National Garden Scheme – Working Party

I’ve been a little tardy posting about our NGS progress at Blaen Cwmdu Farm. I could give a hundred reasons, some might even been true. However, none of the excuses are consequential and we must console ourselves with “better late than never”.

On a Bank Holiday at BCF, if at all possible, we like to have a Working Party. You will be shocked to know that the etymological root of this tradition is an amalgamation of the words “working” and “partying”. These special days, when we are together in the garden, are generally used to tackle a particular job and beat the bejesus out of it. It is fun, fine food is provided, we work hard and get a lot done. Spring Bank Holiday Monday was no exception. What we did not order was unrelenting sun, record breaking temperatures and only a smidgeon of a breeze.

Be-hatted, sunscreen smothered and armed with rehydration of choice, our task was to tackle the vegetable garden. Our quest was three-fold, the great horticultural triumvirate; weed, plant and mulch. It was challenging. My employers are grafters. We soldiered on, through the hellish heat, peppered by “I’ve just got to …” dashes to shade and recovery. Gareth has recently installed a system of pumps to utilise the spring water that feeds the garden, increasing pressure ten fold. On such a day it came in very useful for cooling off the steaming gardeners.

When lunchtime arrived Gareth had surpassed himself. I must remember to add to my interview script for prospective employers “are you a great cook?”. The star of the show had been on the go since earlier, a fabulous hot smoked chicken. At this point I could quite emphasise with the chuck, although I am sure I would be much less delicious. Along with various salads and warm home made bread, it was a meal to soothe our morning’s exertions and energise us for the afternoon’s toil.

By the end of the day the job was complete. Beans; broad, runner and French had been planted. Spare onions replaced those eaten by a mystery assailant. Summer broccoli, stripey courgettes and Shark’s Fin melons were released into the wild. Potatoes were earthed-up and mulch provided a beautiful rich blanket for all. I went home, exhausted, replete and a little bit broken. Alison and Gareth waved me off and continued to mulch the newly planted squash bed. I told you they were grafters!

It was work but it was also a party. The best combination. Another big step forward towards a happy garden.

And then the rain began …..