Delicious Harvest!

September 02, 2024

As we approach the end of August the amount of fresh produce available for harvesting is slowing down and the flowering plants are starting to die back. There is a definite change in the air as we focus more on seed saving, harvesting the remaining produce, cutting back and dead heading what we can to try and extend the flowering season. For those flowers for which it’s too late, we are saving what we can for drying to use in seasonal crafts. The star of the show this month seems to be the straw flower which have grown in abundance and come in a variety of stunning colours. They will be a welcome addition to the wreath making.

Fresh ingredients

Some of our patients have been doing cooking sessions with their OT’s as part of their rehab and have made good use of our fresh ingredients. From a couple of onions added to the pot, to the entire contents of a vegetable lasagne. Being able to grow produce from scratch through to the harvesting and then using it to cook a meal is so rewarding and has been really appreciated by our patients. To quote one, “All in all, this vegetable lasagne was a triumph—a hearty, healthy and vibrant dish that celebrated the joys of fresh, homegrown produce with every bite.”

Summer pruning

The espalier pear trees in the walled garden are laden with fruit and ready for summer pruning. This has been a good activity for manual dexterity, upper limb movement and grip strength. However, it also proved useful for testing balance and standing tolerance. The ground was covered with bark chip making it uneven and requiring our patient to work slightly harder to maintain balance when working at differing heights. The fruit are not quite ready to harvest but we look forward to enjoying them in a few weeks time.

Straw Flowers

02/09/2024

Straw flowers drying

02/09/2024

Prepping fresh produce

02/09/2024

Veggie lasagne

02/09/2024

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