The Sanctuary Garden

Here are a few tools you may not have come across.

JM Fortier has his top 30 tools for 2024

• Paper pot planter is expensive but interesting
• Drop seeder based on standard sized seed trays
• Tilther bed prep to include amendments
• Broad Fork and a slightly lighter design Here is another design
• Flame Weeder I have an X300 that needs to be serviced this is Wheeled option
• Jang Seeder – Curtis Stone is worth a look. East Neuk Market Garden have a three wheeler Jang.
• In the past we have used 1.2m beds, however in the US market gardens, it appears they use a bed width of 30” (75cm) and here is why .Curtis Stone Market Garden Institute (blog) Video
• Quick cut greens harvester makes salad quickly Cutris Stone does a test Knife vs Harvester

Our Sanctuary Garden is buzzing with progress, thanks to our incredible team of dedicated volunteers.

The new 12x6m polytunnel is in storage, the foundations will be going in shortly and be erected in early spring after the winter storms ready for the start of the growing season.

We’re also actively pursuing funding to bring the following projects to life:

• Community Sharing: Distribute 15,000 vegetable seedlings and 20 cubic meters of high-quality compost to local community gardens, schools, and individuals.
• Storm-Proof Polycrub: Install a Shetland-designed Polycrub, built to withstand winds up to 120 mph.
• Water Solutions: Bring mains water to the shed for drinking water and set up a rainwater collection system.
• Composting Toilet: Install a composting toilet.
• Solar Power Upgrade: Add a small solar and battery system to reduce reliance on mains power.
• Shed Roof Replacement: Replace the 30-year-old onduline roofing on the shed.
• Site Levelling: Rent a mini digger – a task too big for shovels and volunteers alone.
• Secure Hen Enclosure: Install Heras fencing with a gate to keep our hens safe.
• Efficient Mowing and Hauling: Acquire a ride on mower to cut grass and pull a small trailer

With our volunteers’ hard work and these ambitious plans, The Sanctuary Garden is set to thrive as a sustainable, community-focused space. Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for supporting our green mission!

In less than 2 weeks, with the help of our incredible new volunteers, the garden has been transformed. Using our donated brush cutter, the overgrown, bramble and nettle filled garden has been tamed, to a degree. Removing all the old raised beds will allow a machine to get in and do some leveling. The effort and hard graft put in by the volunteers is remarkable and the atmosphere has been positive surrounded by lots of laughter.

We’ve open volunteering days on Monday and Thursday from 10-1pm until it gets too cold and dark. If it’s pouring with rain, the volunteering day is probably cancelled as we don’t have the poly tunnel up yet.

After 2 years of neglect, here are some before and after photographs.

The garden will be open on Mondays and Thursdays from 10:00 until 13:00 in October 2025 for prospective volunteers to see it’s current state and have an opportunity contribute to what happens next. The Sanctuary Garden has been neglected for a couple of years, my journey has been one of learning in other community gardens. Please be aware; the garden is very overgrown, the ground uneven and there is no toilet facilities or running water. (yet) Google has a pin on the map and the post code is KY12 0TQ. Photos below show the road entrance. There will be tea, coffee and biscuits on offer.

I hope you can make it.

Since February 2025 I’ve been working as full time gardener at Grow West Fife, a beautiful walled garden in the grounds of Blair Castle near Culross.

The volunteers have made changes and incredible progress over the year, focusing on increasing production and creating a market garden with nearly 2000kg of organic produce harvested and shared with local pantries, their own GWF kitchen and volunteers.

Airtable has been used to record volunteer numbers, planting and harvest data resulting in incredible reports that have been used to update trustees, funders and volunteers.

On Sunday, 10 families who had never made a wreath before spent an hour creating their own Christmas wreaths. Initial nerves quickly gave way to smiles as their creations took shape. By the end of the session, there was a wonderful sense of satisfaction and joy from crafting something truly their own.

