Sessions
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Slowly does it!
Volunteers aren’t slow in coming to the allotment in this weather – the Tuesday crew had a brief visit from this gentleman slow worm this morning! Slow worms are actually legless lizards and we often find them at the allotment. These little guys are often mistaken for snakes because of their long, smooth bodies – but trust us, they are completely harmless. On the Rooted plot they’re an especially welcome resident as they act as a natural pest controller, feeding on the dreaded slugs and snails that we often go to battle with over our harvest. Finding a slow worm in your garden or allotment signals a balanced environment. Avoid…
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Climate Resilient Garden: Colossal Progress
Yesterday marked significant progress during what we assumed would simply be our second Climate Resilient Garden (CRG) planning meeting. Building on the momentum from our first session, the team has been diligently researching their chosen areas. The first part of yesterday’s session was dedicated to sharing updates and weaving together insights – a true collaboration in action! Keyhole Gardening Our team is buzzing with enthusiasm for this remarkable gardening method! With its roots in the community-based resilience movement during the HIV crisis, keyhole gardening combines practicality with sustainability. Here’s why it aligns with our brief: High yield in small spacesAddresses soil nutrient depletionThrives in both flood and drought conditions…
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Water Recycling
Two of our Rooted volunteers dedicated their weekend to support our CRG mission. Their hard work and resourcefulness have taken our kitchen’s sustainability to the next water recycling level. Here’s what they achieved: Connected our kitchen sink to a waste pipe that feeds into a water butt, making it ready to recycle grey water.Installed a large water butt to collect rainwater from the roof, making every drop count. The cherry on top? We lovingly installed a nifty push-on, push-off plug to our Belfast sink—our personal favorite! We’re beyond grateful for their time, energy, and commitment. Thank you so much for helping us take meaningful strides towards water recycling,…
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BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
Spring has spoiled us with warm days lately however today brought a brisk twist that kept the Wednesday crew on their toes! The squash arch is blossoming into something spectacular – we can’t wait for you to see it in all its glory. This week, we’ve sown spaghetti, patty, and butternut squash seeds, getting them ready for their debut in the beds once the temperature warms back up after Spring. The polytunnel continues to thrive during Spring with vibrant greenery, fueling our weekly fridge deliveries. We are delighted to now be offering purple sprouting broccoli, lamb’s lettuce, rocket, and a variety of fresh herbs. Our bounty has reached an impressive…
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Climate Resilient Garden: Planning Meeting
This week, our team gathered for the very first Climate Resilient Garden (CRG) planning session. Blessed by a sunny afternoon on the Kitchen Plot, we rolled up our sleeves and began shaping the exciting journey ahead. Our Focus Areas We decided to start by trialling four innovative methods: keyhole gardening, hay bale beds, vertical growing, and hugelkultur beds. Each method will be explored by our assigned leads, who will research and share their findings at our next session on Monday. Community Collaboration A key action point from our meeting is to tap into the wealth of local knowledge. Through social media, we’ll invite residents with experience or expertise to…
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WATER WEEK AND PETE THE POND
We were thrilled to welcome Charlotte from Water Week to today’s session. Alongside the legendary Pete the Pond, she is helping transform a struggling crop area into a flourishing natural habitat with a stunning water pond. This exciting project includes a fantastic Water Week event, open to the public. Stay tuned for updates! Charlotte does more than bring ideas—today, she rolled up her sleeves and helped with the polytunnel harvest. Meanwhile, our deliveries to community fridges have officially begun. We’ve also reset the harvest hub total for 2025. Let’s see how much our food network can grow this year—together, we can make an impact! Staying Connected with Rooted Community Food…
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PLOT PREPARATIONS – THE WEDNESDAY TEAM
Thanks to our fantastic Wednesday team, we’re powering through the allotment preparations for our Social Prescribing Open Day next week! The plots are looking absolutely incredible. Our Kitchen Plot will host the event, but we’re planning tours to our main growing plot too. Double the green goodness! Let us know if you are hoping to attend the event by emailing via the Events Page. We’re also sprucing up the Crop Drop to thank our allotment neighbours for their kind donations, with this gorgeous crochet bunting garland, handmade by one of our super-talented volunteer growers. How amazing is that? Staying Connected with Rooted Community Food Rooted Allotment Preparation Updates At Rooted…
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THE SQUASH ARCH AND TEA23
Today, we made significant progress on the squash arch, which will maximise our growing space in this bustling area that sees plenty of wheelbarrow traffic. With the ground previously leveled, today we measured out the path, placed two of the six pallet collars, laid down cardboard, woodchipped the path, and began filling the first bed with our homemade, nutrient-rich compost. Our creative team of volunteers plan to weave willow boughs to form the arch – we can’t wait to see the stunning result! We lovingly removed all the seedlings and watered them outdoors under the warm spring sunshine. This keeps our greenhouse dry and uninviting to little critters. The seedlings…
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SHOUT OUT TO THE VOLUNTEERS
Let’s take a moment to give a big shout-out to the Rooted volunteers… From your side of the screen, it might appear well-organised. Behind the scenes we have just one blackboard with a few suggestions chalked down. It’s a certain kind of magic that happens. A group of like-minded people come together, guided by hope and happiness in their hearts, and amazing things happen. It’s a seamless synchronicity that doesn’t rely on schedules or spreadsheets—just a tonne of passion and determination. Today we were blessed with blue skies, bad jokes, plenty of laughter, and an abundance of enthusiasm for the months ahead. You can view our upcoming sessions calendar here…
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STRONG LITTLE SEEDLINGS
When the frost tried to surprise us, our little seedlings stood strong! Thanks to our trusty thermal mass greenhouse heating system (aka water containers), our seedlings are thriving even in this bright but chilly snap! Who knew something so simple could be so effective? Sometimes the best solutions are the easiest ones! Feeling grateful for our cosy greenhouse that keeps the chill at bay. If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to protect your plants, give this a try! Register your interest for the weekly Rooted Community Food sessions by reaching out to Sally and view the regular Rooted Sessions Calendar here. Staying Connected with Rooted Community Food Rooted Seedlings…
