The Whiteoaks Acorn
Organic farm
Most summer bedding plants are looking fantastic at the
moment.
I actually thought mine were
doing really well until this afternoon when I visited my sister in law. Her
back porch area if full of wonderful bedding plants, lobelia, petunias,
geraniums and a host of others, all in containers.
I was admiring them all with just a touch of jealousy until
I realised that I actually supplied the flowers and planted the containers up
for her. I made them up at the same time I put my own displays together. The soil
was the same, the containers were the same, but there was one difference –
deadheading. My sister in law would pop outside most days and just nip off the
spent flowers. I, on the other hand will occasionally pull a dead flower head
off as I am walking past the patio. You wouldn’t think such a simple and quick
procedure would make so much difference to a display. Plants such as pansies
will use a lot of energy producing seed heads and forget to flower. Petunias,
well they just give up really quickly without a bit of clipping.
I came straight home and started on mine with a vengeance,
taking off any heads I could see, even the beautiful ballerina fuchsia flowers
were pulled off if they had gone over their prime. It’ll be a week or two until
I see the fruits (or flowers) of my efforts but I am sure it’ll be worth it.
Ragwort
I’m not sure what to believe anymore and I mean that in the
broadest sense. Every day I have a myth dispelled, from nitrogen deficiency in
mulch, the actual benefits of eggshells in the garden, to whether organic honey
can actually exist. The daily list is long and although it’s very tiring I do
like the idea that we should “Question Everything” This comment is spray painted
on walls and is usually accompanied by the word “Why” underneath. In this case
though I am questing ragwort. It’s supposed to be really invasive, poisonous
and generally not a nice thing to have in any garden or farm. All that I can
say is we have had some on our local park for years now and it hasn’t taken
over or (to my knowledge) killed anything.
MYTH: Ragwort is
"extremely toxic" to horses.
FALSE . This
claim was made by the British Horse Society in a survey in 2014. It over
estimates the toxicity of ragwort by around ten thousand times!
MYTH: Ragwort is
an "invasive weed." A term scientist’s use for a problematic plant
that has taken over land.
FALSE . Ragwort
(Jacobaea vulgaris formerly called Senecio jacobaea) is a common native Plant.
You It can be confused with Oxford Ragwort.
MYTH: Ragwort has
increased in the country and is spreading across the country like a plague.
FALSE. Ragwort
like all other wildflowers subject to regular surveys by botanists. The recent
surveys show its distribution has not changed significantly since the 1960s.
The 2007 UK Countryside Survey shows significant declines of ragwort
MYTH: Ragwort is
a risk to the health of dogs.
FALSE. Dogs are
not threatened by ragwort as it is not toxic enough and they do not eat it.
But please don’t take my word for it (or the
ragwortfacts.com website the information came from) Like I said before, who
really knows what the truth is and is that really the truth. My head hurts!
Acorn Project Organic
Vegetables Home Delivery
I got a leaflet through the door today from the White Oaks
Organic Farm based in Muff. They have
started up a box delivery of chemical free and organic herbs, fruit and
vegetables around Muff, Buncrana, Culmore road and Burt areas to mention a few.
They even sell directly from the farm.
About
The White Oaks Acorn Project is an organic produce scheme,
which operates on the same complex as the IOSAS Centre and White Oaks
Rehabilitation Centre. It runs alongside the latter in providing facilitating
therapeutic work for residents as well as supplying us, local restaurants and
shops with these fresh, chemical-free vegetables and herbs.
It will depend on the time of year for the contents of the
boxes but you’ll get the all summer basics such as basics,
lettuce,tomatoes,strawberries,scallions, potatos,cabbage and onions and then
other vegetables will be added in season such as turnips, currants and kale
If you can’t collect then a large box of vegetables or a
juice box (normally 7 items) can be delivered to your door for only €9. You can
even phone in just before getting there and a box of fresh produce can be
picked for when you arrive. You can even watch them pick things for you, you
can’t get any fresher than that!
You can ring them on 0749384866 (NI) 00353749384866 or visit
their Facebook page ‘Whiteoaks acorn organic farm’
Here are some more images from the Whiteoaks farm:
