are social animals and do not do well alone.
It will not be that long until we are heading into the winter months, so now I need to start thinking about hay and straw. If anyone has any they are willing to donate or that I can buy I would love to hear from them.
The Year 9 students have now been given their options for Year 10 and 11 and I have two classes of new students lined up for September. I look forward to welcoming them to the school farm.
