POLYTUNNELS - FOR GARDENING AND MORE

WITH IAN WATT - AT PERTH COMMUNITY FARM

IAN: I reckon that a polytunnel lets you garden as if you were 500 miles further south - wonderful for us here in Scotland. We can grow all sorts of things that would struggle outside and extend our growing season too. You'll be able to see some of what we produce and the other use we make of our tunnels - as a workshop/teaching/meeting facility. Being so light, it's really good for all these uses.

GROWING - RANGE RATHER THAN QUANTITY

Right from the farm's start in 2018, we felt that our role at Perth Community Farm was to be a venue for teaching as much as for growing. So we focus on producing as wide a range of plants as possible, and through as much of the year as we can, rather than growing maximum quantities. This way people can see what's possible - visitors are often surprised that we have grapes growing for example (they're not that difficult...)

MULTI-USE SPACES

We've kept half of our new enormous polytunnel open plan so we can host events and courses, and we use it as a workshop space too. It's worked brilliantly for all that and as a place where we can meet up and have a bite to eat and a chat on volunteer days. We have another smaller tunnel which we have fitted with a net cover rather than polythene - this gives a cooler space for a different range of plants. We have a third even smaller tunnel which we are just using for wood storage at the moment - it's amazing how well wood dries out inside it. We'll have a tour of the whole farm project to begin with so you can see all these tunnels and also the two new colossal Westbank tunnels. They've all been set up differently and we'll look at the different kinds of bed and ways of fixing the covers down, what you put down on the ground and talk about watering - there's pros and cons for every system...

DIRECTIONS TO PERTH COMMUNITY FARM

Take the track down from Jeanfield Road between houses number 29 and 27, through the gates that lead to the cemetery - small sign says "Commonwealth War Graves". Then take another track through the first gates on your left, sign to Perth Community Farm. We'll be in the big polytunnel right at the far end of that track. You can park down towards the tunnel, or there's some space just inside the gates.

FOOD & DRINK

There's no cooking facilities at the farm so please bring whatever food and drink you need with you - we'll have a lunch break half way through the day.

CLOTHING

Bring plenty of layers in case of variable weather, outdoor shoes recommended too.

TOILETS There's a basic toilet portacabin on the farm site.

That's it! Have a great day, Ian

CONTACT IAN: 07450 332 430 or email me back: [email protected]

MORE BACKGROUND ON IAN'S BLOG:

PERTH COMMUNITY FARM ON FACEBOOK

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Host or Publisher Ian Watt