Harvest Heathrow: free foraging workshops

In 2010, a derelict car scrapping yard became a thriving organic community garden, with aubergines under greenhouses and potatoes in stacks of old tyres, all in the path of the proposed third runway at Heathrow.

Now we are delighted to launch a fortnight of free wild food workshops. The whole family can learn to make seed bombs, nettle soup, rosehip syrup, pickled spicy seeds and horseradish sauce for free. And what a delicious dinner those ingredients would make together! Take home a free nettle bracelet you’ll have made yourself; it’s softer than cotton and harder-wearing. I promise it  won’t sting! (Gloves are provided.)

Harvest Heathrow

26 September – 10 October

Date	Time	Workshop
Wed 26	2pm – 5pm	Wild food walk around Grow Heathrow, discussion of foraging law and safety, and make and taste nettle soup
Thu 27
Fri 28	2pm – 5pm	Horseradish sauce
Sat 29	10am – 12pm. 12pm: join bike tour	Seed bombs. At 12pm, join CAAT’s bike tour
Sun 30	10am – 5pm	Nettle bracelets and nettle soup
Mon 1	2pm – 5pm
Tues 2	2pm – 5pm	Guelder rose jelly
Wed 3	5pm – 7pm	Dried fruit: hawthorn berry leather
Thu 4
Fri 5	2pm – 5pm	Apple and pear scrumping with trailers and panniers
Sat 6	10am – 5pm
Sun 7	10am – 5pm	Gardening day
Mon 8	2pm – 5pm	Preservation including pickling
Tues 9	2pm – 5pm	Elderberry pancakes
Wed 10	2pm – 5pm	Rosehip syrup and dried rosehip tea

No need to book – just drop by.

The timetable will change nearer the time, depending on which crops are the most abundant in autumn. Stay up to date with the latest calendar at wwolfing.wordpress.com

We are also now well on our way to a position of self-reliance. We produce our own food, use solar and wind power meaning we’re completely off grid, we collect water from the greenhouse roofs to feed the plants, fruit and vegetables, we use the rocket stove invention to heat our water and are equipped with four fully functioning compost toilets. Grow Heathrow accepts and is grateful for voluntary donations from guests for the continued running of the project.

Volunteers can get involved in the daily running of the community garden.  This will be mainly focused on fruit and vegetable production including tasks such as seed sowing, digging beds, tending to growing plants, watering, and composting. Other tasks around the site include sustainable construction work, feeding the chickens and cooking. On arriving at  Grow Heathrow, we will work out together where people’s interests are, and what work we can do.

Volunteers will have a place to sleep in the Grow Heathrow Guest Cabins.

Email Grow Heathrow at info@transitionheathrow.com, or phone us on 07890751568.

Photo credit: Ealing Transition

Directions:

Our address is Grow Heathrow, Vineries Close, Sipson, West Drayton, UB7 0JG.

From Central London: Travel to West Drayton in TfL zone 6 in 20 minutes by train from Paddington. From West Drayton either take the 222 bus towards Hounslow and get off in Sipson Village or follow the cycle path towards Sipson. Our site is a 1 minute walk from the King William Pub which is in the middle of town

Date	Time	Workshop
Wed 26	2pm – 5pm	Wild food walk around Grow Heathrow, discussion of foraging law and safety, and make and taste nettle soup
Thu 27
Fri 28	2pm – 5pm	Horseradish sauce
Sat 29	10am – 12pm. 12pm: join bike tour	Seed bombs. At 12pm, join CAAT’s bike tour (see below)
Sun 30	10am – 5pm	Nettle bracelets and nettle soup
Mon 1	2pm – 5pm
Tues 2	2pm – 5pm	Guelder rose jelly
Wed 3	5pm – 7pm	Dried fruit: hawthorn berry leather
Thu 4
Fri 5	2pm – 5pm	Apple and pear scrumping with trailers and panniers
Sat 6	10am – 5pm
Sun 7	10am – 5pm	Gardening day
Mon 8	2pm – 5pm	Preservation including pickling
Tues 9	2pm – 5pm	Wild food cycle to Cranford Park
Wed 10	2pm – 5pm	Rosehip syrup and dried rosehip tea