My potentially great idea!

duchy

I must admit I was another who thought "Nice idea but it won't get past the red tape"

I'm delighted for you -and all the pupils who will benefit. You are starting something that will stay with some of these kids for life !

lisa110rry

I have more good news! I had an informal meeting with my MD who has applauded the plan and will allow me to leave early one day a week in term time, so long as I get my work done of course and any deadlines are met. He even mentioned a bit of sponsorship. This is particularly impressive as he lives neither in the community nor in the county!

The school is an Academy, do they set their own budget? I'm not sure I know how it works, but I'm sure someone will be able to tell us if they will retain the £9k.

As to getting "stuff" to work with - plants, compost, etc., we are in a rural area very well known for growing, indeed the large company which gifted the greenhouse to the school still exists and looking on Google Earth, there are still acres of commercial greenhouses in the area. The Resource Manager plans to ask the community first for donations, then we'll see where we are.

Just the idea of a group of less academic children presenting hanging baskets next year for the local hospice's plant sale fills me with energy!

lisa110rry

Well, next planning meeting at the local high school with the teachers is tomorrow at 4pm, and I desperately hope to get a key to the big greenhouse as my own home greenhouse is so full I can't move in it!

First donation received from a local friend of my husband: 19 tomato plants, 2 cucumbers and 6 fuchsia cuttings nicely rooted. The tomatoes and cucumbers will go in grow bags or troughs, the fuchsias will be in the hanging baskets for the school. The veg, to the students for their families.

lisa110rry

A little update after the meeting yesterday...

Had a chat with the two keen teachers and three fifteen-ish students.

One is very keen to have a lemon tree in the greenhouse, another is determined to grow courgettes because she likes to make ratatouille (very impressed). Lemon-tree student also likes figs (she is of Portuguese descent I believe and spends quite a bit of time there in summer so perhaps this drives her particular horticultural likes).

All keen to beautify the school with hanging baskets and grow salads for themselves.

Two of the students were quite chatty, the third quiet. Note to self: make a point of asking Student 3 her views next time.

All three students keen to make the greenhouse cleaner and tidier and we shall try to make the entrance to the greenhouse a bit more presentable (grass seed, flowers and bulbs in future).

Just keeping you updated...

Farway

Figs will grow outside in UK, depends on location, easier in Hampshire than Yorkshire I guess, need to be in a large pot or they grow into huge trees

lisa110rry

Yep, exactly farway, root restriction to induce fruiting. There is a man in our village who grows figs in a greenhouse very successfully and I'm hoping to emulate him.

DaftyDuck

Lemons and figs are great, highly rewarding, and quite easy to grow. Surprisingly so for lemons. They also smell great. Key for getting lemons to flower then fruit is to keep them as dry as they can be over winter, just at the point before (difficult, I know) they begin to lose leaves. When the days get longer, around Feb for me in Kent, wop them with water and fertiliser. Don't let them stand in water, though. Keep the leaves misted (or stick damp paper round the base) while the flowers set.

Figs just grow. Keep the roots restricted to get figs earlier, and don't feed them too well.


I'm really glad this is working out!

Gers

I've been reading this thread from the start and am really delighted that your great idea was met with such positivity from those at the school.

Congrstulations, firstly for having the great idea and secondly for not letting anyone get you down about it.

I wish you a brilliant time and huge success.

DaftyDuck

Oh, don't be tempted to grow citrus from seed (or cuttings, really). It seldom works out as you expect, takes ages to give any fruit, and yield is generally poor. Figs, now, you can take a cutting from them, stick it any kind of soil, and have a really good chance of success.

lisa110rry

Many, many thanks, especially to Dafty for his helpful advice on lemon trees!