There has been rain over the last two nights but only 3 mls recorded since last Tuesday at Community Roots. A farmer on the radio this morning said the 8 mls he’d recorded was, ‘”A Goldilocks amount, not too little and not too much!” We hope for a little more over the next few days but with family about to visit, not so much as to spoil their fun!
More tomatoes were harvested today.
Tanaka
Choc Cherry Tomatoes
The raindrops gathered on a feather caught my eye.
At Roots today we went to sit on the bench in the new orchard and listened to the birds – a wren and a blackbird sang for us. In front of us were the purple thistle flowers and the teasels and cow parsley in silhouette.
The line of poppies in one of the poly-tunnels was quite striking.
At Roots today there were lots of little fungi. I’ve tried to identify it but havent managed to.
There were lots of jobs today and 35 volunteers so everything got done! 
The fennel had been harvested and someone had put a marigold on the pale stems and green fronds which was a lovely colour mix.
At Community Roots today one of the poly-tunnels was full of flowers, the beans, some gorgeous poppies and dozens of marigolds – a riot of colour. 
Today we took a washing up bowl and some toy ‘crockery’ and ‘cutlery’ up to Community Roots as the new mud kitchen was about to be made by one of the volunteers. It really pleases me that the toys used by our children and their children will now have a new life with the children who come to Community Roots. .
And here is the finished kitchen for the youngsters who come to Roots to have fun with.
All the tomatoes are in their poly-tunnel, just waiting for the stringing up.
The onions in their outside plot are coming along nicely.
Our excellent and very efficient team at Roots today potted on tray upon tray of courgettes and squash of many different kinds while outside others prepped beds, weeded and planted more of the 8,000 onions – such a busy morning. In one of the poly-tunnels, the nasturtiums are already flourishing.
We have brought back some spare sunflower plants, part of today’s volunteer harvest, to grow here in our garden.
I picked up the poetry book, ‘Being Alive’ edited by Neil Astley to choose one for today and the book fell open at this poem which seemed very apt as I read it through.
I did, in fact ,share this once before in May 2016. I think it sums up being grateful for what we have each day as tomorrow may well bring something ‘otherwise’. It is certainly one to ponder.
I took a posy to Sue-next-door this morning as today is the anniversary of her dear Bill passing. You can read more about the remarkable Bill Mitchell here.
Here is what Sue posted a couple of days ago, “On Tuesday it will be nine years since we lost our darling Bill. On his last day, surrounded by love, Mydd was holding his hand and offered to give him a manicure. He asked Bill what colour polish he would like. Bill said ‘Blue, the colour of the underworld’. So now we wear blue nail polish in memory of Bill. (Dear Bob, Bill’s brother, proudly paints a thumbnail, so that when people ask him about it he can tell them about the brother he misses so much). Please join me on Tuesday by painting one nail or all in blue and post a photo here”.
Hence the blue painted nail in honour of Bill as I take the posy next door.
It is such a pleasure to go into the propagating tunnel at Roots on a Tuesday and to see all the baby plants coming on so well.
Various tomatoes
Cucumbers
Runner Beans
I love primroses as I think I may have mentioned before, so when I saw a sensory herbalism course featuring the primrose, I knew where. I had to be this morning.
It was a delightful morning, gentle and life affirming to be in the company of like-minded others, to learn about the primrose, to draw, to find words, to really ‘see’ the flowers, leaves, structure and special qualities of the primrose, to discover its healing properties and to drink delicately delicious primrose tea. The sense of calm I left with has lasted all day. 
Beautiful plant card artwork by Fiona Owen
Thanks, F, a brilliant morning.
There was a bitterly cold wind up at Roots today but the hardiest of the volunteers planted all the potatoes. A less hardy group of us planted tomato, aubergine, pepper, fennel and celery seeds. Others were transplanting the baby onion plants from seed trays into modules.
Amy among the rows of potatoes
There are more beautiful primroses in our front garden.
It’s Shrove Tuesday and this evening we’ve had savoury pancakes stuffed with ham and sweet corn followed by crêpes suzettes with the juice of ruby red blood oranges.
We have hundreds of onion seedlings at Roots and they will be ready for transplanting next week.
Today we transplanted 200+ baby lettuce and pak choi plants and they are now in one of the big poly tunnels as there is no room in the smaller prop tunnel where the propagating takes place. The ingenuity comes in the suspended racks to create more room for the baby plants. 
We are ten days into February so it’s a bit late to share this month’s mantra from The 2026 Almanac but I like it so here it is:
Commentator Award
