The first day of the Big Dig has been a great success despite the appalling weather (rain and hailstones!)

Taunton Transition Town have managed to plant up two public spaces in the heart of Taunton – Somerset Square outside the Brewhouse and The Old Aviary in Vivary Park.

Pop over to see the new herbs (oregano, thyme, french tarragon, rosemary and parsley) which come the summer should be well on the way for harvesting. Alongside our fabulous kale that is growing we have planted some new season broad beans.  Come the summer we should have a healthy crop of beans.  Look out for garlic springing up in the planters which should be ready in late summer.

We now have a stalwart of a perennial vegetable/fruit? – the rhubarb in pride of place in the raised bed.  We will have to wait until next year before that is harvested.  Cannot wait for next spring to harvest the first stalks. The ethno-botanist James Wong considers this to be the only truly British fruit even if it did come from China!  No-one else used it as a fruit – it was just used as a medicinal plant.

Next stop in our Big Dig was the The Old Aviary in Vivary Park.  Before the weather turned we managed to mulch some of the patch with compost to improve the clay soil there.  Plus plenty of planting – pak choi and rocket, and some bright rainbow chard.  Plus we have some great fruit that has just been planted – a blackcurrant and a goji berry or wolfberry. Should be some great munchables in the summer.

We will be meeting again on Saturday April 6th at 11am at the Old Aviary in Vivary Park to plant out a few more edibles.  And remember to keep an eye out for what is growing in your local area!