Winter 2025 Newsletter
IN FOCUS! Site Works - Greenhouses, Stables, The Nest & The Lodge - plus projects in the pipeline
For our Winter 'In Focus' piece we learn about the site improvement and building works that have been taking place over the last year, and some of our development plans for the future.
We are grateful to Tower Hill Trust (a long term supporter of the Farm), City University, The Greater London Authority (GLA), Tower Hamlets Council, and two of our corporate partners, Nuveen and SEI. Many thanks for their generous financial support.
From left to right: our new greenhouses, The Lodge, The Nest, and our new stable block. We have a ton more new structures to shout about too - click the button below to read our full interview with Steven, our Site Manager.
VEG OF THE MONTH - Brassica Season!
Our Veg(es) of the Month for this newsletter is our fabulous crop of brassicas we are working on cultivating, led by Head Gardener Chris. From left to right below we have: cauliflower, Ironman broccoli, purple cabbage and Russian kale. Also out of shot we have Romanesco cauli, green mustard, and three cornered leek (which you can also find and forage in abundance all over the city, in parks, on canalways, and even on brownfield sites).
The farm is blooming with all these vegetables at the moment, come down when you can to have a look.
NEW RESIDENTS! Ferrets, Guineas & Nubian Goat
January was a busy month for new adoptions! We welcomed the gorgeous Chewy, a Nubian breed goat adopted from our friends at Hackney City Farm, alongside Teriyaki and Tabasco, two fabulously funny new ferrets (image credit: Naomi Adams), and lastly, two shy new guinea pigs, Cardamom and Clove. Below is Clove, hiding in our Farmyard Assistant Emma's pocket.
Simone's Recipe of the Month
Courgette, Potato and Sage Soup
Image credit: BBC Gardener's World
This month we have a guest recipe from our wonderful on-site Tea Hut. Simone's recipes and contact details can be found at her Instagram, and she is available for party catering when you hire one of our spaces.
750g courgettes , peeled, sliced in half lengthways and cut into half moons.
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1-2 tbsp olive oil
400g potato, peeled & diced
4 chopped fresh sage leaves
750 ml boiling water, add more or less for the consistency you prefer.
1 vegetable or chicken stock cube or homemade stock
Salt & pepper
15g chopped parsley (optional)
1. Peel the courgette. Dice the courgette, set aside for later.
2. Peel and chop the onion and garlic. In a large pot, heat the oil and cook the onion and garlic gently until soft, stirring occasionally.
3. Whilst the onion and garlic are cooking, dice the potatoes. You can peel them if you wish but there's so much nutrition in the peels.
4. Add the courgette, potato and sage to the pan and stir. Sweat over a low heat for 10 minutes, stirring from time to time.
5. Add the boiling water, stock cube/ homemade stock , salt and pepper and bring to the boil.
6. Pop the lid on and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the vegetables are cooked and tender.
7. Blitz the soup with a stick blender if you wish or enjoy it as it is.
8. Add seasoning to taste. Scatter with chopped parsley if you fancy.
When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go...
One of the key objectives of the Farm's current three-year strategy is to access financial investment, to help us improve the site's safety, accessibility and facilities to better cater to our 40,000 annual visitors, 3,000 visiting school children, staff and volunteers.
We have made a number of significant improvements, but the most pressing need is to improve our toilet facilities. As we touch on in the In Focus piece for this newsletter linked above, funding from Tower Hamlets Council and a recent £75,000 grant from The Veolia Environmental Trust has helped us realise these ambitions. Working with the council we are now in the process of selecting a preferred contractor to complete these vital works.
Our hope is that the works will commence in the next few months. Three new cubicle toilets and a Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) complaint toilet with shower will be created. In addition, our staff and volunteer kitchen will also be completely refurbished.
Watch this space and our social media for important updates on the works.
Upcoming Play Area Equipment!
We are thrilled to say that soon our play area will have this brilliant bit of climbing kit installed for our young visitors and school trips, courtesy of Outdoor Play UK.
Lastly, Happy Valentine's Day!
This photo, taken in 2014, is of our Community Gardener Lutfun holding a heart-shaped tomato that we grew here on the farm. We love this space, and we know you do too. See you very soon.
The Farm is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!