Gardening Club Update: Fresh Carrots and Progress!

Three Gardening Club members working on the allotment, using garden forks to dig and turn over the soil, under a clear blue sky.

Last week, members of the Gardening Club worked together to dig over most of the allotment. There’s a real sense of achievement in seeing all the progress we’ve made, and it’s wonderful to share that feeling as a group.

Even better, we harvested some fresh carrots – perfect to add to our winter meals. These moments spent tending to the soil, sharing stories, and enjoying the harvest make Gardening Club so special.

A view of the allotment with two Gardening Club members working in the background, surrounded by dug-over soil and wooden pallets.

It’s all about preparing for next year while enjoying the fruits (or veggies!) of our labour!

If you’d like to join us, please call 01623 397750 or speak to your Community Support Worker.

Gardening Club Update: Transforming the Landscape with Team Effort!

Two individuals, bundled up in warm clothing, are seen working together to fill a large garden bag with fallen autumn leaves. They stand on a grassy area, with leaves scattered around, in front of a light-colored building.
A man in a dark jacket pulls a green garden trolley, while a woman in a grey hoodie holds a shovel, standing in a paved area. There are some mugs and a bottle on a nearby table, with autumn-colored bushes in the background.

We recently had an incredibly productive day for our Gardening Club! Armed with rakes and determination, our team came together to clear the autumn leaves from the driveway at Enablement Care. The transformation was spectacular—what a difference it made! The once leaf-covered driveway now looks neat and welcoming, and everyone at Enablement has expressed how much they appreciate the fresh new look.

A clean and clear driveway with an even surface, framed by stone walls and greenery. The autumn sunlight casts a warm glow on the scene, showing a neat space free of leaves.

After the hard work, we were rewarded with a delicious, hearty meal. We gathered around for some well-earned rest, enjoying a homemade meatloaf followed by a chocolate orange trifle for dessert! It was lovely to sit down together, sharing stories and laughs.

A section of the driveway near the Enablement Care building, with the building's sign visible on the wall. The driveway is clear of debris, showcasing a well-maintained outdoor space.

With the day’s work behind us and our energy restored, we packed up our tools and headed home, feeling a wonderful sense of accomplishment. We left tired but happy, knowing we’d made a positive difference at Enablement Care Thank you to everyone who helped out —your hard work truly shines!

Three people posing for a photo outdoors, holding a large, partially filled garden bag. They are standing on a cleared driveway with a stone wall and greenery behind them, dressed in casual outdoor clothing for cooler weather.
A close-up of a garden bed along the edge of the driveway, with visible tree roots, small plants, and a few colorful flowers. The surrounding area appears clean and well-tended, with a stone wall and some tall plants in the background.

Gardening Club Prepares for the Next Growing Season

Four gardening club members standing on a tilled section of the allotment, smiling and dressed warmly in outdoor attire.

Gardening club came together for another productive day on the allotment, making significant progress in preparing the ground for next year’s growing season. The weather was ideal – fresh and cool, with dry ground that made digging easier for everyone.

Photo of freshly dug soil on an allotment bed, with small green plants lining one side and a structure in the background.

With spades in hand, the team worked tirelessly, turning over the soil and clearing the area to ready it for planting in the coming months. Their hard work was evident in the freshly dug beds. Although a lot was achieved, there’s still much work left to do to ensure a fruitful year.

A row of green plants, likely vegetable seedlings, growing beside a freshly dug allotment bed.

The team effort didn’t go unnoticed, as each member contributed their time and energy to make sure the plot was as prepared as possible. After a fulfilling morning, everyone gathered for lunch at Enablement Care, where they enjoyed a well-deserved break before heading home!

A close-up of freshly dug soil on an allotment, with some tools and debris at the edge of the plot.

Please speak to your Community Support Worker if you’d like to join us next time.

A Busy Day at Gardening Club 🌱

Two men at the allotment, standing in a garden bed. Both are wearing winter jackets and beanies, holding gardening tools. They are working on weeding and preparing the ground, with polytunnels and greenery visible in the background.

Recently at Gardening Club, the real work has begun as we prepare the ground for next year! The group has been hard at work digging, weeding, and tidying up the space. As they say, “many hands make light work,” and we’re thrilled to have welcomed two new members into our garden club family! With a bigger group comes more knowledge, and we’re lucky to have an experienced gardener and landscaper joining us to help with the tasks ahead!! 🌿👩‍🌾👨‍🌾

After a productive day, we enjoyed a well-deserved break at Enablement Care with a delicious BBQ chicken and apple strudel meal. 🍗🍏 It was a true treat, and the perfect way to relax and enjoy good food and great company after all our hard work.

Looking forward to the next gardening session and more tasty meals together! 🌻

Gardening Club’s Latest Harvest: Blackberries and Courgettes Galore!

Our gardening club has worked hard this season, and the results are in! Recently, we gathered to pick a fantastic harvest of juicy blackberries and vibrant yellow courgettes. It’s always such a joy to see the fruits (and vegetables) of our labour.

Man Holding a Bowl of Blackberries: An older man wearing a black quilted jacket and a gray shirt smiles while holding a blue bowl filled with freshly picked blackberries. He stands in a garden or allotment with a pitchfork leaning against a wooden structure behind him.

One of our long-time members was especially proud of his blackberry haul. These berries will be a delicious addition to upcoming recipes – perhaps a homemade blackberry pie or jam.

