Monthly Archives: April 2015

Preparation for the New Shed

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An order has been placed with Mike Pryce of Craven Timber Products for the construction, delivery and erection of a 6′ by 6′ secure wooden shed. It is the policy of CACG wherever possible to buy from local businesses.

Today members have been busy preparing a base of paving slabs in readiness for the delivery of the new shed as shown below.

Base of Paving Slabs for the New Shed

Base of Paving Slabs for the New Shed

The new shed will be delivered on Tuesday 5th May 2015 and will enable us to store CACG tools and equipment close to the micro-allotment plots.

Once again thanks are due to the Ludlow Food Festival whose generosity has made the purchase of this shed possible.

Additional Rainwater Catchment – Part 4

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Regular readers will know that thanks to the generosity of the Ludlow Food Festival who provided funding, members have recently been working hard to install new rainwater catchment and water storage tanks.

Additional and recycled blocks have been installed and today the third of three IBCs (intemediate bulk containers) was placed into final position under the roof over the former dry compost areas.

Three New IBCs Installed

Three New IBCs Installed

Rainwater is already being collected into the first of these IBCs which are piped so that as the first IBC becomes full the rainwater then cascades into the second IBC. The second IBC then cascades into the third until 3000 litres of rainwater have been collected, at which time the rainwater collection pipework can be swiveled to fill the pre-existing IBCs which can be seen on the left in the photograph above.

The tasks remaining within this rainwater catchment and storage project include:

  • connecting the outlet pipework of the IBCs
  • routing water from the IBCs to the poly-tunnel once it has been constructed
  • installation of a solar powered water pump
Newly Installed IBCs Waiting for Rain

Newly Installed IBCs Waiting for Rain

All we need now is some rain! Are those grey clouds above?

Additional Rainwater Catchment – Part 3

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Members took delivery of four IBC (intermediate bulk container) units on 21st April as part of the project to install additional rainwater catchment and water storage for the Craven Arms Community Garden.

IBC Delivery 21st April 2015

IBC Delivery 21st April 2015

Although these IBC are bulky – measuring 1m by 1m by 1m – they are relatively light when empty being made from food grade plastic and so were readily carried into place.

However, when an individual container is full of rainwater it will contain a cubic metre of water which is 1000 litres. One cubic metre of water weighs one metric tonne – hence the careful preparation of the base for these water storage tanks described in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series of posts.

Two IBCs Positioned for Rainwater Catchment

Two IBCs Positioned for Rainwater Catchment

So far two of the three IBCs for this area have been installed pending pipework for rainwater catchment and feeding to the poly-tunnel which will be installed close by.

Installed IBCs in Readiness for Rainwater Catchment

Installed IBCs in Readiness for Rainwater Catchment

The fourth IBC will be located on the South side of the Community Garden alongside an existing IBC.

This project to install additional rainwater catchment and water storage has been possible thanks to the generosity of Ludlow Food Festival who have provided funds for this and the purchase and installation of a poly-tunnel and secure shed.

Additional Rainwater Catchment – Part 2

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Early in April preparations started for the installation of additional rainwater catchment water storage tanks in readiness for the purchase of a poly-tunnel (size) thanks to funding from Ludlow Food Festival.

CACG member John Wood brought his logistics experience to the military precision of his planning for the series of dominoes required to fall in sequence to enable the very tight timetable to be met.

Members started by moving the existing dry compost into the South-West corner of the Community Garden so that the area under the existing roof could receive three new 1000 litre IBC (intermediate bulk containers). At the same time some new compost areas were created.

New Uncovered Compost Areas April 2015

New Uncovered Compost Areas April 2015

The majority of the wood from the former dry compost area has been reused to create these new compost areas that ought to provide better compost through being open to the elements. The paving slabs and blocks were then used to provide a level base for the three new water storage containers to be located under the existing roof so that rainwater can be collected.

Preparing the Base for Water Storage Containers 18th April 2015

Preparing the Base for the New Water Storage Containers

Supporting blocks have been doubled up in order to ensure an adequate head of water to feed a pump that will in turn irrigate the poly-tunnel.

Preparing the Base for New Water Storage Tanks 18th April 2015

Preparing the Base for New Water Storage Tanks

The poly-tunnel will be installed adjacent to the new water storage tanks and at the northern end – the right in this picture.

Further news on progress can be found in Part 3 of this series of posts.

Additional Rainwater Catchment – Part 1

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Thanks to the generosity of the Ludlow Food Festival who have provided funding for additional rainwater catchment facilities, members have been busy during April taking delivery of materials and preparing a solid base for additional water storage containers.

Delivery of Blocks and Paving Slabs to Craven Arms Community Garden

Delivery of Blocks and Paving Slabs to Craven Arms Community Garden

Colin kindly gave permission for the delivery vehicle to gain access via the private road adjoining Newton so that paving slabs and blocks could be delivered onto the North perimeter of the Community Garden.

Blocks and Paving Slabs Delivered to Craven Arms Community Garden

Blocks and Paving Slabs Delivered to Craven Arms Community Garden

Once delivered, all that was required was to move the blocks and paving slabs close to their final position in the former dry compost area.

Slabs and Blocks for Base for Water Storage

Slabs and Blocks for Base for Water Storage

The next stage in the preparation for the installation of additional water storage containers was to position and level the paving slabs and install the support blocks – described in the next post: Additional Rainwater Catchment – Part 2.