What You’ll Need:

• Wire coat hanger
• Soft wire (even stripped electrical wire can work—reuse materials where possible!)
• Greenery, gathered sustainably from a local wood. Take only a few branches to leave nature untouched:
  • Holly (ideally with red berries)
  • Pine branches
  • Ivy
  • Bay leaves
  • Rose hips
  • Pinecones
• Any small Christmas decorations for a personal touch

How to Make Your Wreath:

1. Shape the Base: Bend your wire coat hanger into a circular shape.
2. Layer the Greenery: Attach layers of greenery to the frame using the soft wire.
3. Add the Final Touches: Decorate the top layer with pops of color and any festive ornaments.
4. Display with Pride: Hang your beautiful wreath on your door or wall to spread Christmas cheer!

Wreaths for Every Season

Once you’ve mastered the basics, wreath-making can be a year-round hobby! Create wreaths for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Spring, Summer, Harvest, Autumn, Winter, and, of course, next Christmas.

Embrace the joy of crafting and celebrate the seasons in style!

Nearly 20 kids (and their families) joined us for a fun-filled day of pumpkin picking, carving, and Halloween games.

At 3 pm, families ventured into the “spooky garden” to select pumpkins, ready to be transformed into creepy lanterns. With a mix of cookie cutters, some serious hammering, and a lot of imagination, our pumpkins turned into spooky masterpieces. The carving process was messy, creative, and a blast for all ages!

As the pumpkins took shape, we served up refreshments, and each family received a special bag with a pumpkin soup recipe and ingredients — including sweet potato, carrot, onion, and stock — so they could make delicious pumpkin soup at home. The star ingredient? Their very own carved pumpkin! We also served a big pot of pumpkin soup for everyone to enjoy, thanks to Baynes the Baker for supplying the rolls! 🥖

After dark, the kids returned to the “spooky garden” to see their creations glow. Glo-sticks and tealights lit up each lantern, adding a magical touch to an unforgettable evening. Everyone took their pumpkins home, ready to shine on Halloween night! ✨

Thanks to all the families who joined, and happy Halloween! 🎃🕸

What an amazing day at BRAG Enterprises’ Scarecrow-Making event! 🌾

Nine fantastic scarecrows were created by some very talented children. Huge thanks to D Farrell Windows and Homes for providing the timber  and to everyone who helped stuff the scarecrows with straw and bring them to life!

The kids had a blast drawing faces on their creations and proudly took them home—some even riding the bus with their new scarecrow friends!

A big thank you to everyone who joined in the fun and made it such a memorable event! 😊

Starting in June didn’t hold us back! The harvest at Brag’s Community Garden was absolutely bountiful. We gathered a vibrant array of tomatoes, beans, courgettes, gem squash, butternut, and more. Plus, we’ve got plenty of seedlings prepped and ready for the cold season. We’ve also collected lots of seeds from some of the lettuce, chard and kale.

A month ago, I never would have imagined meeting Charles Dowding. Yet, through a series of serendipitous connections, I not only met him but had the chance to interview him. Having followed Charles’ no-dig gardening methods for decades, he’s been a constant source of inspiration for me and countless gardeners worldwide. I’ll admit, I was worried I might be too starstruck to speak, but he was so welcoming and genuinely curious. “Are you a writer?” he asked. I confessed that I’m really just a gardener. His response? “Fantastic! Tell me what you do.” And from there, we had an engaging, insightful conversation that felt more like chatting with an old friend than meeting an idol.

To my surprise and delight, Charles has also awarded me a bursary to continue my work with schools. I’ll be heading back to Inverkeithing High School soon and installing two raised beds in Ayr. I’ve already had the pleasure of teaching a class at Touch Primary School, and the support from Charles has inspired me to explore further funding opportunities. Schools are often too stretched for time and resources to bring in gardeners on their own, but with the right support, I hope to continue this rewarding work.

This is the link to the article I wrote for Bite Magazine.

Stay tuned for more updates!