Viikko 10

Its been hot! Very hot. And its like the whole of nature has exploded.

We have been rushing to get the last of the potted vegetables (kesäkurpitsä, kurpitsä, meloni, mangoldi, avomaan kurkku ja maissi) sown and as much of the field raked as possible.

On torstaina Harri came with the tractor and began raking the field and laying out the beds. After a few delays we began the planting of onions and this will go on for a while still.

Meanwhile, inside the heat has brought everything to life. The first tomatoes have begun ripening and the indoor kesakurpitsat have started to show.

Our potato plants have been moved outside to try and get the roots to grow. I wonder what the neighbours think of our instant potato field!?

I have just borrowed a carrot sowing machine, so tomorrow they will be in the ground.

Viikko 9

Hei!

I saw my first swallow, so the summer is now officially here. And about time!

This means that, as of next week, we will be planting on the field and will be pretty busy for the next couple of months.

The week started quiet enough with more seeding in the kasvihuone and looking after the tomatoes. We did some raking on the field but it was very wet mid-week and slowed things up. Thursday thankfully was better weather and a few people showed up to help rake.



I forgot to mention to you that ROK has a work trainee: Suvi who is doing her practical for a horticultural course in Mantysala. She will be here most of the summer, so you should see her around.

Over 90 members came for the share. This is the most we have had so far.

The high point of the week was the ROK kahvila on Saturday. It looks like it was a great success. Thanks to all concerned!

 Our 'experimental' indoor crops are coming along fine. Unfortunately not quick enough for ravintola paiva but hopefully there will be something soon. I'm going to put the potatoes outside to try and get the growth to move from the leaves to the roots.

Now that we have a bit of heat, the plentyfull tomatoes should start to ripen.

The leeks, celery and celeraic are growing well. We also now have the first batch of cucumbers planted.

Viikko 8

Hei!

Its Mothers Day and Aaltosen Puutarha has had one of their busiest days of the year. As they start emptying out their glasshouse plants, ROK has been able to get a few tables to try and get some early growing going. We now have herne, kesakurpisa, avomaankurkku and peruna in addition to the salaatti and yrtit.

As you know, we had our second share on Torstai. This was also to be a talkoot day but only a few brave souls braved the bad weather. Because the work at the moment is to rake the weed root off the field, members can come any time they like and do a bit. If you are not sure what or how, come during the week and I will show you.

Weather depending, we will begin planting on the field in the next week or two. From then on, it will be full speed ahead until at least the end of July. So, here is a picture of the calm field before the busy days to come.

Viikko 7

The week was spent seeding, weeding, planting, transplanting, sharing and caring!

Here are a few of the images:

Viiko 6

Hei!

Its late on Sunday, but I want to get a small diary entry before the end of the week.

The week started more or less as normal these days: watering, trimming the tomatoes, a bit of planting and transplanting.

On Wednesday, Suvi a student from a horticultural course came on a trial.

Then Thursday saw a sudden change of pace with the first share. Its always a bit of a rush to get everything ready on time, however small the share. I hope you all enjoyed the salaatti. There will be plenty more of it to come. Nearly 70 shares were collected altogether.

Then Friday was a chance to clear up, get the kasvihuone beds ready for the next crop and to start a big job with transplanting seedlings (a few thousand in all).


As you can see, the kasvihuone is really in bloom:

The field is also coming along nicely. Thats our winter garlic coming on strong.

Harri raked the field with the tractor on Thursday so the heavy work is about to begin. There is less couch grass weed than last year, but still plenty to clear off before we plant. See the notice for a talkoot on 8th May.

Viiko 5

Hei!

This was the week where it felt like summer arrived. In fact, I have just got back from my mokki and it was as good as any summer trip.

This was also the week when the potatoes in the kasvihuone finally appeared above ground. I also moved the kesäkurpisä from the seeding room to bags in the kasvihuove. So, it is now a race to see what is ready to eat by Ravintola päivä.

As you have hopefully seen, we are having our first share next Torstai (24th). This share is 2 salads.

The salads will soon be joined by some herbs. Thats the tilli in the foreground and its shooting up.




Friday was Pitka Perjantai and our friends from Kaupungin Kylä come to plant some seeds in the morning. This is an old tradition and symbolises new life, new beginnings.

Kahvila ROK

Lahden ROK järjestää seuraavana ravintolapäivänä, 17.5., kahvilan pellon laidalla. Meitä on kahvilaa järjestämässä tällä hetkellä noin 10 henkilön joukkue. Tulemme tarjoamaan tuoreen sadon antimia, muita herkkuja ja Ullan kakkuja kahvillassa pellon laidalla tai sateen sattuessa vajassa. 

Tarvitsemme kevyitä puutarhakalusteita ko. päivänä, joten laittakaa viestiä minulle (ulla.ojanen@elisanet.fi), jos voit lainata kalusteita Kahvila ROKin käyttöön. 

Kahvila on nyt rekisteröity ravintolapäivän sivuille. Siellä on myös tämä linkki:
http://www.facebook.com/events/463192420475113/

Kutsu paikalle ystäväsi! 

Kevätterveisin Ulla

Share

First share!

Next Torstai, 24th, will be our first share. There will be 2 salatti each.

Because it is a small amount to collect, we are giving the option of being able to get it from MeaManna cafe in town. If anyone wants to collect from MeaManna rather than from the kasvihuone, email me at noelbruder@gmail.com.

T, Noel

Viiko 4

This week was spent weeding, watering, seeding and clearing.

I was also helping out a bit with Eeva, transferring flower seedlings to pots. They come in batches for about 5000, so there is plenty to do.

We also had a visit from a Nursery Growers Association that was touring around. I think they are mostly in the same business as Aaltoset Putarha and some of them were very interested in the idea of the kind of cooperation we have with Eeva.

Another highpoint of the week was preparing and applying the biodynamic horn preparation, '500'. This is part of the process of bringing vitality to the soil and supporting growing. The mixture is stirred for an hour, creating a vortex to enhance the preparations properties.

Perhaps Harri or Jussi would write something more on this in Finnish if people are interested.

And....,as you can see, the growing is certainly going well at the moment.

 

I mentioned last week that we will start using a bit of field that Lahden Town own and will rent to us for very little. It is situated just by Perttu's house at the top of our current field.

The first job is to clear the scrub and brush. We will then start to dig and weed.

The Garden Group is still to meet to finalise what the best thing to do with the field is, but it would seem to lend itself to growing fruit. More later!










And finally, here's a good one: Aada the Rokwiler!

Vappupicnic ROKs

Kuva kertookin jo kaiken. Kutsu on ihan kaikille. Koska isommalla joukolla etenkin vappupicnic vain tuntuu enemmän vappupicniciltä. Omat eväät, hyvä varustus, kosteutta hylkivä alusta/viltti, hyvää mieltä ja vaikka hassu hattu.

Jokainen huolehtii omat roskat roskikseen – tietenkin sitten paikan päällä. Tosin hyvät roskiksethan siellä onkin.

NÄHDÄÄN 1.5!