Jobs in the orchard:

• attach Jade’s beautiful labels to the trees
• manage mulch matting (to scare off shrews)
• confirm trees to be ordered for planting later in the winter
• general orchard maintenance

Please would you confirm whether you will be coming so that we can plan quantities of soup for lunch (but come anyway!)

Also we have a new Events page listing the dates and times of forthcoming events, which we will be updating regularly with work days and other activities.

We are delighted to announce that there will be a Wassail at the community orchard on the evening of Saturday 17th January 2009.

One of our community, Pru Price, has volunteered to lead the evening’s ceremony, including the provision of musical accompaniment (you may have seen/heard him at the farmers’ market making fantastic music). The evening will start at 7pm prompt for the ceremony, which will be child-friendly, for which you are invited to bring:

Something with which to make a noise, eg whistle, drum, pots and pans …
Period clothes or otherwise clothes inspired by the orchard theme (something warm and appropriate)
Lanterns/torches/candles (in a safe container)
We will provide some mulled cider or ale and the necessary piece of toast.
A Wassail Queen will be crowned, for which a crown will be needed. Please would somebody volunteer to make the crown? – whoever responds first will have this honour!

After the ceremony we will have a party in the house, for which you are invited to bring:

Food to share
Whatever drink you fancy
We can ask Greg to provide a keg of beer, for which anyone wanting it can pay a share (about £1.60/pint)

Looking forward to seeing you on the 17th. Any questions, please email us at thrupporchard at googlemail dot com

Gwen and Mark

As has been the trend so far the weather was lovely, having started foggy and cleared by the time work started in earnest.

After running the gauntlet through the field full of apple-loving horses, all of us evidently smelling of freshly picked apples, we began work to plug the newly formed “plughole” in the pond, clearing weeds for a picnic area, yet more thistle clearance and measuring and marking out the positions of the initial set of trees to plant.

This was followed by a lovely shared lunch, including by all accounts some fantastic apple pie, and some bags of extra apples to take home.

The following week saw the orchard featured in several local papers, including the full cover of Stroud Life. Hopefully this will help further raise the awareness of community orchards in the area.

Those who participated in the picking have since redeemed their “options to buy” at cost price (for the bottling and pasteurisation) on the apple juice and we can confirm the juice is delicious!

The 2009 planting plan is close to finalized, and we will be planting in February.

We are still looking for extra members for the community orchard. If you are interested in taking part please contact us.

Another work day is planned for this Sunday.

Tasks:

• Prepare for planting
• Mark positions of trees
• Cut netting ready for tree protection?
• Pick apples for everyone (the garden trees are brimming)
• Look out for new wildlife – two foxes in the meadow, dragon flies mostly gone unless we get a sunny day, buzzards, toads
• Discuss tree planting plans – varieties, quantities …

The pond has sunk again, so we could try to look for holes, dig some more clay, hold hands and paddle – bring waterproof wellies!

10:00 start at the barn – coffee
Lunch time – we will do apple pie or similar, please bring other bits to share

Expecting to finish with planning discussions over the kitchen table, I don’t think there will be more work that needs doing in the afternoon.

RSVP to Mark Russell – so we can plan refreshments

Soon we should have updates from work days and photos, and status updates on the actual planting of the orchard.