Man Holding Blackberries in Allotment: The same older man, now looking off to the side, stands in a grassy area holding a blue bowl full of blackberries. A pitchfork and overgrown vegetation are visible behind him.
Woman Smiling with Harvest: A woman with red hair smiles while holding a plastic bowl containing freshly picked blackberries. She is wearing a floral dress, green gloves, and sturdy boots, standing in a grassy area near an allotment.

We didn’t stop at berries either! Our courgettes are looking bright and healthy, perfect for some late-summer cooking. Whether you’re thinking of making a courgette bake or simply grilling them, they’re full of flavour and ready for action.

Close-Up of Yellow Courgette: Two bright courgettes sit on a metallic kitchen surface and are displayed indoors.
Harvest Display of Vegetables and Fruit: A collection of freshly harvested produce, including two yellow courgettes, a bowl of blackberries, and a small pile of green peas, is laid out on a kitchen counter. The items are arranged on a silver surface.

It’s moments like these that make being part of the gardening club so special – everyone gets involved. Stay tuned for more harvest updates!!

Gardening Club Adventures: A Rainy Day Turned Into a Blooming Success!

A close-up of a freshly planted yellow pansy with deep maroon markings at its center, set in dark soil. In the background, another purple flower peeks into the frame, adding a touch of colour to the garden bed.
A service user holds up a plant to the camera, taken at Glapwell Garden Centre

Our Monday Gardening Club is always a highlight of the week, and this occasion was no different, even with a bit of rain. Although the weather kept us from visiting the allotment, we made the most of the day by heading to Glapwell Garden Centre instead. It turned out to be a wonderful trip!

Close up of red flowers in the soil that have recently been planted at Enablement Care

We spent time browsing the beautiful selection of plants and picked out some vibrant flowers to bring back to Enablement Care. After a bit of shopping, we treated ourselves to a warm, relaxing coffee break before heading back for a hearty lunch. On the menu? A classic ploughman’s lunch, paired with a delicious fruit cobbler for dessert. Everyone enjoyed the meal, and it gave us the energy we needed for the next part of the day.

The weather finally cleared up enough for us to plant the lovely flowers at the front of Enablement Care. It was a satisfying way to end the day, and our new blooms have brought a fresh burst of color to the garden. A big thank you to everyone involved for your hard work and enthusiasm!

Lots of flowers in position in the soil/garden bed at the front of Enablement Care

We’re looking forward to more gardening adventures soon, rain or shine!

Gardening Club – Weeding in the Summer Sun

AW and Anthony were at the allotment last week, while many were away on trips and holidays. After a two-week break to focus on the summer fair, AW wasted no time returning to work, giving the plants a much-needed drink in the warm summer sun.

Meanwhile, I took on the task of uncovering our cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, which had become hidden beneath a surprising amount of undergrowth. We weeded diligently to free our beloved plants.

We paused only a few times to hydrate with water, and by the end of the session, it was rewarding to step back and see how our patience and care were paying off—the plants were thriving!

Exhausted and hot, we returned to Enablement Care, where we were greeted with an ice-cold glass of tropicalade, a delicious tuna salad, and a refreshing strawberry mousse—a perfect way to unwind from the day’s efforts.

🌿 Join Us for a Week of Fun and Activities! 🌿

We have some exciting events lined up for our service users this week! If you’d like to attend any of these sessions, please call us at 01623 337750.

Monday: Gardening Club
📍 Location: The Allotment
📅 Time: This morning
Get your hands dirty and enjoy the fresh air with our gardening club. Message us if you’re interested in joining!

Tuesday: Walking Club
📍 Location: Pleasley Vale, Archaeological Way
📅 Time: Tomorrow
Join us for a lovely four-mile walk around Pleasley Vale. It’s a perfect way to stay active and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Wednesday: Cooking and Woodworking at The Hub
📍 Location: The Hub
📅 Time: Wednesday
Join Cayton and Mathew as they cook delicious chicken curry and Eton mess. We’ll also try to squeeze in some woodworking. Don’t miss out on this fun and creative session!

To join any of these activities, please call us at 01623 337750. We look forward to seeing you there!

#TogetherWeCan #cctcommunityenablementteam

Gardening Club – Clearing Weeds and Nettles!

It was another productive day with AW, AB, TG, Lisa, and Anthony. We made significant progress in clearing the thick weeds and nettles along the walkways, making the area much more pleasant and safer to walk through. Lisa, AB, and TG helped plant radish seeds in the raised beds and harvested some lettuce for Wednesday’s salad. AW prepared a small plot and planted sweet corn, while AB prepared the ground and planted two courgette plants.

We wrapped up our efforts at Enablement Care, where we recharged with a delicious lunch of meatloaf and dessert.

Gardening Club – The Plot is Flourishing!!

We had a fantastic time at the gardening club last Monday. We spent the morning at the allotment, where our plot is flourishing, and the plants are coming up beautifully! The weather has been warm and sunny, so we provided cold drinks to keep everyone cool. Lisa and April tended to our raised bed, planting beetroot, while Andy prepared the area and sowed turnip seeds. There was a wave of excitement when we discovered a perfectly formed baby cauliflower. It’s wonderful to hear the enthusiasm from our service users as they see their hard work paying off and witness the fruits of their labor.

We’ve made our first harvest of the season, gathering a small crop of potatoes and three lettuces for the kitchen. After lunch, the gardening club shifted to enablement care. Our service users, AB and AW, helped some residents get involved, planting beetroot, carrots, and lettuce in the wheelchair-friendly raised beds. Others watered the potatoes, strawberries, and planters. We wrapped up the day with a well-earned rest and a large glass of cherryade.

A big thank you to all our service users and our wonderful Lisa for her dedication and commitment. Well done, everyone!