Norfolk Organic Group

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"Not all seedlings are weeds. You may feel that life is too short to leave a seedling in till it's large enough to identify. My own feeling is that life's too interesting not to leave it there until you can identify it."
(Christopher Lloyd, 'The Well Tempered Garden', 1973)

All meetings and garden visits are free to NOG members. All meetings held at the Friends Meeting House are open to non-members for an entrance fee.

Future Events

Date	Event Description
June 27th 2022 Monday 6:30pm	A Talk & Walk on Foraging, with Nik Thompson former educator at Kew Gardens Gather at 35th Sea Scouts Hut, on 66 Mousehold Avenue, NR3 4RS. We will begin with a little talk and demonstration with samples by Nik, (as it’s not peak foraging season) and then walk around Mousehold heath to explore and forage. Bring; a flask, hot or cold, sensible footwear and clothing for whatever outdoors is like on the evening, your enthusiasm and notebooks maybe. It will be nice to celebrate this passing of midsummer outdoors together. Someone will bring flapjacks. If you fancy adding to the moving feast, then please do. No Entry Fee
NOG Visit August Date (TBC)	NOG Visit East of England Orchards Project (TBC) https://www.applesandorchards.org.uk The story of the project to preserve and promote our local fruit orchards and expand planting over East Anglia. *Please note that this event is a NOG Summer Visit

Date

Event Description

June 27th 2022

Monday 6:30pm

A Talk & Walk on Foraging, with Nik Thompson former educator at Kew Gardens

Gather at 35th Sea Scouts Hut, on 66 Mousehold Avenue, NR3 4RS. We will begin with a little talk and demonstration with samples by Nik, (as it’s not peak foraging season) and then walk around Mousehold heath to explore and forage. Bring; a flask, hot or cold, sensible footwear and clothing for whatever outdoors is like on the evening, your enthusiasm and notebooks maybe. It will be nice to celebrate this passing of midsummer outdoors together. Someone will bring flapjacks. If you fancy adding to the moving feast, then please do.

No Entry Fee

NOG Visit

August Date (TBC)

NOG Visit

East of England Orchards Project (TBC)

https://www.applesandorchards.org.uk

The story of the project to preserve and promote our local fruit orchards and expand planting over East Anglia.

