Community Harvest Whetstone — Field News 26th July 2026

The winter cabbages are in, along with the last of the brussel sprouts — which means the crops that will feed us through the cold months are now in the ground.

Alongside our usual weekly volunteers, Stuart came down on Wednesday morning to lend a hand, and arrived with a picnic. Isla was particularly taken with the fruit, and made sure it was offered around to everybody — a fine bit of hospitality from the youngest member of the crew.

Stuart also helped with folding over the necks of the onions. It's a strange-looking job if you've not seen it before: bending the tops over signals to the plant that its growing is done and it's time to start curing. We're doing it now so we can lift them next week, in a last-ditch attempt to save at least a few from the white rot. They may not store. We'll assess that once they're out of the ground.

There has been an immense amount of weeding. Judith and Pam cleared out the shelter next to the shed, and Val and Andy promptly enjoyed the benefit of it — a cool, shaded spot to pack salad and basil, which on a week like this is no small luxury. Judith also took on the thistles, which were seeding everywhere and needed stopping, and turned the compost in the field.

We've also started sowing for the autumn and winter polytunnel crops, and got through all the usual weekly pruning, feeding and picking.

We're hiring an Assistant Grower

We're looking for someone to join us on the field as Assistant Grower — 20 hours a week, part time and fixed term, at the Real Living Wage of £13.45 an hour. The working pattern is agreed on appointment and can include early, late and weekend hours. It's hands-on, physically demanding work across the field and polytunnels: sowing, transplanting, irrigation, composting, weeding, harvesting and everything in between.

Full details and job description: communityharvest.co.uk/careers/assistant-grower

If you know someone who'd be right for it, please pass it on. Applications are a one or two page letter covering experience, why the role interests you and your availability, sent to grow@communityharvest.co.uk by 2nd August. It's an urgent appointment, so we're interviewing as applications come in — early ones are welcome.

Thank you, as always, to everyone who turned up. It adds up to far more than the sum of its mornings.