News

Europe could be farmed entirely through sustainable systems, such as organic, and still feed a growing population, claims recent research.

Garden Organic's Sustainable Communities Team have been commissioned by Homes for Haringey to work with five sheltered housing sites. Our Growing Buddies will run fortnightly sessions to inspire and support residents with their growing.

Winter arrived with a bang at the start of February and I didn't stay very long on my trip down to the allotment. I love the brisk winter’s day for some physical gardening, but the snow has stopped play for the moment. The soil will also be soaking up the thaw so I’ll be keeping off it for a while.

We know that sourcing peat for use in growing mediums (such as bagged composts) is environmentally unsustainable. So far, the horticulture retailers have dragged their feet in endorsing alternatives. All the while peat bogs with their sensitive ecosystems and wildlife habitats are being irreversibly cut. And lost. Over 95% of the UK's peat bogs have already gone.

Firstly, a very Happy New year to all those who work, support and belong to Garden Organic, I wish you every success in 2019. I trust you all got a good rest over the festive period.

This term pupils at Warren Street Primary, winners of our Food Growing Schools London summer Grow Your Own Picnic competition, gratefully accepted a £500 voucher prize donated by GardenSite, to put towards their school food growing efforts.

An announcement from DEFRA has banned metaldehyde slug pellets from Spring 2020. They say "metaldehyde poses an unacceptable risk to birds and mammals." The ban will also stop farmers from creating wide spread pollution of rivers and freshwaters with these toxic pellets.

Thank you for supporting our charity throughout 2018, the year that marked our 60th anniversary. We have taken time to reflect on the year’s campaigns and would like to share some of our successes with you.

Following the controversy about the renewal of glyphosate last year, the European Parliament set up a Special committee on the authorisation procedure for pesticides. It was clear the process lacked transparency. The first recommendations to address the issue have now been made.

Why are some seedlings more commonly eaten by slugs and snails? It is often thought to be down to taste. But new research from the University of Plymouth suggests it may be the smells produced by young seedlings that attract the molluscs.