The time had come for our very first AGM at the Garden!
In the meeting Phil, our Chairman, summerised a four page report he had written detailing all our achievements over the last 12 months. It was really surprising to look back and really take in all we have done. Phil thanked all the people who make the Garden possible and then rounded up the meeting by looking to our exciting future.
After the meeting, Kev played us a live set on his guitar, the children designed their own tealight holders and the BBQs were lit!

Food time came and there was loads to go around. Burgers, sausages, veggie lasage, chilli, potato salad, coleslaw all followed by cake! Thanks to all those who donated food!
A raffle was drawn after lunch. Prizes included:
* a book and a voucher by Barton's Bookshop of Leatherhead
* Fish and Chips for four from The Lemon Plaice, Leatherhead
* flower arrangement by Eden Florists, Leatherhead
* jewellery and a massive teddy by Amanda
* a hamper by Hannah
* smellies and wine from Pat
Thank you all for your very kind donations.

We followed the raffle with a willow weaving session were we discovered some amazing talent in Leatherhead! Hearts, flowers and butterflies were made.
Winding down the day and we all agreed it was very successful!

We must thank you all for your help and support of the Leatherhead Community Garden. The Garden is nothing without the people of Leatherhead coming together to make it work. We are looking forward to another jam packed year! Thank you.

Bright blue skies were above us this weekend as we worked tirelessly to make the garden look amazing for next weekend. More potatoes were planted for christmas and supports were added to the fruit cage for the berry plants to climb up. Amanda spent a lot of time planting up planters and wheel barrows for the garden path and making it look a lot more attractive as people arrive.

Claire had spent the last 2 weeks creating fresh batches of pickles, jams and chutneys in preparation to sell next Saturday at our AGM. Samples will be available to try and don't forget to add some to our tasty home made burgers too.

It's a magical time of the year when the garden is at the end of blooming with bright colours and aromatic perfumes. Why not come and join us next weekend and support our amazing local community project.

What a start to Septmeber 2012! With 23 people turning up throughout the day, staying from one hour to 4 or 5, we got a massive amount done! The kids followed Claire as she harvested beans, strawberries, carrots, borlotti beans and blackberries. We dug over two beds ready for some autumn colour next week whilst Chris brought his petrol strimmer along and went to work along the edges of the planting beds. Hanging baskets that were past their best were emptied into the compost bins ready for something new next week. Potatoes were dug up by a new family who joined us today, plus they harvested their own beetroot and took a copy of our famous chocolate and beetroot recipe! Looking forward to hearing what they think of it :) 

Also got the last of the christmas potatoes in the tyres. Hoping for a warm autumn to grow them ready in time for the big day!

We received a lovely donation of grass cuttings, chicken poo and nettles from Jen. All good for the compost, and nettles will make some wonderful fertilliser if it is left submerged in water for three weeks. It is smelly but works really well!
Also donated today we received a beautiful gardening handbook from Sarah and a box of broken biscuits for our tea breaks from Amanda. We also had banana bread made for us by Amanda which tasted lovely!

Before the end of the day we judged and mesured up the sunflowers from the growing competition... Announcement to be made in a seperate blog post soon.......!

 All the while Phil was finishing off installing the new kitchen in the coffee shed! With a little help of a rumage around in a skip or two! It is looking
great!

We are now gearing up for a big AGM and BBQ on the 29th of September. Got to
get the place looking its best! Tackling the bindweed next week!!!