Plant and Seed Swap

Our next highly popular Seed & Plant Swap will be held as part of the Chinnor & Thame Friends of the Earth Green Fayre at Mill Lane School, Mill Lane, Chinnor, OX9 4RF on Saturday 11th May 2019 between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. 

We are already planting some items of interest which we will hope will tempt you to come and join us and make it as big a success as last year when about 1000 plants changed hands. You know how it works now. Bring something to swap or make a small contribution towards costs. 

A request to all of you gardeners out there. We are all trying to cut down our use of plastic or recycle it. Well if you have any spare 3” plastic flower pots (3” is diameter at top) then we can use them for our pricking out. If you have any available please email us at grenningchinnor@gmail.com and we'll collect them.

Plant & Seed Swap

Saturday 12 May 2018 10:00 pm – 14:00 pm
Mill Lane Community Primary School, Mill Lane, Chinnor, OX39 4RF

Calling all gardeners or would be gardeners

Greening Chinnor's Seed & Plant Swap returns on Saturday 12th May. Once again we will be at The Friends of the Earth Green Living Event at Mill Lane Community Primary School from 10.00 am until 2.00 pm

This will be our 4th Seed & Plant Swap.

Last year we were delighted to swap 1000 plants. So this year, make it bigger! Bring your surplus plants and/or seeds to swap or make a small donation. Free sunflower growing contest for all of the mini gardeners. Get your tomato plants, courgettes and marrows, peppers, sweet corn, beans, brassicas,  lettuce and more – and try some new varieties.

More information contact Alan Brawn on 01844 352753 

Plant & Seed Swap

A huge thank you to everyone that supported our 3rd Seed & Plant Swap that we held at the FoE Giant Swap Shop and Green Event on the 6 May.

We had lots of plant donations with over 600 items coming (and going) - many lettuce, tomatoes and beans.  We are pleased to say that we received £77.50 in donations which was 50% more than last year. This will be put to supporting next years swap.

Any plants that remained at the end of the event were donated to Christian Aid.  

We gave away 32 sunflower plants as part of the Children's Sunflower Growing Competition and look forward to seeing how they have grown at the end of August. Any competition entrants must send a photo of their sunflower together with the measurements of height and sunflower size along with name and age of entrant. 

Plant and Seed Swap Shop 6th May 10:00-14:00 Mill Lane School

Once more Greening Chinnor will be running a plant and seed swap at the Friends of the Earth Giant Swap Shop & Green Living Event at Mill Lane School on 6th May.

It could not be easier – bring a plant, some seeds or garden sundries and swap with something else. Or if you do not have any plants or seeds to swap a small contribution towards the cost of the plants we grow for this event would be appreciated.

After last year’s children’s Giant Bean growing competition, this year we are offering sunflowers plants to children to enable them to take part in this year’s free growing competition.

Children's Barlotti Bean Growing Competition Winner

Congratulations to Sophie Westby who is the winner of our bean growing competition. Sophie, aged 21 months, managed to grow her plant to a staggering 2.5 metres and her bean to 6 cm. Well done Sophie. A prize will be on its way to you shortly. Thank you to everyone who took part.

Did you swap a plant or pick up some seeds? How did they do? We would be very interested to find out. Email your story to greeningchinnor@gmail.com. Also look out for our next Seed & Plant Swap which will be held in May 2017.

Children’s Barlotto Bean Growing Competition

How do I enter the competition?

30 Barlotto bean plants were  handed out to children at the Friends of the Earth's Green Fayre on Saturday 14th May held at Chinnor Village Hall.

There are 2 categories in the competition: Category 1: the tallest bean plant and Category 2 the longest bean. To enter the competition, a photograph of the longest bean (photographed measured against a rule) and/or the tallest plant (photographed measured against a rule or by some other measure) should be sent, together with the child's name, contact details and age to greeningchinnor@gmail.com by 27th August 2016. 

Important – to Mums and Dads

The results will be announced in our September newsletter. If your child is included in the photograph(s) that are sent in, please state when you send the photos to Greening Chinnor that you are happy for the picture to be included in our newsletter. You can sign up to our newsletter at www.greeningchinnor.blogspot.co.uk

Growing your Barlotto Climbing Bean

What is a Barlotto Bean? A barlotto bean is very much like a runner bean and can be grown (and eaten) in exactly the same way. They are even better than runner beans as if not picked, and left on the plant, they will turn a very pretty spotted red and black and can be left to dry.

How do you grow them? They can be planted in a large pot, grow bag or in the ground. They grow up to about 2 metres tall and if the growing tip (bud at the end) is picked off they will give lots more side shoots and more beans.

Make sure they are watered well particularly, to start with. Protect from frost (do not plant out in the garden for another couple of weeks without protection) and protect from slugs and snails.

They will need something to climb up – a couple of 6 foot bamboo canes are perfect. Make sure they are securely fixed. The plant will wind around the pole all by itself.

What if you want to grow some more? You can buy them in the shops (or get them from the Chinnor allotment shop on Sunday morning a lot cheaper).

Children’s Sunflower Growing Competition

At the Swap Shop held on the 9th May, Greening Chinnor gave out free sunflower plants to the children and invited them to join our sunflower growing competition. The competition is open for all children to take part. There are 2 categories:

Category 1: the tallest sunflower

Category 2: the biggest sunflower head

For entry into the competition, send a photo of your sunflower together with the measurements and your name and age to greeningchinnor@gmail.com by 31 August. 

Judging will take place on 7 September and the winners notified by email.