*Please note that this event is a NOG Summer Visit

Past Events

Date	Event Description
May 21st 2022 Saturday 11:00am - 2:00pm & 12:00noon - 3:00pm	NOG Visit to Wakelyns Agroforestry http://www.wakelyns.co.uk Organic farming on one of the longest-established and most diverse agroforestry sites. Wakelyns are about food, people the environment and much more. Learn about their organic rotation Agroforestry short food chains and enterprise stacking Getting to Wakelyns : Wakelyns, Metfield Lane, Fressingfield, Suffolk. IP21 5SD Wakelyns recommends using the what 3 words app, to locate them precisely (because the post code can get you to the wrong place using mapping programs or apps) www.what3words.com they are slugs.meatball.megawatt Please see Wakelyns Terms & Conditions for your visit : https://wakelyns.co.uk/tandc/ Refreshments : Delicious Food is also available from the Wakelyns Bakery Team No Entry Fee
April 25th 2022 Monday 7:30pm	Permaculture An Illustrated Talk by NOG Members, Paul Lucas & Bee Springwood Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table Non Members entry suggested donation of £3.00
March 28th 2022 Monday 7:30pm	Norfolk Green Care Network Talk by Nigel Boldero Nigel spearheaded this network which fosters activities and organisations which foster a ‘Nature Connection’ for people. followed by Annual General Meeting Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
February 28th 2022 Monday 6:45pm	Annual General Meeting - Postponed until Monday March 28th, 7:30pm, 2022 Friends Meeting House ZOOM MEETING Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. followed by ZOOM MEETING 7:30pm Wakelyns Farm - An Organic Oasis Talk by David Members Zoom Event David will talk about organic farming, short food chains and enterprise on one of the longest-established and most diverse Agroforestry sites in the UK. Wakelyns in North Suffolk is about food, people, the environment and much more. Wakelyns Agroforestry. www.wakelyns.co.uk *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
January 31st 2022 Monday 7:00pm	ZOOM MEETING Creating and Developing School Allotments Matt Willers, The Papillon Project, http://www.thepapillonproject.com Matt will talk on the history of the Papillon Project and the importance of school allotments in a learning environment. *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
November 29th 2021 Monday 7:00pm	ZOOM MEETING From Old Carpet to Astroturf, A History of Geotextiles Bob Flowerdew, Norfolk Organic Group President From first experiments in the 1970's as an easier way of breaking new ground through to current use as a mulch and ground cover, with a choice of materials, advanced applications as a method for including green manures in a rotation, and new techniques using geotextile for pest control. *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
October 25th 2021 Monday 7:00pm	ZOOM MEETING "Caring for Elderly Apple Trees" Illustrated Talk by Bob Lever Understanding the value of "veteran" fruit trees. How to prune and generally take care, of old apple trees, in order to give them the best chance of survival. Bob Lever, orchard expert and member of the East of England Apples and Orchards Project is a fountain on knowledge for orchard restoration and apple identification. *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
September 27th 2021 Monday 7:00pm	ZOOM MEETING NOG Members Harvest Event An opportunity for you to share your "organic growing experiences" of 2021. What worked really well, and on the contrary, not so well"? Have you found a new fruit, vegetable or salad crop, that was a real surprise ? Did you find yourself, rather disappointed with an old favourite? Are you planning to save seed from your harvest, to sew next season? What have you grown that has got those tastebuds reaching override? Would you like to share your secrets for growing a healthy, productive and tasty organic crop? Do Come along, whether you have anything to share or not, but the more examples the merrier for celebrating, commiserating, or solving problems with our many years of shared wisdom between us. *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
August 29th 2021 Group Summer Social/Visit Sunday From 2:30pm	NOG Summer Social Visit to Maggy & Partner's Garden Maggy, Our Chair, and partner welcome NOG members to summer social at their garden, on Sunday 29th August. Please arrive from 2.30pm where there will be cups of tea, coffee and cake. Feel free to bring your own baked offerings as well. They do have ducks and chickens so well behaved dogs on leads and children are also welcome. Please dress for inclement weather as there is little shelter and could you also confirm your visit using Maggy’s email. Please refer to the NOG August Newsletter or the round robin email for the address.Thank you
July 10th 2021 Group Summer Visit 2.30pm - 4.30pm	A Tour around the Norwich Farmshare site at Whitlingham Nurseries, off Whitlingham Lane, Norwich. NR14 8TZ 'Members are welcome to join us for our first real live outdoor visit; In two seasons. And it is to Norwich FarmShare growing site, at Whitlingham Nurseries at the far end of Whittingham Lane. A 2.5 acre market garden site designed on regenerative agriculture lines, with much work done to be wildlife friendly. This is the " new" site we moved to in 2018, and its proved a great success so far. The visit will include some refreshments (cake and snack makers please step forward now! We will welcome your cooking contributions). There will be a formal farm walk round at 3pm, and if Bee can, she will show some video drone footage of previous years, and a fun musical one with our many loyal volunteers. There is a compost loo, and some shade to sit in, but not much wet weather shelter, so do dress accordingly. Please let Bee know if you are coming along; As we are not out of Covid restrictions, then we will need to ensure safe numbers for the Farmshare protocol, and it will be helpful for catering. If you are planning to bring a non member guest then you must let us know beforehand. The Norwich Farmshare site postcode is NR14 8TZ. Parking is OK inside the field entrance, or, if it’s very hot, you could park tidily, right under the bypass bridge, and walk the last 100 metres.
June 2021 Group Summer Visit Postponed	Postponed Due To Covid
May 31st 2021 Monday 7:00pm	ZOOM MEETING "Perennials in a Royal Garden (Highgrove)" Illustrated Talk by George Lockwood Members Zoom Event This talk is on the perennial plants that are grown at Highgrove. George explains when each plant flowers, what soil and aspect it needs and through his own knowledge as an organic gardener will pass on any tips that he can. Every plant grown at Highgrove is grown organically, no insecticides or pesticides are used, only liquid feeds for the soil and garlic water to deter pests. George will explain how to make up liquid feeds and garlic water and how it is used at Highgrove and Buckingham Palace. *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
April 26th 2021 Monday 7:00pm	ZOOM MEETING "Garden Bugs – Cohabit, Conserve or Control ?" Illustrated Talk by Entomologist, Dr Ian Bedford Members Zoom Event What are the good and bad garden bugs we often find in our gardens, and what should we do with them? What do we do, when foreign pests such as the Spanish slug invade our gardens?. *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
March 29th 2021 Monday 7:00pm	ZOOM MEETING "Never Mind The Burdocks" Illustrated Talk by Emma Gunn Members Zoom Event Emma will talk on the subject of foraging edible plants in the garden and further afield. Emma has written a number of books on the subject and has a website called "Never Mind the Burdocks". Her mission is to educate people in a better understanding of nature, survival and how we can protect nature and ourselves for the future. The more we understand the better equipped we are. *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
February 22nd 2021 Monday 7:00pm	Annual General Meeting ZOOM MEETING Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. followed by ZOOM MEETING 7:30pm "The Trouble Without Wasps" Illustrated Talk by Entomologist, Dr Ian Bedford Members Zoom Event Mention wasps and most of us think of an annoying, angry yellow and black striped flying insect that delivers a painful sting when confronted. However, there are approximately 9000 different wasp species in Britain and their value to us, as humans, is immense. We'd certainly have a lot of problems without them. This illustrated talk explains why. *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
ZOOM MEETING January 25th 2021 Monday 7:00pm	ZOOM MEETING "Desert Island Vegetables" Illustrated Talk by Pauline Pears Members Zoom Event Pauline Pears has grown vegetables at home, and on various allotments, for many years. Pauline prefers vegetables that give maximum return for the work involved, and likes to eat something "home grown" all year round. This illustrated talk introduces some of her favourites to grow (which can change from year to year), plus some of her organic growing hints and tips. Pauline Pears has written, and co- authored books on running an organic allotment. *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
ZOOM MEETING December 16th 2020 Wednesday 7:00pm	ZOOM MEETING "Getting Ready For Spring" Members Winter Zoom Social Let us share and exchange our wealth of organic gardening ideas and knowledge. Tell us your favourite seed varieties? Which seeds worked well for you, which seeds have not? What seeds are you getting in early? Are you going to make, any new year organic gardening resolutions? Please join-in. *Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
November 30th 2020 Monday 7:30pm	ZOOM MEETING “Planting by UFO-light” Bob Flowerdew, Norfolk Organic Group President An investigation of some quasi-scientific aspects of gardening, including solar, stellar and lunar sowing, magnetism, crystals and waves, Kirlian photography, crop circles, mistletoe and blood. *Please note that this talk is via a ZOOM MEETING* ZOOM MEETING
October 26th 2020 Monday 7:30pm	ZOOM MEETING "Companion Gardening For A Balanced Garden" Talk by Entomologist, Dr Ian Bedford *Please note that this talk is via a ZOOM MEETING*
EVENT POSTPONED September 28th 2020 Monday 7:30pm	EVENT POSTPONED Norfolk Organic Group, Gardeners Question Time and Member Produce Sale Let’s all share our huge knowledge and experience of Organic Gardening and sell our spare harvest and plants! Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
EVENT CANCELLED August 2nd 2020 Sunday 2.00pm - 5.00pm (weather permitting)	EVENT CANCELLED Norfolk Organic Group, Summer Social Afternoon, at Brigid's & Derek's House... location NR14 6JT Including a small "Moth talk" Talk by Dr Ian Bedford Dr Ian Bedford will be able to tell us about the Moths (caught the previous night), as we undo the box to see what we have caught. Plus a chance to meet, get to know each other, and learn from our very own knowledgeable members. Please bring a platter and a drink to share. Please park your car in Loddon, the house drive will be reserved for the disabled and elderly, thank you. Please email Brigid, brigid@agcl.com to confirm your attendance members only
EVENT POSTPONED July 19th 2020 Sunday, Times to be confirmed Near Reepham, full location address to be confirmed	EVENT POSTPONED A visit to the permaculture Papillon project near Reepham members entry free, plus a guest Visit details to follow.
EVENT CANCELLED June 28th 2020 Sunday 1.00pm-4:00pm Dickleburgh	EVENT CANCELLED Private Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden members entry free, plus a guest This is one of the main benefit's of becoming a Norfolk Organic Group member. An opportunity to visit Bob Flowerdew’s private garden. It will not be like any other garden you have been too! You will be inspired to re cycle items and relax amongst weeds. Bob himself will be there, on the afternoon. Bob always thinks outside the box, and his garden is a reflection of this. A unique chance to see his words in action and talk to the man himself. He knowledge is boundless! Bob, has never failed to deliver his wisdom and knowledge of organic gardening. Members who have never visited, this is a your opportunity to talk to Bob in person (Norfolk Organic Group, President) and see how he gardens organically, here in Norfolk. It’s also a good opportunity to chat with other Norfolk Organic Group members. Members can bring a guest with their newsletter for proof of membership.
EVENT POSTPONED May 25th 2020 Monday 7:30pm	EVENT POSTPONED "Using Permaculture to inspire children and young people at secondary level education" Royal Horticultural Society's School Gardening Champion of the Year (2018) & Norwich & Norfolk Eco Hero (2019). Talk by by Matt Willer, project leader & founder of The Papillon Project Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
EVENT POSTPONED April 27th 2020 Monday 7:30pm	EVENT POSTPONED "The answer lies in our Soil" How we care for the soil, and how we can make a difference to the future by how we treat the soil, improve the soil and preserve the soil for future generations. Talk by Karen Kenny Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
EVENT POSTPONED March 30th 2020 Monday 7:30pm	EVENT POSTPONED "The carbon in our soil and climate change" Carbon sequestration potentially holds the key to recapturing atmospheric carbon and halting climate change. With over 10million acres of gardens in the United Kingdom how can we garden in a climate friendly way to capture and hold carbon in the soil and do our bit for climate change? Please come and find out ! Talk by Stephanie Laurence of www.tatterfly.co.uk Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
February 24th 2020 Monday 7:30pm	Annual General Meeting Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. followed by "All you might ever need to know about Slugs" What exactly is a slug and what do we really know about their fascinating lives? Slugs have been around for the past 500 million years, so they obviously have an important role to play within our ecosystems, but are we aware of what they do? Around 40 species of slugs can be found in Great Britain, but the vast majority of these are not plant pests and should be encouraged into our gardens rather than controlled. This talk explains why..... Talk by Dr Ian Bedford Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
February 8th 2020 Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm	East Anglia Potato Day "Come join us for the 25th East Anglian Potato Day, with grand opening by Bob Flowerdew" Mid-Suffolk Showground. 80 varieties of potato tubers ordered for 2020, with nearly 1/3 being grown organically. This very popular event began, back in 1996 and provides an opportunity for growers to purchase certified Scottish seed potatoes by the tuber. You can read about what potato tubers have been ordered on the following website page: /http://www.eapd.btck.co.uk/PotatoesorderedforFeb2020 Keep looking at the website because potatoes are living things. And that means things can go wrong. We learn, for example that Juliette is a crop failure and that is no longer expected. Late crops in East Anglia have had blight. Of course, for the Sarpo Potato Breeders Group, this is good news, because we have had two years in succession that did not put our new hybrids to the all-important test of Late Blight. The new boys on the block are looking quite healthy so far. Standard variety Tubers are very reasonably priced at 18 pence each. East Anglian Potato Day is run jointly with our sister groups in Suffolk. Group volunteers are rewarded with £5 worth of free seed potato tubers, for their efforts. If you feel you would like to volunteer and receive your free seed potatoes, please contact Mr Julian Turner or any of the Norfolk Organic Group committee members. The day also includes many stalls with relevance to organic gardeners and growers, including potato chip tasting sessions, food and drink refreshments, seed swap table, carrot fly mesh fabric and root trainer sales, onion sets, seed and soft fruit plant sales, potato sack sales, recycling and composting, books, pre loved tools etc. Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT Entry £1.50 Potato Day Website
January 27th 2020 Monday 7:30pm	"Green Manures" Green manures, a discussion on their various benefits and their uses in the garden. Talk by Karen Kenny Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
November 28th 2019 Thursday 7:30pm	Bob Flowerdew, Norfolk Organic Group President "Fruits, Nuts and Seeds" Bob shares his "Top 10" favourites for the home garden. The Steiner School, Hospital Lane, Norwich. NR1 2HW Apologies in advance, there will no refreshments available on the evening after this talk £5 entry for non-members
October 28th 2019 Monday 7:30pm	"Preserving and storing your produce and crops" Get a taste of how the Elliot's go about preserving and storing all their veggies, and their version of fast foods. It’s the way, we should all be going! Talk by Nicky & Graham Elliot www.bikeways.org.uk Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
September 30th 2019 Monday 7:30pm	Norfolk Organic Group, "Organic gardeners question time, social event and member produce sale" Let’s all share our huge knowledge of Organic Gardening, and share our ideas and experiences. A great opportunity to talk and get to know each other, show off your produce, and boast about your organic gardening success’s, so we can learn from each other. Bring along and sell your spare harvest and plants! Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
August 11th 2019 Sunday 2.00pm (weather permitting)	Norfolk Organic Group, Summer Social Afternoon, at Brigid's & Derek's House... location NR14 6JT A chance to meet, get to know each other, and learn from our very own knowledgeable members. Please bring a platter and a drink to share. Please park your car in Loddon, the house drive will be reserved for the disabled and elderly, thank you. Please email Brigid, brigid@agcl.com to confirm your attendance members only
July 7th 2019 Sunday 2:00pm-4:00pm	"Visit to Nicky & Graham Elliots Home & Garden, whom are 70% Self Sufficient from 3 Acres! ” Nicky & Graham Elliot have been long standing Norfolk Organic Group members. Their home and land is located at Barsham between Bungay and Beccles. Before we had the Charles Dowding talk, the Elliot’s had a talk in previous years and they packed the large hall at Friends Meeting House to capacity. They are very inspiring in leading the way in self sufficiency! www.bikeways.org.uk members entry free, plus a guest
June 30th 2019 Sunday 1.00pm-4:00pm Dickleburgh	Private Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden members entry free, plus a guest This is one of the main benefit's of becoming a Norfolk Organic Group member. An opportunity to visit Bob Flowerdew’s private garden. It will not be like any other garden you have been too! You will be inspired to re cycle items and relax amongst weeds. Bob himself will be there, on the afternoon. Bob always thinks outside the box, and his garden is a reflection of this. A unique chance to see his words in action and talk to the man himself. He knowledge is boundless! Bob, has never failed to deliver his wisdom and knowledge of organic gardening. Members who have never visited, this is a your opportunity to talk to Bob in person (Norfolk Organic Group, President) and see how he gardens organically, here in Norfolk. It’s also a good opportunity to chat with other Norfolk Organic Group members. Members can bring a guest with their newsletter for proof of membership.
June 26th & June 27th 2019 Wednesday & Thursday	Visit to Royal Norfolk Show Royal Norfolk Showground, Dereham Rd, Costessey, Norwich NR5 0TT. Stand 044 Please do, come and visit our Norfolk Organic Group stand in the Community Hub of the Horticultural Area. Have fun, socialising with other Norfolk Organic Group members. You can also help out with our stand, to share your enthusiasm for organic gardening and it's benefits.
June 15th 2019 Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm	"Compassion in world farming awareness day" NOG Stall, The Forum, Bethel St, Millennium Plain, Norwich NR2 1BH Please do come and visit our NOG stall, or maybe volunteer to help!
May 27th 2019 Monday 7:30pm	"Rising to the Climate Crisis. What does this mean for Food and Farming" A talk about an overall vision for a green future and how the different elements of this (including sustainable food and land management) fit together. Rising to the climate crisis. Building a 0% carbon future. Talk by Adrian Ramsay ex CEO of the, The Centre of Alternative Technology and previous deputy leader of the Green Party. Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
April 29th 2019 Monday 7:30pm	"How to build wildlife friendly structures and hibernation sites in your garden. Hibernaculum; inviting the invertebrates to stay." Increasing pressures on our native wildlife means, that now more than ever, providing a place of refuge for wild creatures in your garden or outdoor space is so very important. The Latin roots of Hibernaculum are ‘Winter Quarters’ a place where a wild creature can seek refuge and hibernate or breed. This talk aims to help you make the most of materials you may already have or by recycling unwanted materials from elsewhere to create the ultimate hibernaculum. It could be as small as a bird box to an entire hibernaculum wall! These structures not only provide vital habitats, but can look really interesting and be a very creative process, incorporating a range of materials and styles. Come along and find out! Talk by Stephanie Lawrence of wwww.tatterfly.co.uk Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
March 25th 2019 Monday 7:30pm	"Learning the language of trees" Paul has had a life learning from trees, he has intuitively felt the complexity and elegance of their communications. More recently studies have confirmed we have so much to learn about the lives of trees. On the practical side Paul has spent 30 years of tree work developing sustainable tree management and work. Talk by Paul Jackson Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
February 25th 2019 Monday 7:30pm	Annual General Meeting Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. "Microscope images of the life in your compost heap!" Master composter, Pauline Williamson with microscope and compost, will share the images screened and creatures found, discussed. When Brigid was a master gardener, Garden Organic had a visual display live on a screen, of compost at Garden Organic, Ryton. It is incredible how alive the amazing creatures in compost are, and how many, even pseudo scorpions! It really makes you appreciate just how alive, organic compost is. Talk by Pauline Williamson Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
February 9th 2019 Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm	East Anglia Potato Day Mid-Suffolk Showground. 81 varieties of potato tubers ordered for 2019. Hoping to have approx 21 varieties of potato tuber produced organically. This very popular event began, back in 1996 and provides an opportunity for growers to purchase certified Scottish seed potatoes by the tuber. Most tubers are priced at 17p each, apart from a few. East Anglian Potato Day is run jointly with our sister groups in Suffolk. Group volunteers are rewarded with £5 worth of free seed potato tubers, for their efforts. If you feel you would like to volunteer and receive your free seed potatoes, please contact Mr Julian Turner or any of the Norfolk Organic Group committee members. The day also includes many stalls with relevance to organic gardeners and growers, including potato chip tasting sessions, food and drink refreshments, seed swap table, carrot fly mesh fabric and root trainer sales, onion sets, seed and soft fruit plant sales, potato sack sales, recycling and composting, books, pre loved tools etc. Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT Entry £1.50 Potato Day Website
December 9th 2018 Sunday 12.00noon-5:00pm	Norfolk Organic Group Christmas Social at Brigid's house NR14 6JT members and guest only p>
November 21st 2018 Wednesday 7:30pm	Bob Flowerdew, Norfolk Organic Group President and panel member of BBC Radio 4 Gardeners Question Time Coping with Climate Change What can gardeners do, to cope with changes in climate and the difficulties, and possibilities this introduces, including different methods, crops and problems Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £5 entry for non-members
November 17th 2018 Saturday 2:00pm-4:00pm (Please arrive early)	Charles Dowding of "No Dig" fame No Dig Gardening ! Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) A talk from Charles on how to have healthy soil, and enjoy easier harvests. Charles explains how he makes, buys and uses composts of different kinds. How to clear perennial weeds with mulches, including couch grass and bindweed. How to maintain a No Dig plot, with a annual mulch of compost. How to crop intensively, all through the growing season. Tips on propagating. You will see photographs of the trials, Charles runs to compare the effects on growth of Dig v No Dig, different composts and no rotation. Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table Free entry for Norfolk Organic Group members (however, suggested donation contribution of £4 requested on the day) NOG Members, please reserve your free entry ticket to the talk, with our group membership secretary, contact : membership@norfolkorganic.org.uk (only £15 for single Annual NOG Membership) £7 entry fee for non-members of NOG to Charles Dowding talk Please Note that there are only 200 tickets available for the NOG; Charles Dowding talk, so please book early, as we may run out of tickets on the day.
September 24th 2018 Monday 7:30pm	Norfolk Organic Group, Gardeners Question Time and Member Produce Sale Let’s all share our huge knowledge and experience of Organic Gardening and sell our spare harvest and plants! Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
August 12th 2018 Sunday 11.00am-4:00pm	Visit to High Ash Farm with guided tour High Ash Lane, Caistor St Edmund, Norwich NR14 8RD home of well known Norfolk Naturalist Chris Skinner, of BBC Radio Norfolk's "Countryside Hour" fame https://www.highashfarm.com/walks/ and Tatterfly Wildflowers https://www.tatterfly.co.uk With an Amazing Wild Flower Meadow and a haven for wildlife, with 50% of the farm set aside for wildlife crops; looking to create greater diversity. There are miles of Norfolk countryside farmland walking tracks to enjoy on the farm. A guided tour, followed by a social relax time, and picnic.
July 15th 2018 Sunday 10.00am-1:30pm	Visit to Norfolk Herbs Blackberry Farm, East Dereham, Norfolk NR19 2QD On our NOG Chairperson's recommendation www.norfolkherbs.co.uk Bring a picnic for a social, after a browse around the extensive collection of unusual herbs, of which they supply throughout the UK. Rosie Clifton Sprigee of Norfolk Herbs will talk to us, including how they would like to be organic and the reasons they are currently not!
June 27th & June 28th 2018 Wednesday & Thursday	Visit to Royal Norfolk Show Royal Norfolk Showground, Dereham Rd, Costessey, Norwich NR5 0TT Please do, come and visit our Norfolk Organic Group stand in the Community Hub of the Horticultural Area. Have fun, socialising with other Norfolk Organic Group members. You can also help out with our stand, to share your enthusiasm for organic gardening and it's benefits.
June 24th 2018 Sunday 1.00pm-4:00pm	Private Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden members entry free, plus a guest This is one of the main benefit's of becoming a Norfolk Organic Group member, an opportunity to visit Bob Flowerdew’s private garden. It will not be like any other garden you have been too! You will be inspired to re cycle items and relax amongst weeds. Bob himself will be there, on the afternoon. Bob has never failed to deliver his wisdom and knowledge of organic gardening. Members who have never visited, this is a your chance to talk to Bob in person (Norfolk Organic Group, President) and see how he gardens organically, here in Norfolk. It’s also a chance to chat to other group members. Members can bring a guest with their newsletter for proof of membership.
June 17th 2018 Sunday 1:00pm-5:30pm	"Guided tour of organic, Ash Farm" Twyford Stone Lane, Bintree, Dereham, Norfolk NR20 5NA Social event with food and drink refreshments. 2:30pm guided tour and then relax and finish at approx 5:30pm courtesy of Ash Farm owners, Coen and Wilhelmina van Beuningen Members and Guests
June 2nd 2018 Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm	"Compassion in world farming awareness day" NOG Stall, The Forum, Bethel St, Millennium Plain, Norwich NR2 1BH Please do come and visit our NOG stall, or maybe volunteer to help!
May 28th 2018 Monday 7:30pm	"Water Gardening; for conservation and wildlife" Norfolk has one of the lowest levels of rainfall throughout the United Kingdom. So how can we maximise the collection and conservation of water in our gardens? And what is the importance of adding water to your garden for wildlife? This talk looks at irrigation and how we can improve techniques to make the most of harvested rainwater for our plants and also the importance of adding water for wildlife to our outdoor spaces. Adding just a small pond or water feature can be one of the biggest draws to wildlife of any feature in the garden. By combining the conservation of rainwater, and wildlife attracting water features, we can create some really interesting and environmentally sustainable water gardening techniques. From formal water features to bog gardens. Come and find out how you can introduce more diversity and sustainability to your garden, whatever the size. Talk by Stephanie Laurence Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
April 30th 2018 Monday 7:30pm	"Building fertility and accessing it" green manures and compost teas This talk will look at the use of plant based fertility building techniques within organic gardening systems. Simple to use and suitable for gardens and farms of all sizes. Green manures are increasingly being used where access to manure is difficult or insufficient, or within vegan growing systems. They also offer a wonderful opportunity to support the wider eco-system above and below ground. Hannah will take us through how to use, what to use and when to use them and also introduce the idea of compost teas to boost soil biology, thereby activating plants abilities to take up nutrients. Talk by Hannah Claxton, of www.eveshillvegco.com facebook.com/eveshillvegco/ Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
March 26th 2018 Monday 7:30pm	"Growing food, growing communities" Reflecting on 13 years of community gardening in Norwich Talk by Mahesh Pant, of Sustainable Living Initiative. Mahesh has got the grants and created communities that learn how to grow their own food, next to others in a social supported setting. I've had a plot. It's brilliant how well it works. It's a very inspiring way to help society. www.grow-our-own.co.uk Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £3 entry for non-members
March 25th 2018 Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm	Visit to Norfolk & Norwich Horticultural Society Spring Flower & Produce Show Easton & Otley College, Green Room, Jubilee Building, Easton Campus, Easton, Norwich. NR9 5DX Come and join us at the NOG stall. Refreshments Available Free entry
February 26th 2018 Monday 7:30pm	Annual General Meeting Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. "How to plant and grow a Wildflower Garden" Ever wished your could create your very own Wildflower Garden ? www.tatterfly.co.uk Talk by Stephanie Lawrence Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £2 entry for non-members
February 10th 2018 Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm	East Anglia Potato Day Mid-Suffolk Showground. 80 varieties of potato tubers ordered for 2018. Hoping to have approx 21 varieties of potato tuber produced organically. This very popular event began, back in 1996 and provides an opportunity for growers to purchase certified Scottish seed potatoes by the tuber. Most tubers are priced at 17p each, apart from a few. East Anglian Potato Day is run jointly with our sister groups in Suffolk. Group volunteers are rewarded with £5 worth of free seed potato tubers, for their efforts. If you feel you would like to volunteer and receive your free seed potatoes, please contact Mr Julian Turner or any of the Norfolk Organic Group committee members. The day also includes many stalls with relevance to organic gardeners and growers, including potato chip tasting sessions, food and drink refreshments, seed swap table, carrot fly mesh fabric and root trainer sales, onion sets, seed and soft fruit plant sales, potato sack sales, recycling and composting, books, pre loved tools etc. Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT Entry £1.50 Potato Day Website
January 29th 2018 Monday 7.30pm	"British Butterflies ...How to attract them in your garden" How to attract butterflies, what plants they like and the benefits. What is a butterfly and how do you tell a butterfly from a moth? What species can we find in Great Britain and how we can attract butterflies to our gardens ? Many species of British Butterflies are in serious decline, so can we do anything to help them survive ? Talk by Dr Ian Bedford, Head of Entomology at the John Innes Centre Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
November 22nd 2017 Wednesday 7.30pm	"Dealing with Pests without Poison" Practical ways, in which, Bob, explains how to cope with pests in the garden without the use of poison Talk by Norfolk Organic Group President, Bob Flowerdew Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £3 entry for non-members
October 30th 2017 Monday 7.30pm	"Why we need to change how we grow Potatoes" Julian, whom is very experienced about potatoes, will talk about less late frosts, the limits on pesticides, the obsolesence of the Smith Period, and eelworm. There will also be an opportunity to taste seven freshly cooked different potato varieties, there is quite a difference! Talk by Julian Turner Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) £2 entry for non-members
September 25th 2017 Monday 7.30pm	"Gardening for Wildlife" How to make your garden a haven for wildlife, using good gardening techniques and suitable plants. This is crucial for any organic garden, and it is great for our planet too! Talk by Charlotte Philcox Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) £2 entry for non-members
August 6th 2017 Sunday 2.00pm	A visit to the "Calf at Foot" The Calf at Foot Dairy Home Farm ,Somerleyton, Suffolk, NR32 5PR members entry free, plus a guest Fiona Provan will take us on a tour of her farm, to meet the calves and Mother cows first hand and see her animal welfare in action. The cows are named , unrestrained when milked and just look so healthy. Take a look at the photos on their web site. www.the-calf-at-foot-dairy.co.uk Everyone but everyone, goes on about the taste of her milk. Fiona is not certified organic but says she goes beyond organic… Is Calf At Foot Dairy raw milk safe for us to drink? Their hygiene standards are extremely high and we have the magic '5' from Waveney District Council's Environmental Health Office. The FSA (Food Standards Agency) registered their standard as a generous 'GOOD' this is the best/highest standard they would award! And here are some testimonials from some who have been! "go and visit! A magical little place, contented cows and happy calves ... nothing quite like it! Oh, and I almost forgot: great Proper Milk!!!!!!" Rita Lenko "Compassionate farming of the highest quality and the best milk I have ever drunk. I am privileged to have found it. Watch as the girls come in off the pasture for milking when they are called by name and see the calves, with whom you share the milk, happy with mum in the beautiful Suffolk countryside" Jack Muddikins. Janet Buck wrote........ " Visited last week, amazing girls doing a great job, not been that inspired for a long time".
June 25th 2017 Sunday 2.00pm	Private Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden members entry free, plus a guest This is one of the main benefit's of becoming a Norfolk Organic Group member, an opportunity to visit Bob Flowerdew’s private garden. It will not be like any other garden you have been too! You will be inspired to re cycle items and relax amongst weeds. Bob himself will be there, on the afternoon. Bob has never failed to deliver his wisdom and knowledge of organic gardening. Members who have never visited, this is a your chance to talk to Bob in person (Norfolk Organic Group, President) and see how he gardens organically, here in Norfolk. It’s also a chance to chat to other group members. Members can bring a guest with their newsletter for proof of membership.
June 4th 2017 Sunday 2.00pm	"Visit to How Hill" Ludham, Norfolk. NR29 5PG Simon and Partridge have been Norfolk Organic Group members' for 2 years. Simon is the director of the How Hill Trust and is willing to, with their gardener, provide our NOG members with a tour of the Environmental Study Center for the Norfolk Broads. The secret gardens and house, were established by the original owner of How Hill House, Edward Boardman, in the early 1920’s. The area was once a piece of rough grazing marsh, open and windswept. To create the sheltered garden seen today, deciduous tree species, such as Oak, Sweet Chestnut and Hornbeam trees were planted on the slope between the house garden's and the scrubby woodland. This woodland was allowed to establish on the low lying land surrounding the area. Many exotic species were raised from seeds. These seeds were sent by Boardman’s friends and correspondents from around the world. A series of ponds were created, providing what the original family called their ‘Bog garden". A ‘woodland walk’ ,with the imaginative bug hotels of ‘Habitat Hamlet’, white garden, yew hedges, walled garden and herbaceous borders are a selection of things to see. The Azaleas and Rhododendrons are especially spectacular during May and June, and in October the autumn colour's of the trees, can be beautiful. Recently the gardener has had good success with Meconopsis (Blue Himalayan poppies). There are a number of specimen species including one of the first Dawn Redwoods to arrive into this country in the late 1940s. The Trust tries to run the gardens on organic principals, but regretfully this is not always the case! The How Hill head gardener, Chris Tubby, will be on site to answer any questions and in turn get advice on Organic gardening from our Norfolk Organic Group members. The How Hill Tearoom is located in a wooden building to the rear of How Hill House, and is signposted from the public car park and river.They offer a selection of homemade cakes, scones and sandwiches (all made at How Hill) as well as locally made ice creams and hot and cold drinks. They normally have a couple of gluten free cakes/tray bakes available too. Free car parking is available at their public car park members only
April 24th 2017 Monday 7.30pm	"Secrets of the Soil" From identifying soil types, to Mycorrhiza. Everything you wanted to know about the soil and it's care. Improve your soil. This is a practical session, and you are invited to bring samples of your soil for some simple testing. Talk by Charlotte Philcox "Seedling Sale" Please bring any seedlings, labelled, that you would like to sell to this event. Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table* Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) £2 entry for non-members
March 27th 2017 Monday 7.30pm	"Producing milk with compassion" Making the world a better place for dairy cows. Why I set up my high welfare micro-dairy. I use the "Calf at Foot" Dairying System, sharing the cow's milk with her calf. Why raw milk is so good for you. Why I chose to be certified Pasture For Life (100% grass feeding) and why properly holistically managed grazing animals are good for our planet and the produce from them is better for our health, than from other systems. We work to, and beyond organic certifying standards. I will bring milk to taste and to sell. Talk by Fiona Provan Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) £2 entry for non-members
February 27th 2017 Monday 7:30pm	Annual General Meeting Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park) Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. "The wonderful world of Stinging Nettles" Nettles are often much maligned and under appreciated, but their many uses and merits will surprise you. From their first recorded use in prehistory, their wide variety of associated invertebrate life, to the modern-day kitchen. For example, what exactly does happen to nettle tea when you add lemon juice ? Why dock leaves are useless as an antidote to nettle stings ? They provide a fascinating story for us Talk by Fay Jones Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table £2 entry for non-members
February 11th 2017 Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm	East Anglia Potato Day Mid-Suffolk Showground. 86 varieties of potato tubers ordered for 2017. Hoping to have approx 25 varieties of potato tuber produced organically. This very popular event began, back in 1996 and provides an opportunity for growers to purchase certified Scottish seed potatoes by the tuber. Most tubers are priced at 17p each, apart from a few. East Anglian Potato Day is run jointly with our sister groups in Suffolk. Group volunteers are rewarded with £5 worth of free seed potato tubers, for their efforts. If you feel you would like to volunteer and receive your free seed potatoes, please contact Mr Julian Turner or any of the Norfolk Organic Group committee members. The day also includes many stalls with relevance to organic gardeners and growers, including potato chip tasting sessions, food and drink refreshments, seed swap table, carrot fly mesh fabric and root trainer sales, onion sets, seed and soft fruit plant sales, potato sack sales, recycling and composting, books, pre loved tools etc. Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT Entry £1.50 Potato Day Website
January 30th 2017 Monday 7.30pm	"Hedgehogs are in serious trouble" What's happening and how you can help! Jayne Moore of BBC Radio 4 fame and from Greensted Hedgehog Rescue will discuss the serious position hedgehogs are in now. They could be gone by 2020! What you should do if you find a Hedgehog in the daytime and how you can support Hedgehogs living in your garden. How your can support the people who volunteer to help Hedgehogs that need help. www.greenstedhedgehogrescue.com Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £3 entry for non-members (£1 goes to the rescue centre)
November 24th 2016 Thursday 7.30pm	"Coping with Climate Change in the Garden" Practical ways, in which, Bob copes with the changing weather patterns Talk by Norfolk Organic Group President, Bob Flowerdew Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £3 entry for non-members
October 31st 2016 Monday 7:30pm	"Oats and Beans and Quinoa Grow" ! A talk by Josiah Meldrum and Nick Saltmarsh of Hodmedod's Hodmedod are a fascinating local company, growing and supplying less usual and overlooked pulses and grains. Emerging from a Norwich project that asked whether the city could feed itself; they began with Fava Beans (small dried broad beans), widely-grown but not much eaten in the UK, and have since added a range of Oganic Peas, Naked Barley and Quinoa, Pulse Flours, Snacks and Canned Beans. Their Organic Carlin peas, which have a lovely nutty flavour, won two "Soil Association BOOM Award's" this year and the company also won Best Food Business in "Suffolk’s Greenest County Awards". Hodmedod aims to inspire people to eat more plant protein, make a fair return to farmers and help create a more sustainable food system. They also have amazing product packaging by designed by Andy Croft, of whom created our Norfolk Organic Group information leaflet and posters! Norfolk Organic Group,members, please bring in your spare packets of seeds, to swap, on the evening, heritage seeds, especially welcomed ! Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW* £2 entry for non-members
September 26th 2016 Monday 7:30pm	"Save Open Pollinated Seeds to give you True Seeds, to attract and protect our Biodiversity". A background of the seed situation we are in, growing seeds locally and how to save our seeds, emphasizing the need to work with open pollinated seeds. Talk by Peter Brinch Peter completed his formal studies on Biodynamic Agriculture in Jarna, Sweden, in 1984. Ever since then he has been working with and on the land in one way or another. From 2001 till 2006 he worked for the Biodynamic Association as Seed Development Fieldsman when he traveled from farm to farm, working with and assisting farmers to save their seeds. Together with Pupak Haghighi, he established Open Pollinated Seeds Initiative in 2010 in England to raise awareness and promote the practise of using and investing in the open pollinated seeds throughout the world. Norfolk Organic Group,members, please bring in your spare packets of seeds, to swap, on the evening, heritage seeds, especially welcomed ! Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW* £2 entry for non-members
September 4th 2016 Sunday 2.00pm	A Social Afternoon with Wood Fired Pizzas Visit to the 5 acre property of one of our life time Norfolk Organic Group members Martyn and Lil Newton. Located at Memory Cottage, Church Lane Ringsfield Beccles Suffolk NR34 8JY.There will be sign posts put up, to help direct you, with directions.There will be plenty of car parking available. members only This is an opportunity to talk and meet other Norfolk Organic Group members and their families. We rarely have time, after our evening group talks to meet properly. Being a group member that cares about Organic principles, it is easy to share our passions, ideas and practical solutions. Please bring a friend and hopefully inspire them to become more interested in becoming Organic too. We are hoping to have a pizza oven and have freshly baked pizza’s for you to enjoy. Martyn and Lils home and land is very interesting. They have built a straw bale cottage which they rent out on Air BNB. Please visit following for more details : https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/12090177?guests=1&s=GSXFR-XS This was a practice run for the larger house they planned to build the same way. It involved a lot of physical work and Martyn and Lil have just been to visit a company abroad, who provide already built straw bale walls that are delivered to you. For inspiration check out the following : www.modcell.com/ and a youtube presentation of the panels being put up : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N1h9x8Y3bg Martyn and Lil have also built a small self-contained separate flat they call the piano room in their garden with a living roof and made from Timber. They have very interesting willow fencing sheltering their flower and vegetable beds, which they constructed quite cheaply, with 2 trailer loads of cut Willow for £40 which made 25 metres. They live in a 500 year old cottage surrounded by 5 acres of land , with lovely flower beds with wild flowers, vegetable beds and scenic views. There are Nut copses, Fruit trees, and livestock with Pigs, Rams Sheep and Lambs, also Chickens. It Has everything! Please can you book for this party, as we are providing food. Could you also bring a chair or mat, cutlery and any pizza toppings you like and whatever you drink. We will provide tomato sauce and mozzarella. It would be great if Group Members could bring any home grown Basil, Salad, Fruit and any Homemade Cake also. This would bring a smile. We want to encourage vehicle lift sharing, please let us know if you are willing to give other Norfolk Organic Group Members a shared lift, at the time of booking. To book contact Brigid Hayward publicity@norfolkorganic.org.uk if in south Norwich or Norfolk Please let us know if you think you would be happy to help with preparing the pizzas. We will need volunteers. Please let Brigid know by email. Thank you.
July 17th 2016 Sunday 2.00pm - 5.00pm	Visit to Robert Bailey's Allotment Plot 60 on Bluebell South Allotments, just off The Avenues, Norwich NR4 7DN. 2nd plot on the right adjacent the gate. Norfolk Organic Group direction signs will be displayed. Car Parking is located on The Avenues or George Borrow Road. Refreshments, Tea & Cake. members only Robert's (also known as William) allotment was featured in the November 2015 edition of the "Kitchen Garden" magazine. The allotment has raised beds, using redundant household radiators 20” high. Robert's allotment also features, a large fruit cage containing Gogi berries and a new Scottish super food, Saskatoon’s. Two active wormeries and a pond.
June 26th 2016 Sunday 12.30pm - 4.00pm	Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden Harvey Lodge, Harvey Lane, Dickleburgh, Norfolk IP21 4NL members entry free, plus a guest Always an inspiring visit, for the organic gardener. Members who have never visited, this is a your chance to talk to Bob in person (Norfolk Organic Group, President) and see how he gardens organically, here in Norfolk.
May 23rd 2016 Monday 7:30pm	"Easy cheap ways to make your home less toxic" Learn about the potential toxic things we inadvertently bring into our homes and gardens and begin to plan your cool green spring clean. Talk by Helen Lynn Helen has worked on issues linking health and the environment since 1995. Her work includes, working for the Women’s environmental network, and at EU level with Women in Europe for a common future . Helen is the one of the founders of the No more breast cancer campaign. Helen is also on the Soil Association's Health Products Standards committee. Helen facilitates the Alliance for cancer prevention. Finally, she is working on launching a new cosmetics and environmental initiative called Coolgreen. Norfolk Organic Group,members, please bring in your spare packets of seeds, to swap, on the evening, heritage seeds, especially welcomed ! Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW* £2 entry for non-members
February 29th 2016 Monday 7:30pm	Annual General Meeting Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. No charge
February 13th 2016 Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm	East Anglia Potato Day Mid-Suffolk Showground. 100+ varieties sold by tuber from 16p each. Refreshments, books, tools etc. Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT Entry £1.50 Potato Day Website
November 26th 2015 Thursday 7.30pm	"Duff Stuff" or how horticultural experts misinform and mislead us Talk by NOG President, Bob Flowerdew Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £3 entry for non-members
September 28th 2015 Monday 7:30pm	Cosmic Influences on Plants Talk by Philip Culley Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
August 23rd 2015 Sunday 1.00pm - 4.00pm	Visit to John Mott's Garden 62 Great Melton Road, Hethersett, Norfolk. NR9 3HA
July 21st 2015 Tuesday 6.30pm	Visit to FarmShare Norwich guided tour of the FarmShare area, with teas and cakes Postwick Roundabout, off the A47 bypass Directions: http://norwichfarmshare.co.uk/visit/ members £2 entry
June 28th 2015 Sunday 1.00pm - 4.00pm	Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden Harvey Lodge, Harvey Lane, Dickleburgh, Norfolk IP21 4NL members and guests
May 17th 2015 Sunday 2.00pm	Visit to Jeremy Kent's Smallholding with teas and cakes Church Farm, Arminghall, Norwich NR14 8SG members and guests, free entry
April 27th 2015 Monday 7:30pm	Hedgehogs - Their History and Ecology Talk by Jillian Macready Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
March 30th 2015 Monday 7:30pm	Enclosing Eden - The Story of the Walled Kitchen Garden An illustrated Talk by Charlotte Philcox Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
February 23th 2015 Monday 7:30pm	Annual General Meeting followed by a Talk and Discussion on Changes in the Composition and Value of Food, led by Mike Hall Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. No charge
February 14th 2015 Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm	East Anglia Potato Day Mid-Suffolk Showground. 100+ varieties sold by tuber from 16p each. Refreshments, books, tools etc. Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT Entry £1.50 Potato Day Website
January 26th 2015 Monday 7:30pm	Weeds and how to Cultivate Them An illustrated Talk by Robert Maidstone, professional gardener and naturalist Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
November 27th 2014 Thursday 7:30pm	How to Smell More in the Garden Talk by NOG President Bob Flowerdew Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £3 entry for non-members
October 27th 2014 Monday 7:30pm	Vegetable Growing in Small Spaces Talk by Pauline Harper, Gardening Expert and Show Judge Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
September 29th 2014 Monday 7:30pm	Seasonal Topfruit Talk by Robin Parker Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
September 7th 2014 Sunday 11.30am-5.00pm	Thornage Hall 25th Anniversary Fete Camphill Community biodynamic farm and gardens, Thornage Hall, NR25 7QH Produce, Handicrafts, Entertainments and Refreshments
August 5th 2014 Tuesday Meet at 6.30pm	Visit to Walnut Tree Farm, Spooner Row, for either 'Herbal Medicines Walk' with Christine Herbert or 'Guided Tour of Smallholding' with Mark Naylor Spooner Row, NR18 9LN small charge of £2, under 16s free
August 3rd 2014 Sunday 10.00am-4.00pm	Norfolk Smallholders Training Group 8th Annual Show and Market Sheringham Park NR26 8TL entry £5, under 16s free
July 20th 2014 Sunday from 2.00pm	Visit to 'The Old Rectory', Aslacton, Marilyn and Peter's Smallholding, with Afternoon tea and cake ! Aslacton, NR15 2JN by kind invitation of Marilyn and Peter Robinson
July 6th 2014 Sunday 12.00–4.00pm	Visit to Bob Flowerdew’s Garden Harvey Lodge, Harvey Lane, Dickleburgh, IP21 4NL Members and their guests only; bring membership card or newsletter as proof of membership. Entry: guests £1
June 11th 2014 Wednesday 6.30pm	Visit to Raveningham Hall Kitchen Garden Raveningham Hall, Raveningham, NR14 6NS Tour with Head Gardener Carol Clutten Charge £3.50 per head, under 16s free, numbers limited, please book with Mike Hall, 01379 740636 by 8th June
May 10th 2014 Saturday Meet at 10.00am	Visit and Conducted Tour of Farm and Gardens, Thornage Hall Camphill Community Thornage Hall, NR25 7QH
April 28th 2014 Monday 7:30pm	Composting and Care of the Soil Talk by Terry Rands, Organic Smallholder and Writer Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
March 31st 2014 Monday 7:30pm	An Introduction to Biodynamics and the Preparations talk by Philip Culley, Land Supervisor for the Thornage Camphill Community Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
February 24th 2014 Monday 7:30pm	Annual General Meeting Followed by discussion on what members want from NOG Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. No charge
January 27th 2014 Monday 7:30pm	Companion Plants A talk and discussion led by Mike Hall Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
February 8th 2014 Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm	East Anglia Potato Day Mid-Suffolk Showground. 100+ varieties sold by tuber from 15p each. Refreshments, books, tools etc. Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT Entry £1.50 Potato Day Website
November 28th 2013 Thursday 7:30pm	A threat to us all - even more things to worry about Talk by our President Bob Flowerdew Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £3 entry for non-members
October 28th 2013 Monday 7:30pm	Squash it or not Illustrated talk by Robert Maidstone, the professional gardener and naturalist Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
September 30th 2013 Monday 7:30pm	Getting the most from your vegetable plot Illustrated talk by Charlotte Philcox Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW £2 entry for non-members
September 15th 2013 Sunday 11am – 5pm	Wolterton Organic Garden Open Day Wolterton Park, Erpingham, NR11 7LY Biodynamic vegetables growing in walled gardens Entry: adults £2, children free; car parking free. Note: NOG members have to pay the entry fee
August 20th 2013 Tuesday 6.30pm	Visit to Sam Eglington’s market garden Podmore, NR19 2NY Sam’s market garden supplies organic food to local outlets. Members and their guests only
July 9th 2013 Tuesday 7pm	Wolterton Organic Garden – guided tour by David Barker Wolterton Park, Erpingham, NR11 7LY Members and their guests only Numbers strictly limited: book with Mike Hall by Saturday 6th July on 01379 740636. Meet 7pm in courtyard Entry: NOG members and their guests £2/person
June 30th 2013 Sunday 12n – 4pm	Visit to Bob Flowerdew’s Garden Harvey Lodge, Harvey Lane, Dickleburgh, IP21 4NL Members and their guests only; bring membership card or newsletter as proof of membership. Entry: guests £1
May 19th 2013 Sunday 11am – 5pm	Wolterton Organic Garden Open Day Wolterton Park, Erpingham, NR11 7LY Biodynamic vegetables growing in walled gardens NOG stall with books and advice Entry: adults £2, children free; car parking free. Note: NOG members have to pay the entry fee
April 29th 2013 Monday 7:30pm	Guarantee your harvest & save our vegetable heritage by Trish Le Gal Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW The ‘hungry gap’ (March, April, May) is my very favourite time of year and a real test of feeding ourselves all year round. I’ll be sharing my experiences with heritage seed varieties and why I like them so much. I’ll be bringing with me seedlings to sell ~ a few tomatoes, celeriac, chard, lettuce, cabbages, squash, courgette, broccoli, sprouts, cauli, beans. With trying out several heritage varieties each year, I generally have one or two that thrive in adversity. £2 entry for non members
April 14th 2013 Sunday Noon – 3.00pm	Visit to Trish le Gal’s allotment in the hungry gap Trish has written a great book about it! Trish will provide refreshments. Northfield lane, Wells. This is a visit for members and guests only, please book for a place and directions by emailing brigid@agcl.com or calling 01508 520532
March 25th 2013 Monday 7:30pm	Sustainability in the Post Austerity Age by Prof. Tim O’Riordan, OBE (UEA & Soil Association) Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Sustainable localism; community-led politics and economics; a three-day working week. These seem off-the-wall now, but they won’t by 2020, let alone 2030. In such a scenario, organics and permaculture would have a huge role to play, as would changing diets to more “meatlessness” and locally produced food. £2 entry for non-members
Febuary 25th 2013 Monday 7:30pm	Norfolk Organic Group AGM 'Norwich FarmShare: Connecting community with food growing on 7 acres. Our story so far.' A talk by Teirney Woods. Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Norwich FarmShare: Connecting community with food growing on 7 acres. 'Our Story So Far'. Members of the social enterprise will share their experience of creating a community-run vegetable growing business. You’ll hear of how it got started, the site and soil, how people have benefited from being on the land and opportunities to get involved.
Jan 28th 2013 Monday 7:30pm	Successful Potato Growing (And A Chance To Taste 12 Types) A Talk By Julian Turner Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Potatoes are a huge part of the energy requirement of a typical organic home. Nearly all of us want to grow some of our own, and usually do. Sometimes we can be disappointed by poor results and this talk should give some ideas to avoid pitfalls and keep results satisfying from one year to the next. "A NOG member for the past 28 years, Julian Turner has been organising the regional Potato Day since 1996 offering a real choice for taste."
Nov 26th 2012 Monday 7:30pm	Wholefood Trading with Organic Standards A Talk by Richard Austin of Rainbow Wholefoods. Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Richard will talk about his experience of buying and selling organic goods as a wholesaler and retailer: Why buy organic? How has the organic movement and public opinion changed? And what’s it like to work with the Soil Association’s regulations for 36 years?
Oct 29th 2012 Monday 7:30pm	Soil and Roots – The Key to Growing Good Vegetables A Talk by Sam Eglington Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Local market gardener Sam Eglington will be talking about the inter relationship of soil roots and micro organisms; how to grow good root crops ; and what you can do in the vegetable garden before winter really takes hold, to get an earlier crop next year.
Sept 27th 2012 Thurs 7:30pm	Bob Flowerdew Talk: Coping with Drought Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Cunning ways to make your garden productive and floriferous in the face of adversity and water companies. Including digging wells, installing syphons, free water tanks and other water storage devices.
August 25th 2012 Sat from 12pm	Visit Trish le Gal's Allotments ...All 6 of them, right by the coast! We are going to try to use buses. (£8 return from Norwich) 29 bus to Fakenham. There are trains to Sheringham from Norwich and then the Coasthopper. There's the bus to Fakenham (X29) and then the 29 (and sometimes you stay on the X29) to Wells. Please check buses here. Email Brigid (chair@...) to let have an idea of numbers going. Please be aware that visits to private gardens are for members and guests only. Please bring a newsletter with you.
August 5th 2012 Sun 10am to 4pm	Norfolk Smallholder's Show Holt Hall, Kelling Road, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 7DU. Please do not use Sat. Nav as it will not find the venue. Please drive to Holt then use the Kelling Road. Members Free. Non members £5. This is a lovely event: small enough to be personal and big enough to be interesting. Great for animals and plants, great for children. This is not one to miss, it the best of living in the countryside. Holt hall is great too, fantastic nature garden, loads to see.
July 22nd 2012 Sun 2:00pm-4:00pm	Visit to John Mott’s Garden Hethersett NR9 3HA We visit John Mott’s garden at Hethersett NR9 3HA. John lives at 62 Great Melton Road, but his entrance is in Melton Clourt. It is a corner plot with a caravan in the drive. Parking can be in any of the roads around. The plot is only 30m x 30m, with a bungalow in the middle. All plots are raised with Link-a-Bord recycled plastic edging and hoops over for protective netting. All plots are irrigated by drip pipes from water butts, which can be replenished from a well if necessary. Collect a plan on arrival, all plots are lettered from A to Z. Please be aware that visits to private gardens are for members and guests only. Please bring a newsletter with you.
June 24th 2012 Sun 12:00pm-4:00pm	Bob Flowerdew's Garden Bob has been there the last few times, and he's always so interesting to talk to. Please be aware that visits to private gardens are for members and guests only. Please bring a newsletter with you.
May 28th 2012 Mon 7:30pm	Living foods and Fermentation Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW With Jo Balfe from The Nectar Cafe.
May 20th 2012 Sun 10:30am-5.30pm	Wolterton Organic Garden Open Day One of our favourite places to have a stall. Great place to buy veg. plants and see what David is up to in his biodynamic plot.
April 30th 2012 Mon 7:30pm	Grow Your Own Medicines Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW With Christine Herbert.
March 26th 2012 Mon 7:30pm	The Importance of Worms in the Garden Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Notice the lowly earthworm, squirming away, going about its everyday business. Simple creatures you may think, but they have quite an important use in the garden. Did you know the earthworms are nature’s first gardeners? They don’t exist just for children to eat or fishermen to use as bait. So fascinating that Charles Darwin studied them for over 40 years. Chris Wright from Roots and Shoots – Growing for the Future will be exploring the life and works of the worm. He will also answer questions on wormeries and home composting.
Feb 27th 2012 Mon 7:30pm	"WILD FRUIT" - What, Why and Where to Grow Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Mark will be talking about fruits which have not been heavily cultivated (such as amelanchier, aronia, rubus and morus species) and as such are not only hugely tasty, but are healthier and much more disease resistant plants than most cultivated fruit plants. He shall also be addressing what is forest gardening and how these "wild fruits" fit into such a garden and the benefits of growing them e.g. the harvest and also the benefits for the garden as a whole such as nitrogen fixing, etc. Finally he will talk about how to use these plants visually in the garden - creating a stunning, edible space. www.thefruitnursery.co.uk
Feb 11th 2012 Sat 9:30am-1:30pm	Potato Day Mid-Suffolk Showground Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT Potato Day Website East Anglia Potato Day is an annual event run by volunteers, with over 100 different potato varieties on offer - it is an exceptional event, and an occasion you won’t forget! Alan Romans, author of 'The Potato Book’, is coming all the way from Edinburgh with his seeds, potatoes and advice. Chips and mash will be on offer, so you can try different varieties, and a score board will keep track of which are most popular! There will also be stalls offering tools, seeds and seed swaps, and lots of information, as well as some very interesting people to talk to. It’s a very popular day, so don’t miss out! Volunteers needed: If you feel you could volunteer to help, either with setting up the day before, or on the day itself, please email chair@norfolkorganic.org.uk
Jan 30th 2012 Mon 7:30pm	"Planning for year round vegetable consumption” A talk by the Elliotts of Bikeways Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Graham and Nicky, are probably the most organised and efficient people I have ever come across when it comes to being self sufficient. They have brilliant spread sheets that show exactly how thought out the process is for them. I can guarantee most of us don’t get round to planning enough and waste time and energy with space in the ground left bare. This talk could possibly make a huge difference to the amount of produce you get. Check them out www.bikeways.org.uk.
Nov 24th 2011 Thurs 7:30pm	Bob Flowerdew Talk: 'Tropical Indulgences or Carbon Footprint?' President of the Norfolk Organic Group, Bob Flowerdew, will speak at our forthcoming meeting on Thursday, 24th November (please note the change of day from our usual Monday) at 7.30pm at the Friends' Meeting House in Norwich.
Nov 19 2011 Sat 2pm	Third Annual Organic Seed Swap The third annual organic seed swap will be held at 2pm in the Grow Our Own allotment hut. Entrance is free. Grow Our Own is situated on the Bluebell South allotments. The entrance is where 82 The Avenues would be, down a narrow lane immediately after George Borrow Road on the way out of the city. For more information on the venue see grow-our-own.co.uk/. For more information, contact Erik at www.tinyurl.com/contacterik.
Nov 5 2011 Sat 2pm - 5pm	Elliott's Course Vegetable storage, drying apples, wood as fuel, pruning soft fruit. £12 per session. For more details, see www.bikeways.org.uk or 01502 714661 or email graham@bikeways.org.uk.
Oct 31 2011 Mon 7:30pm Talks	A talk by Trish le Gal about her book ‘Grow Your Own For The Hungry Gap’ Trish’s beautiful new book is full of great advice and covers crop protection over winter, seed saving, growing heritage seeds, storing produce, etc. It’s a personal book covering her experiences with things she has grown illustrated with exceptional photographs. In Trish’s words: ‘I wrote the book because I was fed up with trying to plan for a spring harvest from half a dozen books at a time and coordinate this with the right varieties from the seed catalogues. It was quite difficult to learn that timing was crucial and that you have to plan for space for things to grow slowly over the winter. It is so tempting to fill the allotment up with summer crops that grow quickly and end up with a glut. What surprised me, once I'd started, was to find that there are over 30 vegetables you can eat fresh or stored in March, April and May and around 20 herbs. Why aren't they in the shops? Some of them are, but we by no means reach our potential in this department. Most of them are grown outside, or under a little cover (shade netting, plastic or glass)’. 7.30pm Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Non-members welcome. £1 entrance
Oct 8 2011 Sat 2pm - 5pm	Elliott's Course Apples, storage, juice and cider-making, chutneys. £12 per session. For more details, see www.bikeways.org.uk or 01502 714661 or email graham@bikeways.org.uk
Sept 26 2011 Mon 7:30pm Talk	Autumn Talks Our first Autumn talk of this year in which Norfolk Organic Group member Chris Wright will be talking about his project 'Roots and Shoots', a Victorian walled garden where he works with special needs children, teaching them how to garden with wildlife in mind. See visit above for more information. 7.30pm Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Non-members welcome. £1 entrance.
Sept 25 2011 Sun 10am Visits	Visit to Roots and Shoots project at Holt Hall Starting with a fungay foray with Dr Tony Leech and a fry up of wild mushrooms. Following which, Norfolk Organic Group member Chris Wright will show us around the walled kitchen garden he works on. 10.00am start. Holt Hall, Kelling Road, Holt, NR25 7DU (http://www.schools.norfolk.gov.uk/go/rootsandshoots/) Members and guests only please. The Roots and shoots project – with its polytunnels, wormeries and chickens - is both visually stimulating and very practical about attracting wildlife into the garden.
Sept 18 2011 Sun 10:30am - 5pm Events Attended	Organic Open Garden Day at Wolterton We will be there with a stall. Tour the biodynamic kitchen garden with grower David Barker. Also, birds of prey, wormery demos, children's corner, pond dipping. Wolterton Hall entry £5, garden only £2.
Sept 10 2011 Sat 2pm - 5pm	Elliott's Course Winemaking, seed saving. £12 per session. For more details, see www.bikeways.org.uk or 01502 714661 or email graham@bikeways.org.uk

Date

Event Description

May 21st 2022

Saturday 11:00am - 2:00pm & 12:00noon - 3:00pm

NOG Visit to Wakelyns Agroforestry

http://www.wakelyns.co.uk

Organic farming on one of the longest-established and most diverse agroforestry sites. Wakelyns are about food, people the environment and much more. Learn about their organic rotation Agroforestry short food chains and enterprise stacking

Getting to Wakelyns : Wakelyns, Metfield Lane, Fressingfield, Suffolk. IP21 5SD Wakelyns recommends using the what 3 words app, to locate them precisely (because the post code can get you to the wrong place using mapping programs or apps) www.what3words.com they are slugs.meatball.megawatt

Please see Wakelyns Terms & Conditions for your visit : https://wakelyns.co.uk/tandc/

Refreshments : Delicious Food is also available from the Wakelyns Bakery Team

No Entry Fee

April 25th 2022

Monday 7:30pm

Permaculture

An Illustrated Talk by NOG Members, Paul Lucas & Bee Springwood

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

Non Members entry suggested donation of £3.00

March 28th 2022

Monday 7:30pm

Norfolk Green Care Network

Talk by Nigel Boldero

Nigel spearheaded this network which fosters activities and organisations which foster a ‘Nature Connection’ for people.

followed by Annual General Meeting

Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM.

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

February 28th 2022

Monday 6:45pm

Annual General Meeting - Postponed until Monday March 28th, 7:30pm, 2022 Friends Meeting House

ZOOM MEETING

Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM.

followed by ZOOM MEETING 7:30pm

Wakelyns Farm - An Organic Oasis

Talk by David

Members Zoom Event

David will talk about organic farming, short food chains and enterprise on one of the longest-established and most diverse Agroforestry sites in the UK. Wakelyns in North Suffolk is about food, people, the environment and much more. Wakelyns Agroforestry. www.wakelyns.co.uk

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

January 31st 2022

Monday 7:00pm

ZOOM MEETING

Creating and Developing School Allotments

Matt Willers, The Papillon Project, http://www.thepapillonproject.com

Matt will talk on the history of the Papillon Project and the importance of school allotments in a learning environment.

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

November 29th 2021

Monday 7:00pm

ZOOM MEETING

From Old Carpet to Astroturf, A History of Geotextiles

Bob Flowerdew, Norfolk Organic Group President

From first experiments in the 1970's as an easier way of breaking new ground through to current use as a mulch and ground cover, with a choice of materials, advanced applications as a method for including green manures in a rotation, and new techniques using geotextile for pest control.

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

October 25th 2021

Monday 7:00pm

ZOOM MEETING

"Caring for Elderly Apple Trees"

Illustrated Talk by Bob Lever

Understanding the value of "veteran" fruit trees. How to prune and generally take care, of old apple trees, in order to give them the best chance of survival. Bob Lever, orchard expert and member of the East of England Apples and Orchards Project is a fountain on knowledge for orchard restoration and apple identification.

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

September 27th 2021

Monday 7:00pm

ZOOM MEETING

NOG Members Harvest Event

An opportunity for you to share your "organic growing experiences" of 2021. What worked really well, and on the contrary, not so well"? Have you found a new fruit, vegetable or salad crop, that was a real surprise ? Did you find yourself, rather disappointed with an old favourite? Are you planning to save seed from your harvest, to sew next season? What have you grown that has got those tastebuds reaching override? Would you like to share your secrets for growing a healthy, productive and tasty organic crop? Do Come along, whether you have anything to share or not, but the more examples the merrier for celebrating, commiserating, or solving problems with our many years of shared wisdom between us.

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

August 29th 2021 Group Summer Social/Visit

Sunday From 2:30pm

NOG Summer Social

Visit to Maggy & Partner's Garden

Maggy, Our Chair, and partner welcome NOG members to summer social at their garden, on Sunday 29th August. Please arrive from 2.30pm where there will be cups of tea, coffee and cake. Feel free to bring your own baked offerings as well. They do have ducks and chickens so well behaved dogs on leads and children are also welcome. Please dress for inclement weather as there is little shelter and could you also confirm your visit using Maggy’s email. Please refer to the NOG August Newsletter or the round robin email for the address.Thank you

July 10th 2021 Group Summer Visit

2.30pm - 4.30pm

A Tour around the Norwich Farmshare site at Whitlingham Nurseries, off Whitlingham Lane,

Norwich. NR14 8TZ

'Members are welcome to join us for our first real live outdoor visit; In two seasons. And it is to Norwich FarmShare growing site, at Whitlingham Nurseries at the far end of Whittingham Lane. A 2.5 acre market garden site designed on regenerative agriculture lines, with much work done to be wildlife friendly. This is the " new" site we moved to in 2018, and its proved a great success so far. The visit will include some refreshments (cake and snack makers please step forward now! We will welcome your cooking contributions). There will be a formal farm walk round at 3pm, and if Bee can, she will show some video drone footage of previous years, and a fun musical one with our many loyal volunteers. There is a compost loo, and some shade to sit in, but not much wet weather shelter, so do dress accordingly. Please let Bee know if you are coming along; As we are not out of Covid restrictions, then we will need to ensure safe numbers for the Farmshare protocol, and it will be helpful for catering. If you are planning to bring a non member guest then you must let us know beforehand. The Norwich Farmshare site postcode is NR14 8TZ. Parking is OK inside the field entrance, or, if it’s very hot, you could park tidily, right under the bypass bridge, and walk the last 100 metres.

June 2021 Group Summer Visit

**Postponed**

Postponed Due To Covid

May 31st 2021

Monday 7:00pm

ZOOM MEETING

"Perennials in a Royal Garden (Highgrove)"

Illustrated Talk by George Lockwood

Members Zoom Event

This talk is on the perennial plants that are grown at Highgrove. George explains when each plant flowers, what soil and aspect it needs and through his own knowledge as an organic gardener will pass on any tips that he can. Every plant grown at Highgrove is grown organically, no insecticides or pesticides are used, only liquid feeds for the soil and garlic water to deter pests. George will explain how to make up liquid feeds and garlic water and how it is used at Highgrove and Buckingham Palace.

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

April 26th 2021

Monday 7:00pm

ZOOM MEETING

"Garden Bugs – Cohabit, Conserve or Control ?"

Illustrated Talk by Entomologist, Dr Ian Bedford

Members Zoom Event

What are the good and bad garden bugs we often find in our gardens, and what should we do with them? What do we do, when foreign pests such as the Spanish slug invade our gardens?.

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

March 29th 2021

Monday 7:00pm

ZOOM MEETING

"Never Mind The Burdocks"

Illustrated Talk by Emma Gunn

Members Zoom Event

Emma will talk on the subject of foraging edible plants in the garden and further afield. Emma has written a number of books on the subject and has a website called "Never Mind the Burdocks". Her mission is to educate people in a better understanding of nature, survival and how we can protect nature and ourselves for the future. The more we understand the better equipped we are.

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

February 22nd 2021

Monday 7:00pm

Annual General Meeting

ZOOM MEETING

Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM.

followed by ZOOM MEETING 7:30pm

"The Trouble Without Wasps"

Illustrated Talk by Entomologist, Dr Ian Bedford

Members Zoom Event

Mention wasps and most of us think of an annoying, angry yellow and black striped flying insect that delivers a painful sting when confronted. However, there are approximately 9000 different wasp species in Britain and their value to us, as humans, is immense. We'd certainly have a lot of problems without them. This illustrated talk explains why.

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

January 25th 2021

Monday 7:00pm

ZOOM MEETING

"Desert Island Vegetables"

Illustrated Talk by Pauline Pears

Members Zoom Event

Pauline Pears has grown vegetables at home, and on various allotments, for many years. Pauline prefers vegetables that give maximum return for the work involved, and likes to eat something "home grown" all year round. This illustrated talk introduces some of her favourites to grow (which can change from year to year), plus some of her organic growing hints and tips. Pauline Pears has written, and co- authored books on running an organic allotment.

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

December 16th 2020

Wednesday 7:00pm

ZOOM MEETING

"Getting Ready For Spring"

Members Winter Zoom Social

Let us share and exchange our wealth of organic gardening ideas and knowledge. Tell us your favourite seed varieties? Which seeds worked well for you, which seeds have not? What seeds are you getting in early? Are you going to make, any new year organic gardening resolutions? Please join-in.

*Please note that this event is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

November 30th 2020

Monday 7:30pm

ZOOM MEETING

“Planting by UFO-light”

Bob Flowerdew, Norfolk Organic Group President

An investigation of some quasi-scientific aspects of gardening, including solar, stellar and lunar sowing, magnetism, crystals and waves, Kirlian photography, crop circles, mistletoe and blood.

*Please note that this talk is via a ZOOM MEETING*

ZOOM MEETING

October 26th 2020

Monday 7:30pm

ZOOM MEETING

"Companion Gardening For A Balanced Garden"

Talk by Entomologist, Dr Ian Bedford

*Please note that this talk is via a ZOOM MEETING*

EVENT POSTPONED

September 28th 2020

Monday 7:30pm

EVENT POSTPONED

Norfolk Organic Group, Gardeners Question Time and Member Produce Sale

Let’s all share our huge knowledge and experience of Organic Gardening and sell our spare harvest and plants!

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

EVENT CANCELLED

August 2nd 2020

Sunday 2.00pm - 5.00pm (weather permitting)

EVENT CANCELLED

Norfolk Organic Group, Summer Social Afternoon, at Brigid's & Derek's House... location NR14 6JT

Including a small "Moth talk"

Talk by Dr Ian Bedford

Dr Ian Bedford will be able to tell us about the Moths (caught the previous night), as we undo the box to see what we have caught. Plus a chance to meet, get to know each other, and learn from our very own knowledgeable members. Please bring a platter and a drink to share. Please park your car in Loddon, the house drive will be reserved for the disabled and elderly, thank you. Please email Brigid, brigid@agcl.com to confirm your attendance

members only

EVENT POSTPONED

July 19th 2020

Sunday, Times to be confirmed

Near Reepham, full location address to be confirmed

EVENT POSTPONED

A visit to the permaculture Papillon project near Reepham

members entry free, plus a guest

Visit details to follow.

EVENT CANCELLED

June 28th 2020

Sunday 1.00pm-4:00pm

Dickleburgh

EVENT CANCELLED

Private Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden

members entry free, plus a guest

This is one of the main benefit's of becoming a Norfolk Organic Group member. An opportunity to visit Bob Flowerdew’s private garden. It will not be like any other garden you have been too! You will be inspired to re cycle items and relax amongst weeds. Bob himself will be there, on the afternoon. Bob always thinks outside the box, and his garden is a reflection of this. A unique chance to see his words in action and talk to the man himself. He knowledge is boundless! Bob, has never failed to deliver his wisdom and knowledge of organic gardening. Members who have never visited, this is a your opportunity to talk to Bob in person (Norfolk Organic Group, President) and see how he gardens organically, here in Norfolk. It’s also a good opportunity to chat with other Norfolk Organic Group members. Members can bring a guest with their newsletter for proof of membership.

EVENT POSTPONED

May 25th 2020

Monday 7:30pm

EVENT POSTPONED

"Using Permaculture to inspire children and young people at secondary level education"

*Royal Horticultural Society's School Gardening Champion of the Year (2018) & Norwich & Norfolk Eco Hero (2019).

Talk by by Matt Willer*, project leader & founder of The Papillon Project

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

EVENT POSTPONED

April 27th 2020

Monday 7:30pm

EVENT POSTPONED

"The answer lies in our Soil"

How we care for the soil, and how we can make a difference to the future by how we treat the soil, improve the soil and preserve the soil for future generations.

Talk by Karen Kenny

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

EVENT POSTPONED

March 30th 2020

Monday 7:30pm

EVENT POSTPONED

"The carbon in our soil and climate change"

Carbon sequestration potentially holds the key to recapturing atmospheric carbon and halting climate change. With over 10million acres of gardens in the United Kingdom how can we garden in a climate friendly way to capture and hold carbon in the soil and do our bit for climate change? Please come and find out !

Talk by Stephanie Laurence of www.tatterfly.co.uk

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

February 24th 2020

Monday 7:30pm

Annual General Meeting

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM.

followed by "All you might ever need to know about Slugs"

What exactly is a slug and what do we really know about their fascinating lives? Slugs have been around for the past 500 million years, so they obviously have an important role to play within our ecosystems, but are we aware of what they do? Around 40 species of slugs can be found in Great Britain, but the vast majority of these are not plant pests and should be encouraged into our gardens rather than controlled. This talk explains why.....

Talk by Dr Ian Bedford

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

February 8th 2020

Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm

East Anglia Potato Day

"Come join us for the 25th East Anglian Potato Day, with grand opening by Bob Flowerdew"

Mid-Suffolk Showground. 80 varieties of potato tubers ordered for 2020, with nearly 1/3 being grown organically. This very popular event began, back in 1996 and provides an opportunity for growers to purchase certified Scottish seed potatoes by the tuber. You can read about what potato tubers have been ordered on the following website page:

/http://www.eapd.btck.co.uk/PotatoesorderedforFeb2020

Keep looking at the website because potatoes are living things. And that means things can go wrong. We learn, for example that Juliette is a crop failure and that is no longer expected. Late crops in East Anglia have had blight. Of course, for the Sarpo Potato Breeders Group, this is good news, because we have had two years in succession that did not put our new hybrids to the all-important test of Late Blight. The new boys on the block are looking quite healthy so far. Standard variety Tubers are very reasonably priced at 18 pence each. East Anglian Potato Day is run jointly with our sister groups in Suffolk. Group volunteers are rewarded with £5 worth of free seed potato tubers, for their efforts. If you feel you would like to volunteer and receive your free seed potatoes, please contact Mr Julian Turner or any of the Norfolk Organic Group committee members. The day also includes many stalls with relevance to organic gardeners and growers, including potato chip tasting sessions, food and drink refreshments, seed swap table, carrot fly mesh fabric and root trainer sales, onion sets, seed and soft fruit plant sales, potato sack sales, recycling and composting, books, pre loved tools etc.

Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT

Entry £1.50

Potato Day Website

January 27th 2020

Monday 7:30pm

"Green Manures"

Green manures, a discussion on their various benefits and their uses in the garden.

Talk by Karen Kenny

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

November 28th 2019

Thursday 7:30pm

Bob Flowerdew, Norfolk Organic Group President

"Fruits, Nuts and Seeds"

Bob shares his "Top 10" favourites for the home garden.

*The Steiner School, Hospital Lane, Norwich. NR1 2HW

*Apologies in advance, there will no refreshments available on the evening after this talk

£5 entry for non-members

October 28th 2019

Monday 7:30pm

"Preserving and storing your produce and crops"

Get a taste of how the Elliot's go about preserving and storing all their veggies, and their version of fast foods. It’s the way, we should all be going!

Talk by Nicky & Graham Elliot

www.bikeways.org.uk

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

September 30th 2019

Monday 7:30pm

Norfolk Organic Group, "Organic gardeners question time, social event and member produce sale"

Let’s all share our huge knowledge of Organic Gardening, and share our ideas and experiences. A great opportunity to talk and get to know each other, show off your produce, and boast about your organic gardening success’s, so we can learn from each other. Bring along and sell your spare harvest and plants!

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

August 11th 2019

Sunday 2.00pm (weather permitting)

Norfolk Organic Group, Summer Social Afternoon, at Brigid's & Derek's House... location NR14 6JT

A chance to meet, get to know each other, and learn from our very own knowledgeable members. Please bring a platter and a drink to share. Please park your car in Loddon, the house drive will be reserved for the disabled and elderly, thank you. Please email Brigid, brigid@agcl.com to confirm your attendance

members only

July 7th 2019

Sunday 2:00pm-4:00pm

"Visit to Nicky & Graham Elliots Home & Garden, whom are 70% Self Sufficient from 3 Acres! ”

Nicky & Graham Elliot have been long standing Norfolk Organic Group members. Their home and land is located at Barsham between Bungay and Beccles. Before we had the Charles Dowding talk, the Elliot’s had a talk in previous years and they packed the large hall at Friends Meeting House to capacity. They are very inspiring in leading the way in self sufficiency! www.bikeways.org.uk

members entry free, plus a guest

June 30th 2019

Sunday 1.00pm-4:00pm

Dickleburgh

Private Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden

members entry free, plus a guest

June 26th & June 27th 2019

Wednesday & Thursday

Visit to Royal Norfolk Show

Royal Norfolk Showground, Dereham Rd, Costessey, Norwich NR5 0TT. Stand 044

Please do, come and visit our Norfolk Organic Group stand in the Community Hub of the Horticultural Area. Have fun, socialising with other Norfolk Organic Group members. You can also help out with our stand, to share your enthusiasm for organic gardening and it's benefits.

June 15th 2019

Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm

"Compassion in world farming awareness day"

NOG Stall, The Forum, Bethel St, Millennium Plain, Norwich NR2 1BH

Please do come and visit our NOG stall, or maybe volunteer to help!

May 27th 2019

Monday 7:30pm

"Rising to the Climate Crisis. What does this mean for Food and Farming"

A talk about an overall vision for a green future and how the different elements of this (including sustainable food and land management) fit together. Rising to the climate crisis. Building a 0% carbon future.

Talk by Adrian Ramsay ex CEO of the, The Centre of Alternative Technology and previous deputy leader of the Green Party.

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

April 29th 2019

Monday 7:30pm

"How to build wildlife friendly structures and hibernation sites in your garden. Hibernaculum; inviting the invertebrates to stay."

Increasing pressures on our native wildlife means, that now more than ever, providing a place of refuge for wild creatures in your garden or outdoor space is so very important. The Latin roots of Hibernaculum are ‘Winter Quarters’ a place where a wild creature can seek refuge and hibernate or breed. This talk aims to help you make the most of materials you may already have or by recycling unwanted materials from elsewhere to create the ultimate hibernaculum. It could be as small as a bird box to an entire hibernaculum wall! These structures not only provide vital habitats, but can look really interesting and be a very creative process, incorporating a range of materials and styles. Come along and find out!

Talk by Stephanie Lawrence of wwww.tatterfly.co.uk

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

March 25th 2019

Monday 7:30pm

"Learning the language of trees"

Paul has had a life learning from trees, he has intuitively felt the complexity and elegance of their communications. More recently studies have confirmed we have so much to learn about the lives of trees. On the practical side Paul has spent 30 years of tree work developing sustainable tree management and work.

Talk by Paul Jackson

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

February 25th 2019

Monday 7:30pm

Annual General Meeting

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM.

"Microscope images of the life in your compost heap!"

Master composter, Pauline Williamson with microscope and compost, will share the images screened and creatures found, discussed. When Brigid was a master gardener, Garden Organic had a visual display live on a screen, of compost at Garden Organic, Ryton. It is incredible how alive the amazing creatures in compost are, and how many, even pseudo scorpions! It really makes you appreciate just how alive, organic compost is.

Talk by Pauline Williamson

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

February 9th 2019

Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm

East Anglia Potato Day

Mid-Suffolk Showground. 81 varieties of potato tubers ordered for 2019. Hoping to have approx 21 varieties of potato tuber produced organically. This very popular event began, back in 1996 and provides an opportunity for growers to purchase certified Scottish seed potatoes by the tuber. Most tubers are priced at 17p each, apart from a few. East Anglian Potato Day is run jointly with our sister groups in Suffolk. Group volunteers are rewarded with £5 worth of free seed potato tubers, for their efforts. If you feel you would like to volunteer and receive your free seed potatoes, please contact Mr Julian Turner or any of the Norfolk Organic Group committee members. The day also includes many stalls with relevance to organic gardeners and growers, including potato chip tasting sessions, food and drink refreshments, seed swap table, carrot fly mesh fabric and root trainer sales, onion sets, seed and soft fruit plant sales, potato sack sales, recycling and composting, books, pre loved tools etc.

Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT

Entry £1.50

Potato Day Website

December 9th 2018

Sunday 12.00noon-5:00pm

Norfolk Organic Group Christmas Social at Brigid's house NR14 6JT

members and guest only

November 21st 2018

Wednesday 7:30pm

Bob Flowerdew, Norfolk Organic Group President and panel member of BBC Radio 4 Gardeners Question Time

Coping with Climate Change

What can gardeners do, to cope with changes in climate and the difficulties, and possibilities this introduces, including different methods, crops and problems

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£5 entry for non-members

November 17th 2018

Saturday 2:00pm-4:00pm (Please arrive early)

Charles Dowding of "No Dig" fame

No Dig Gardening !

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

A talk from Charles on how to have healthy soil, and enjoy easier harvests. Charles explains how he makes, buys and uses composts of different kinds. How to clear perennial weeds with mulches, including couch grass and bindweed. How to maintain a No Dig plot, with a annual mulch of compost. How to crop intensively, all through the growing season. Tips on propagating. You will see photographs of the trials, Charles runs to compare the effects on growth of Dig v No Dig, different composts and no rotation.

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

Free entry for Norfolk Organic Group members (however, suggested donation contribution of £4 requested on the day) *NOG Members, please reserve your free entry ticket to the talk, with our group membership secretary, contact : membership@norfolkorganic.org.uk

(only £15 for single Annual NOG Membership)

£7 entry fee for non-members of NOG to Charles Dowding talk

*Please Note that there are only 200 tickets available for the NOG; Charles Dowding talk, so please book early, as we may run out of tickets on the day.

September 24th 2018

Monday 7:30pm

Norfolk Organic Group, Gardeners Question Time and Member Produce Sale

Let’s all share our huge knowledge and experience of Organic Gardening and sell our spare harvest and plants!

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

August 12th 2018

Sunday 11.00am-4:00pm

Visit to High Ash Farm with guided tour

High Ash Lane, Caistor St Edmund, Norwich NR14 8RD

home of well known Norfolk Naturalist Chris Skinner, of BBC Radio Norfolk's "Countryside Hour" fame https://www.highashfarm.com/walks/

and

Tatterfly Wildflowers https://www.tatterfly.co.uk

With an Amazing Wild Flower Meadow and a haven for wildlife, with 50% of the farm set aside for wildlife crops; looking to create greater diversity. There are miles of Norfolk countryside farmland walking tracks to enjoy on the farm. A guided tour, followed by a social relax time, and picnic.

July 15th 2018

Sunday 10.00am-1:30pm

Visit to Norfolk Herbs

Blackberry Farm, East Dereham, Norfolk NR19 2QD

On our NOG Chairperson's recommendation

www.norfolkherbs.co.uk Bring a picnic for a social, after a browse around the extensive collection of unusual herbs, of which they supply throughout the UK. Rosie Clifton Sprigee of Norfolk Herbs will talk to us, including how they would like to be organic and the reasons they are currently not!

June 27th & June 28th 2018

Wednesday & Thursday

Visit to Royal Norfolk Show

Royal Norfolk Showground, Dereham Rd, Costessey, Norwich NR5 0TT

June 24th 2018

Sunday 1.00pm-4:00pm

Private Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden

members entry free, plus a guest

This is one of the main benefit's of becoming a Norfolk Organic Group member, an opportunity to visit Bob Flowerdew’s private garden. It will not be like any other garden you have been too! You will be inspired to re cycle items and relax amongst weeds. Bob himself will be there, on the afternoon. Bob has never failed to deliver his wisdom and knowledge of organic gardening. Members who have never visited, this is a your chance to talk to Bob in person (Norfolk Organic Group, President) and see how he gardens organically, here in Norfolk. It’s also a chance to chat to other group members. Members can bring a guest with their newsletter for proof of membership.

June 17th 2018

Sunday 1:00pm-5:30pm

"Guided tour of organic, Ash Farm" Twyford

Stone Lane, Bintree, Dereham, Norfolk NR20 5NA

Social event with food and drink refreshments. 2:30pm guided tour and then relax and finish at approx 5:30pm

courtesy of Ash Farm owners, Coen and Wilhelmina van Beuningen

Members and Guests

June 2nd 2018

Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm

"Compassion in world farming awareness day"

NOG Stall, The Forum, Bethel St, Millennium Plain, Norwich NR2 1BH

Please do come and visit our NOG stall, or maybe volunteer to help!

May 28th 2018

Monday 7:30pm

"Water Gardening; for conservation and wildlife"

Norfolk has one of the lowest levels of rainfall throughout the United Kingdom. So how can we maximise the collection and conservation of water in our gardens? And what is the importance of adding water to your garden for wildlife? This talk looks at irrigation and how we can improve techniques to make the most of harvested rainwater for our plants and also the importance of adding water for wildlife to our outdoor spaces. Adding just a small pond or water feature can be one of the biggest draws to wildlife of any feature in the garden. By combining the conservation of rainwater, and wildlife attracting water features, we can create some really interesting and environmentally sustainable water gardening techniques. From formal water features to bog gardens. Come and find out how you can introduce more diversity and sustainability to your garden, whatever the size.

Talk by Stephanie Laurence

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

April 30th 2018

Monday 7:30pm

"Building fertility and accessing it" green manures and compost teas

This talk will look at the use of plant based fertility building techniques within organic gardening systems. Simple to use and suitable for gardens and farms of all sizes. Green manures are increasingly being used where access to manure is difficult or insufficient, or within vegan growing systems. They also offer a wonderful opportunity to support the wider eco-system above and below ground. Hannah will take us through how to use, what to use and when to use them and also introduce the idea of compost teas to boost soil biology, thereby activating plants abilities to take up nutrients.

Talk by Hannah Claxton, of www.eveshillvegco.com facebook.com/eveshillvegco/

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

March 26th 2018

Monday 7:30pm

"Growing food, growing communities"

Reflecting on 13 years of community gardening in Norwich

Talk by Mahesh Pant, of Sustainable Living Initiative.

Mahesh has got the grants and created communities that learn how to grow their own food, next to others in a social supported setting. I've had a plot. It's brilliant how well it works. It's a very inspiring way to help society.

www.grow-our-own.co.uk

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£3 entry for non-members

March 25th 2018

Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm

Visit to Norfolk & Norwich Horticultural Society Spring Flower & Produce Show

Easton & Otley College, Green Room, Jubilee Building, Easton Campus, Easton, Norwich. NR9 5DX

Come and join us at the NOG stall.

Refreshments Available

Free entry

February 26th 2018

Monday 7:30pm

Annual General Meeting

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM.

"How to plant and grow a Wildflower Garden"

Ever wished your could create your very own Wildflower Garden ? www.tatterfly.co.uk

Talk by Stephanie Lawrence

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£2 entry for non-members

February 10th 2018

Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm

East Anglia Potato Day

Mid-Suffolk Showground. 80 varieties of potato tubers ordered for 2018. Hoping to have approx 21 varieties of potato tuber produced organically. This very popular event began, back in 1996 and provides an opportunity for growers to purchase certified Scottish seed potatoes by the tuber. Most tubers are priced at 17p each, apart from a few. East Anglian Potato Day is run jointly with our sister groups in Suffolk. Group volunteers are rewarded with £5 worth of free seed potato tubers, for their efforts. If you feel you would like to volunteer and receive your free seed potatoes, please contact Mr Julian Turner or any of the Norfolk Organic Group committee members. The day also includes many stalls with relevance to organic gardeners and growers, including potato chip tasting sessions, food and drink refreshments, seed swap table, carrot fly mesh fabric and root trainer sales, onion sets, seed and soft fruit plant sales, potato sack sales, recycling and composting, books, pre loved tools etc.

Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT

Entry £1.50

Potato Day Website

January 29th 2018

Monday 7.30pm

"British Butterflies ...How to attract them in your garden"

How to attract butterflies, what plants they like and the benefits. What is a butterfly and how do you tell a butterfly from a moth? What species can we find in Great Britain and how we can attract butterflies to our gardens ? Many species of British Butterflies are in serious decline, so can we do anything to help them survive ?

Talk by Dr Ian Bedford, Head of Entomology at the John Innes Centre

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

November 22nd 2017

Wednesday 7.30pm

"Dealing with Pests without Poison"

Practical ways, in which, Bob, explains how to cope with pests in the garden without the use of poison

Talk by Norfolk Organic Group President, Bob Flowerdew

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£3 entry for non-members

October 30th 2017

Monday 7.30pm

"Why we need to change how we grow Potatoes"

Julian, whom is very experienced about potatoes, will talk about less late frosts, the limits on pesticides, the obsolesence of the Smith Period, and eelworm. There will also be an opportunity to taste seven freshly cooked different potato varieties, there is quite a difference!

Talk by Julian Turner

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

£2 entry for non-members

September 25th 2017

Monday 7.30pm

"Gardening for Wildlife"

How to make your garden a haven for wildlife, using good gardening techniques and suitable plants. This is crucial for any organic garden, and it is great for our planet too!

Talk by Charlotte Philcox

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

£2 entry for non-members

August 6th 2017

Sunday 2.00pm

A visit to the "Calf at Foot"

The Calf at Foot Dairy Home Farm ,Somerleyton, Suffolk, NR32 5PR

members entry free, plus a guest

Fiona Provan will take us on a tour of her farm, to meet the calves and Mother cows first hand and see her animal welfare in action. The cows are named , unrestrained when milked and just look so healthy. Take a look at the photos on their web site. www.the-calf-at-foot-dairy.co.uk Everyone but everyone, goes on about the taste of her milk. Fiona is not certified organic but says she goes beyond organic… Is Calf At Foot Dairy raw milk safe for us to drink? Their hygiene standards are extremely high and we have the magic '5' from Waveney District Council's Environmental Health Office. The FSA (Food Standards Agency) registered their standard as a generous 'GOOD' this is the best/highest standard they would award! And here are some testimonials from some who have been! "go and visit! A magical little place, contented cows and happy calves ... nothing quite like it! Oh, and I almost forgot: great Proper Milk!!!!!!" Rita Lenko "Compassionate farming of the highest quality and the best milk I have ever drunk. I am privileged to have found it. Watch as the girls come in off the pasture for milking when they are called by name and see the calves, with whom you share the milk, happy with mum in the beautiful Suffolk countryside" Jack Muddikins. Janet Buck wrote........ " Visited last week, amazing girls doing a great job, not been that inspired for a long time".

June 25th 2017

Sunday 2.00pm

Private Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden

members entry free, plus a guest

June 4th 2017

Sunday 2.00pm

"Visit to How Hill" Ludham, Norfolk. NR29 5PG

Simon and Partridge have been Norfolk Organic Group members' for 2 years. Simon is the director of the How Hill Trust and is willing to, with their gardener, provide our NOG members with a tour of the Environmental Study Center for the Norfolk Broads. The secret gardens and house, were established by the original owner of How Hill House, Edward Boardman, in the early 1920’s. The area was once a piece of rough grazing marsh, open and windswept. To create the sheltered garden seen today, deciduous tree species, such as Oak, Sweet Chestnut and Hornbeam trees were planted on the slope between the house garden's and the scrubby woodland. This woodland was allowed to establish on the low lying land surrounding the area. Many exotic species were raised from seeds. These seeds were sent by Boardman’s friends and correspondents from around the world. A series of ponds were created, providing what the original family called their ‘Bog garden". A ‘woodland walk’ ,with the imaginative bug hotels of ‘Habitat Hamlet’, white garden, yew hedges, walled garden and herbaceous borders are a selection of things to see. The Azaleas and Rhododendrons are especially spectacular during May and June, and in October the autumn colour's of the trees, can be beautiful. Recently the gardener has had good success with Meconopsis (Blue Himalayan poppies). There are a number of specimen species including one of the first Dawn Redwoods to arrive into this country in the late 1940s. The Trust tries to run the gardens on organic principals, but regretfully this is not always the case! The How Hill head gardener, Chris Tubby, will be on site to answer any questions and in turn get advice on Organic gardening from our Norfolk Organic Group members. The How Hill Tearoom is located in a wooden building to the rear of How Hill House, and is signposted from the public car park and river.They offer a selection of homemade cakes, scones and sandwiches (all made at How Hill) as well as locally made ice creams and hot and cold drinks. They normally have a couple of gluten free cakes/tray bakes available too. Free car parking is available at their public car park

members only

April 24th 2017

Monday 7.30pm

"Secrets of the Soil"

From identifying soil types, to Mycorrhiza. Everything you wanted to know about the soil and it's care. Improve your soil. This is a practical session, and you are invited to bring samples of your soil for some simple testing.

Talk by Charlotte Philcox

"Seedling Sale"

*Please bring any seedlings, labelled, that you would like to sell to this event.

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

£2 entry for non-members

March 27th 2017

Monday 7.30pm

"Producing milk with compassion"

Making the world a better place for dairy cows.

Why I set up my high welfare micro-dairy. I use the "Calf at Foot" Dairying System, sharing the cow's milk with her calf. Why raw milk is so good for you. Why I chose to be certified Pasture For Life (100% grass feeding) and why properly holistically managed grazing animals are good for our planet and the produce from them is better for our health, than from other systems. We work to, and beyond organic certifying standards. I will bring milk to taste and to sell.

Talk by Fiona Provan

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

£2 entry for non-members

February 27th 2017

Monday 7:30pm

Annual General Meeting

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW. (next to St. Giles Car Park)

Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM.

"The wonderful world of Stinging Nettles"

Nettles are often much maligned and under appreciated, but their many uses and merits will surprise you. From their first recorded use in prehistory, their wide variety of associated invertebrate life, to the modern-day kitchen. For example, what exactly does happen to nettle tea when you add lemon juice ? Why dock leaves are useless as an antidote to nettle stings ? They provide a fascinating story for us

Talk by Fay Jones

Refreshments Tea, Coffee, Cake. Seed Swap Table

£2 entry for non-members

February 11th 2017

Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm

East Anglia Potato Day

Mid-Suffolk Showground. 86 varieties of potato tubers ordered for 2017. Hoping to have approx 25 varieties of potato tuber produced organically. This very popular event began, back in 1996 and provides an opportunity for growers to purchase certified Scottish seed potatoes by the tuber. Most tubers are priced at 17p each, apart from a few. East Anglian Potato Day is run jointly with our sister groups in Suffolk. Group volunteers are rewarded with £5 worth of free seed potato tubers, for their efforts. If you feel you would like to volunteer and receive your free seed potatoes, please contact Mr Julian Turner or any of the Norfolk Organic Group committee members. The day also includes many stalls with relevance to organic gardeners and growers, including potato chip tasting sessions, food and drink refreshments, seed swap table, carrot fly mesh fabric and root trainer sales, onion sets, seed and soft fruit plant sales, potato sack sales, recycling and composting, books, pre loved tools etc.

Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT

Entry £1.50

Potato Day Website

January 30th 2017

Monday 7.30pm

"Hedgehogs are in serious trouble"

What's happening and how you can help!

Jayne Moore of BBC Radio 4 fame and from Greensted Hedgehog Rescue will discuss the serious position hedgehogs are in now. They could be gone by 2020! What you should do if you find a Hedgehog in the daytime and how you can support Hedgehogs living in your garden. How your can support the people who volunteer to help Hedgehogs that need help. www.greenstedhedgehogrescue.com

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£3 entry for non-members (£1 goes to the rescue centre)

November 24th 2016

Thursday 7.30pm

"Coping with Climate Change in the Garden"

Practical ways, in which, Bob copes with the changing weather patterns

Talk by Norfolk Organic Group President, Bob Flowerdew

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£3 entry for non-members

October 31st 2016

Monday 7:30pm

"Oats and Beans and Quinoa Grow" !

A talk by Josiah Meldrum and Nick Saltmarsh of Hodmedod's

Hodmedod are a fascinating local company, growing and supplying less usual and overlooked pulses and grains. Emerging from a Norwich project that asked whether the city could feed itself; they began with Fava Beans (small dried broad beans), widely-grown but not much eaten in the UK, and have since added a range of Oganic Peas, Naked Barley and Quinoa, Pulse Flours, Snacks and Canned Beans. Their Organic Carlin peas, which have a lovely nutty flavour, won two "Soil Association BOOM Award's" this year and the company also won Best Food Business in "Suffolk’s Greenest County Awards". Hodmedod aims to inspire people to eat more plant protein, make a fair return to farmers and help create a more sustainable food system. They also have amazing product packaging by designed by Andy Croft, of whom created our Norfolk Organic Group information leaflet and posters!

*Norfolk Organic Group,members, please bring in your spare packets of seeds, to swap, on the evening, heritage seeds, especially welcomed !

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

September 26th 2016

Monday 7:30pm

"Save Open Pollinated Seeds to give you True Seeds, to attract and protect our Biodiversity".

A background of the seed situation we are in, growing seeds locally and how to save our seeds, emphasizing the need to work with open pollinated seeds.

Talk by Peter Brinch

Peter completed his formal studies on Biodynamic Agriculture in Jarna, Sweden, in 1984. Ever since then he has been working with and on the land in one way or another. From 2001 till 2006 he worked for the Biodynamic Association as Seed Development Fieldsman when he traveled from farm to farm, working with and assisting farmers to save their seeds. Together with Pupak Haghighi, he established Open Pollinated Seeds Initiative in 2010 in England to raise awareness and promote the practise of using and investing in the open pollinated seeds throughout the world.

*Norfolk Organic Group,members, please bring in your spare packets of seeds, to swap, on the evening, heritage seeds, especially welcomed !

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

September 4th 2016

Sunday 2.00pm

A Social Afternoon with Wood Fired Pizzas

Visit to the 5 acre property of one of our life time Norfolk Organic Group members Martyn and Lil Newton. Located at Memory Cottage, Church Lane Ringsfield Beccles Suffolk NR34 8JY.There will be sign posts put up, to help direct you, with directions.There will be plenty of car parking available.

members only

This is an opportunity to talk and meet other Norfolk Organic Group members and their families. We rarely have time, after our evening group talks to meet properly. Being a group member that cares about Organic principles, it is easy to share our passions, ideas and practical solutions. Please bring a friend and hopefully inspire them to become more interested in becoming Organic too. We are hoping to have a pizza oven and have freshly baked pizza’s for you to enjoy. Martyn and Lils home and land is very interesting. They have built a straw bale cottage which they rent out on Air BNB. Please visit following for more details : https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/12090177?guests=1&s=GSXFR-XS This was a practice run for the larger house they planned to build the same way. It involved a lot of physical work and Martyn and Lil have just been to visit a company abroad, who provide already built straw bale walls that are delivered to you. For inspiration check out the following : www.modcell.com/ and a youtube presentation of the panels being put up : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N1h9x8Y3bg Martyn and Lil have also built a small self-contained separate flat they call the piano room in their garden with a living roof and made from Timber. They have very interesting willow fencing sheltering their flower and vegetable beds, which they constructed quite cheaply, with 2 trailer loads of cut Willow for £40 which made 25 metres. They live in a 500 year old cottage surrounded by 5 acres of land , with lovely flower beds with wild flowers, vegetable beds and scenic views. There are Nut copses, Fruit trees, and livestock with Pigs, Rams Sheep and Lambs, also Chickens. It Has everything! Please can you book for this party, as we are providing food. Could you also bring a chair or mat, cutlery and any pizza toppings you like and whatever you drink. We will provide tomato sauce and mozzarella. It would be great if Group Members could bring any home grown Basil, Salad, Fruit and any Homemade Cake also. This would bring a smile. We want to encourage vehicle lift sharing, please let us know if you are willing to give other Norfolk Organic Group Members a shared lift, at the time of booking. To book contact Brigid Hayward publicity@norfolkorganic.org.uk if in south Norwich or Norfolk Please let us know if you think you would be happy to help with preparing the pizzas. We will need volunteers. Please let Brigid know by email. Thank you.

July 17th 2016

Sunday 2.00pm - 5.00pm

Visit to Robert Bailey's Allotment

Plot 60 on Bluebell South Allotments, just off The Avenues, Norwich NR4 7DN. 2nd plot on the right adjacent the gate. Norfolk Organic Group direction signs will be displayed. Car Parking is located on The Avenues or George Borrow Road. Refreshments, Tea & Cake.

members only

Robert's (also known as William) allotment was featured in the November 2015 edition of the "Kitchen Garden" magazine. The allotment has raised beds, using redundant household radiators 20” high. Robert's allotment also features, a large fruit cage containing Gogi berries and a new Scottish super food, Saskatoon’s. Two active wormeries and a pond.

June 26th 2016

Sunday 12.30pm - 4.00pm

Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden

Harvey Lodge, Harvey Lane, Dickleburgh, Norfolk IP21 4NL

members entry free, plus a guest

Always an inspiring visit, for the organic gardener. Members who have never visited, this is a your chance to talk to Bob in person (Norfolk Organic Group, President) and see how he gardens organically, here in Norfolk.

May 23rd 2016

Monday 7:30pm

"Easy cheap ways to make your home less toxic" Learn about the potential toxic things we inadvertently bring into our homes and gardens and begin to plan your cool green spring clean.

Talk by Helen Lynn

Helen has worked on issues linking health and the environment since 1995. Her work includes, working for the Women’s environmental network, and at EU level with Women in Europe for a common future . Helen is the one of the founders of the No more breast cancer campaign. Helen is also on the Soil Association's Health Products Standards committee. Helen facilitates the Alliance for cancer prevention. Finally, she is working on launching a new cosmetics and environmental initiative called Coolgreen.

*Norfolk Organic Group,members, please bring in your spare packets of seeds, to swap, on the evening, heritage seeds, especially welcomed !

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

February 29th 2016

Monday 7:30pm

Annual General Meeting

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. No charge

February 13th 2016

Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm

East Anglia Potato Day

Mid-Suffolk Showground. 100+ varieties sold by tuber from 16p each. Refreshments, books, tools etc.

Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT

Entry £1.50

Potato Day Website

November 26th 2015

Thursday 7.30pm

"Duff Stuff" or how horticultural experts misinform and mislead us

Talk by NOG President, Bob Flowerdew

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£3 entry for non-members

September 28th 2015

Monday 7:30pm

Cosmic Influences on Plants

Talk by Philip Culley

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

August 23rd 2015

Sunday 1.00pm - 4.00pm

Visit to John Mott's Garden

62 Great Melton Road, Hethersett, Norfolk. NR9 3HA

July 21st 2015

Tuesday 6.30pm

Visit to FarmShare Norwich

guided tour of the FarmShare area, with teas and cakes

Postwick Roundabout, off the A47 bypass

Directions: http://norwichfarmshare.co.uk/visit/

members £2 entry

June 28th 2015

Sunday 1.00pm - 4.00pm

Visit to Bob Flowerdew's Garden

Harvey Lodge, Harvey Lane, Dickleburgh, Norfolk IP21 4NL

members and guests

May 17th 2015

Sunday 2.00pm

Visit to Jeremy Kent's Smallholding

with teas and cakes

Church Farm, Arminghall, Norwich NR14 8SG

members and guests, free entry

April 27th 2015

Monday 7:30pm

Hedgehogs - Their History and Ecology

Talk by Jillian Macready

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

March 30th 2015

Monday 7:30pm

Enclosing Eden - The Story of the Walled Kitchen Garden

An illustrated Talk by Charlotte Philcox

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

February 23th 2015

Monday 7:30pm

Annual General Meeting

followed by a Talk and Discussion on Changes in the Composition and Value of Food, led by Mike Hall

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. No charge

February 14th 2015

Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm

East Anglia Potato Day

Mid-Suffolk Showground. 100+ varieties sold by tuber from 16p each. Refreshments, books, tools etc.

Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT

Entry £1.50

Potato Day Website

January 26th 2015

Monday 7:30pm

Weeds and how to Cultivate Them

An illustrated Talk by Robert Maidstone, professional gardener and naturalist

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

November 27th 2014

Thursday 7:30pm

How to Smell More in the Garden

Talk by NOG President Bob Flowerdew

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£3 entry for non-members

October 27th 2014

Monday 7:30pm

Vegetable Growing in Small Spaces

Talk by Pauline Harper, Gardening Expert and Show Judge

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

September 29th 2014

Monday 7:30pm

Seasonal Topfruit

Talk by Robin Parker

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

September 7th 2014

Sunday 11.30am-5.00pm

Thornage Hall 25th Anniversary Fete

Camphill Community biodynamic farm and gardens, Thornage Hall, NR25 7QH

Produce, Handicrafts, Entertainments and Refreshments

August 5th 2014

Tuesday Meet at 6.30pm

Visit to Walnut Tree Farm, Spooner Row, for either 'Herbal Medicines Walk' with Christine Herbert or 'Guided Tour of Smallholding' with Mark Naylor

Spooner Row, NR18 9LN

small charge of £2, under 16s free

August 3rd 2014

Sunday 10.00am-4.00pm

Norfolk Smallholders Training Group 8th Annual Show and Market

Sheringham Park NR26 8TL

entry £5, under 16s free

July 20th 2014

Sunday from 2.00pm

Visit to 'The Old Rectory', Aslacton,

Marilyn and Peter's Smallholding, with Afternoon tea and cake !

Aslacton, NR15 2JN

by kind invitation of Marilyn and Peter Robinson

July 6th 2014

Sunday 12.00–4.00pm

Visit to Bob Flowerdew’s Garden

Harvey Lodge, Harvey Lane, Dickleburgh, IP21 4NL

Members and their guests only; bring membership card or newsletter as proof of membership.

Entry: guests £1

June 11th 2014

Wednesday 6.30pm

Visit to Raveningham Hall Kitchen Garden

Raveningham Hall, Raveningham, NR14 6NS

Tour with Head Gardener Carol Clutten

Charge £3.50 per head, under 16s free, numbers limited, please book with Mike Hall, 01379 740636 by 8th June

May 10th 2014

Saturday Meet at 10.00am

Visit and Conducted Tour of Farm and Gardens, Thornage Hall Camphill Community

Thornage Hall, NR25 7QH

April 28th 2014

Monday 7:30pm

Composting and Care of the Soil

Talk by Terry Rands, Organic Smallholder and Writer

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

March 31st 2014

Monday 7:30pm

An Introduction to Biodynamics and the Preparations

talk by Philip Culley, Land Supervisor for the Thornage Camphill Community

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

February 24th 2014

Monday 7:30pm

Annual General Meeting

Followed by discussion on what members want from NOG

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Non-members welcome, but cannot vote at AGM. No charge

January 27th 2014

Monday 7:30pm

Companion Plants

A talk and discussion led by Mike Hall

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

February 8th 2014

Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm

East Anglia Potato Day

Mid-Suffolk Showground. 100+ varieties sold by tuber from 15p each. Refreshments, books, tools etc.

Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT

Entry £1.50

Potato Day Website

November 28th 2013

Thursday 7:30pm

A threat to us all - even more things to worry about

Talk by our President Bob Flowerdew

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£3 entry for non-members

October 28th 2013

Monday 7:30pm

Squash it or not

Illustrated talk by Robert Maidstone, the professional gardener and naturalist

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

September 30th 2013

Monday 7:30pm

Getting the most from your vegetable plot

Illustrated talk by Charlotte Philcox

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

£2 entry for non-members

September 15th 2013

Sunday 11am – 5pm

Wolterton Organic Garden Open Day

Wolterton Park, Erpingham, NR11 7LY

Biodynamic vegetables growing in walled gardens Entry: adults £2, children free; car parking free.

Note: NOG members have to pay the entry fee

August 20th 2013

Tuesday 6.30pm

Visit to Sam Eglington’s market garden

Podmore, NR19 2NY

Sam’s market garden supplies organic food to local outlets.

Members and their guests only

July 9th 2013

Tuesday 7pm

Wolterton Organic Garden – guided tour by David Barker

Wolterton Park, Erpingham, NR11 7LY

Members and their guests only Numbers strictly limited: book with Mike Hall by Saturday 6th July on 01379 740636.

Meet 7pm in courtyard

Entry: NOG members and their guests £2/person

June 30th 2013

Sunday 12n – 4pm

Visit to Bob Flowerdew’s Garden

Harvey Lodge, Harvey Lane, Dickleburgh, IP21 4NL

Members and their guests only; bring membership card or newsletter as proof of membership.

Entry: guests £1

May 19th 2013

Sunday 11am – 5pm

Wolterton Organic Garden Open Day

Wolterton Park, Erpingham, NR11 7LY

Biodynamic vegetables growing in walled gardens NOG stall with books and advice Entry: adults £2, children free; car parking free.

Note: NOG members have to pay the entry fee

April 29th 2013

Monday 7:30pm

Guarantee your harvest & save our vegetable heritage

by Trish Le Gal

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

The ‘hungry gap’ (March, April, May) is my very favourite time of year and a real test of feeding ourselves all year round. I’ll be sharing my experiences with heritage seed varieties and why I like them so much. I’ll be bringing with me seedlings to sell ~ a few tomatoes, celeriac, chard, lettuce, cabbages, squash, courgette, broccoli, sprouts, cauli, beans. With trying out several heritage varieties each year, I generally have one or two that thrive in adversity.

£2 entry for non members

April 14th 2013

Sunday Noon – 3.00pm

Visit to Trish le Gal’s allotment in the hungry gap

Trish has written a great book about it!

Trish will provide refreshments. Northfield lane, Wells.

This is a visit for members and guests only, please book for a place and directions by emailing brigid@agcl.com or calling 01508 520532

March 25th 2013

Monday 7:30pm

Sustainability in the Post Austerity Age

by Prof. Tim O’Riordan, OBE (UEA & Soil Association)

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Sustainable localism; community-led politics and economics; a three-day working week. These seem off-the-wall now, but they won’t by 2020, let alone 2030. In such a scenario, organics and permaculture would have a huge role to play, as would changing diets to more “meatlessness” and locally produced food.

£2 entry for non-members

Febuary 25th 2013

Monday 7:30pm

Norfolk Organic Group AGM

'Norwich FarmShare: Connecting community with food growing on 7 acres. Our story so far.' A talk by Teirney Woods.

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Norwich FarmShare: Connecting community with food growing on 7 acres. 'Our Story So Far'. Members of the social enterprise will share their experience of creating a community-run vegetable growing business. You’ll hear of how it got started, the site and soil, how people have benefited from being on the land and opportunities to get involved.

Jan 28th 2013

Monday 7:30pm

Successful Potato Growing (And A Chance To Taste 12 Types)

A Talk By Julian Turner

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Potatoes are a huge part of the energy requirement of a typical organic home. Nearly all of us want to grow some of our own, and usually do. Sometimes we can be disappointed by poor results and this talk should give some ideas to avoid pitfalls and keep results satisfying from one year to the next.

"A NOG member for the past 28 years, Julian Turner has been organising the regional Potato Day since 1996 offering a real choice for taste."

Nov 26th 2012

Monday 7:30pm

Wholefood Trading with Organic Standards

A Talk by Richard Austin of Rainbow Wholefoods.

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Richard will talk about his experience of buying and selling organic goods as a wholesaler and retailer: Why buy organic? How has the organic movement and public opinion changed? And what’s it like to work with the Soil Association’s regulations for 36 years?

Oct 29th 2012

Monday 7:30pm

Soil and Roots – The Key to Growing Good Vegetables

A Talk by Sam Eglington

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Local market gardener Sam Eglington will be talking about the inter relationship of soil roots and micro organisms; how to grow good root crops ; and what you can do in the vegetable garden before winter really takes hold, to get an earlier crop next year.

Sept 27th 2012

Thurs 7:30pm

Bob Flowerdew Talk: Coping with Drought

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Cunning ways to make your garden productive and floriferous in the face of adversity and water companies. Including digging wells, installing syphons, free water tanks and other water storage devices.

August 25th 2012

Sat from 12pm

Visit Trish le Gal's Allotments

...All 6 of them, right by the coast! We are going to try to use buses. (£8 return from Norwich) 29 bus to Fakenham. There are trains to Sheringham from Norwich and then the Coasthopper. There's the bus to Fakenham (X29) and then the 29 (and sometimes you stay on the X29) to Wells. Please check buses here.

Email Brigid (chair@...) to let have an idea of numbers going.

Please be aware that visits to private gardens are for members and guests only. Please bring a newsletter with you.

August 5th 2012

Sun 10am to 4pm

Norfolk Smallholder's Show

Holt Hall, Kelling Road, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 7DU. Please do not use Sat. Nav as it will not find the venue. Please drive to Holt then use the Kelling Road.

Members Free. Non members £5.

This is a lovely event: small enough to be personal and big enough to be interesting. Great for animals and plants, great for children. This is not one to miss, it the best of living in the countryside. Holt hall is great too, fantastic nature garden, loads to see.

July 22nd 2012

Sun 2:00pm-4:00pm

Visit to John Mott’s Garden

Hethersett NR9 3HA

We visit John Mott’s garden at Hethersett NR9 3HA. John lives at 62 Great Melton Road, but his entrance is in Melton Clourt. It is a corner plot with a caravan in the drive. Parking can be in any of the roads around.

The plot is only 30m x 30m, with a bungalow in the middle. All plots are raised with Link-a-Bord recycled plastic edging and hoops over for protective netting. All plots are irrigated by drip pipes from water butts, which can be replenished from a well if necessary. Collect a plan on arrival, all plots are lettered from A to Z.

Please be aware that visits to private gardens are for members and guests only. Please bring a newsletter with you.

June 24th 2012

Sun 12:00pm-4:00pm

Bob Flowerdew's Garden

Bob has been there the last few times, and he's always so interesting to talk to.

Please be aware that visits to private gardens are for members and guests only. Please bring a newsletter with you.

May 28th 2012

Mon 7:30pm

Living foods and Fermentation

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

With Jo Balfe from The Nectar Cafe.

May 20th 2012

Sun 10:30am-5.30pm

Wolterton Organic Garden Open Day

One of our favourite places to have a stall. Great place to buy veg. plants and see what David is up to in his biodynamic plot.

April 30th 2012

Mon 7:30pm

Grow Your Own Medicines

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

With Christine Herbert.

March 26th 2012

Mon 7:30pm

The Importance of Worms in the Garden

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Notice the lowly earthworm, squirming away, going about its everyday business. Simple creatures you may think, but they have quite an important use in the garden. Did you know the earthworms are nature’s first gardeners? They don’t exist just for children to eat or fishermen to use as bait. So fascinating that Charles Darwin studied them for over 40 years.

Chris Wright from Roots and Shoots – Growing for the Future will be exploring the life and works of the worm. He will also answer questions on wormeries and home composting.

Feb 27th 2012

Mon 7:30pm

"WILD FRUIT" - What, Why and Where to Grow

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Mark will be talking about fruits which have not been heavily cultivated (such as amelanchier, aronia, rubus and morus species) and as such are not only hugely tasty, but are healthier and much more disease resistant plants than most cultivated fruit plants. He shall also be addressing what is forest gardening and how these "wild fruits" fit into such a garden and the benefits of growing them e.g. the harvest and also the benefits for the garden as a whole such as nitrogen fixing, etc.

Finally he will talk about how to use these plants visually in the garden - creating a stunning, edible space.

www.thefruitnursery.co.uk

Feb 11th 2012

Sat 9:30am-1:30pm

Potato Day

Mid-Suffolk Showground Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AT

Potato Day Website

East Anglia Potato Day is an annual event run by volunteers, with over 100 different potato varieties on offer - it is an exceptional event, and an occasion you won’t forget! Alan Romans, author of 'The Potato Book’, is coming all the way from Edinburgh with his seeds, potatoes and advice. Chips and mash will be on offer, so you can try different varieties, and a score board will keep track of which are most popular!

There will also be stalls offering tools, seeds and seed swaps, and lots of information, as well as some very interesting people to talk to. It’s a very popular day, so don’t miss out! Volunteers needed: If you feel you could volunteer to help, either with setting up the day before, or on the day itself, please email chair@norfolkorganic.org.uk

Jan 30th 2012

Mon 7:30pm

"Planning for year round vegetable consumption” A talk by the Elliotts of Bikeways

Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW

Graham and Nicky, are probably the most organised and efficient people I have ever come across when it comes to being self sufficient. They have brilliant spread sheets that show exactly how thought out the process is for them. I can guarantee most of us don’t get round to planning enough and waste time and energy with space in the ground left bare. This talk could possibly make a huge difference to the amount of produce you get. Check them out www.bikeways.org.uk.

Nov 24th 2011

Thurs 7:30pm

Bob Flowerdew Talk: 'Tropical Indulgences or Carbon Footprint?'

President of the Norfolk Organic Group, Bob Flowerdew, will speak at our forthcoming meeting on Thursday, 24th November (please note the change of day from our usual Monday) at 7.30pm at the Friends' Meeting House in Norwich.

Nov 19 2011

Sat 2pm

Third Annual Organic Seed Swap

The third annual organic seed swap will be held at 2pm in the Grow Our Own allotment hut. Entrance is free.

Grow Our Own is situated on the Bluebell South allotments. The entrance is where 82 The Avenues would be, down a narrow lane immediately after George Borrow Road on the way out of the city.

For more information on the venue see grow-our-own.co.uk/. For more information, contact Erik at www.tinyurl.com/contacterik.

Nov 5 2011

Sat 2pm - 5pm

Elliott's Course

Vegetable storage, drying apples, wood as fuel, pruning soft fruit. £12 per session.
For more details, see www.bikeways.org.uk or 01502 714661 or email graham@bikeways.org.uk.

Oct 31 2011

Mon 7:30pm

Talks

A talk by Trish le Gal about her book ‘Grow Your Own For The Hungry Gap’

Trish’s beautiful new book is full of great advice and covers crop protection over winter, seed saving, growing heritage seeds, storing produce, etc. It’s a personal book covering her experiences with things she has grown illustrated with exceptional photographs. In Trish’s words:

‘I wrote the book because I was fed up with trying to plan for a spring harvest from half a dozen books at a time and coordinate this with the right varieties from the seed catalogues. It was quite difficult to learn that timing was crucial and that you have to plan for space for things to grow slowly over the winter. It is so tempting to fill the allotment up with summer crops that grow quickly and end up with a glut. What surprised me, once I'd started, was to find that there are over 30 vegetables you can eat fresh or stored in March, April and May and around 20 herbs. Why aren't they in the shops? Some of them are, but we by no means reach our potential in this department. Most of them are grown outside, or under a little cover (shade netting, plastic or glass)’.

7.30pm Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Non-members welcome. £1 entrance

Oct 8 2011

Sat 2pm - 5pm

Elliott's Course

Apples, storage, juice and cider-making, chutneys. £12 per session. For more details, see www.bikeways.org.uk or 01502 714661 or email graham@bikeways.org.uk

Sept 26 2011

Mon 7:30pm

Talk

Autumn Talks

Our first Autumn talk of this year in which Norfolk Organic Group member Chris Wright will be talking about his project 'Roots and Shoots', a Victorian walled garden where he works with special needs children, teaching them how to garden with wildlife in mind. See visit above for more information.

7.30pm Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EW Non-members welcome. £1 entrance.

Sept 25 2011

Sun 10am

Visits

Visit to Roots and Shoots project at Holt Hall

Starting with a fungay foray with Dr Tony Leech and a fry up of wild mushrooms. Following which, Norfolk Organic Group member Chris Wright will show us around the walled kitchen garden he works on.

10.00am start. Holt Hall, Kelling Road, Holt, NR25 7DU (http://www.schools.norfolk.gov.uk/go/rootsandshoots/)
Members and guests only please. The Roots and shoots project – with its polytunnels, wormeries and chickens - is both visually stimulating and very practical about attracting wildlife into the garden.

Sept 18 2011

Sun 10:30am - 5pm

Events Attended

Organic Open Garden Day at Wolterton

We will be there with a stall. Tour the biodynamic kitchen garden with grower David Barker. Also, birds of prey, wormery demos, children's corner, pond dipping. Wolterton Hall entry £5, garden only £2.

Sept 10 2011

Sat 2pm - 5pm

Elliott's Course

Winemaking, seed saving. £12 per session. For more details, see www.bikeways.org.uk or 01502 714661 or email graham@bikeways.org.uk

We are a local group for:

President: Bob Flowerdew

Future Events

Date

Event Description

June 27th 2022

A Talk & Walk on Foraging, with Nik Thompson former educator at Kew Gardens

NOG Visit

August Date (TBC)

NOG Visit

East of England Orchards Project (TBC)

https://www.applesandorchards.org.uk

Past Events

Date

Event Description

May 21st 2022

NOG Visit to Wakelyns Agroforestry

http://www.wakelyns.co.uk

April 25th 2022

Permaculture

An Illustrated Talk by NOG Members, Paul Lucas & Bee Springwood

March 28th 2022

Norfolk Green Care Network

Talk by Nigel Boldero

followed by Annual General Meeting

February 28th 2022

Annual General Meeting - