News

The new Garden Organic podcast is now ready for you to download!

We’re thrilled to announce that one of the popular varieties from our Heritage Seed Library, the ‘Sutton’ tomato, is now available to buy as plug plants from The Organic Gardening Catalogue.

Britain’s first farmland worm survey has revealed that nearly half the fields in England lack sufficient earthworms which may help explain the alarming decline of one of the country’s most loved birds, the song thrush.

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.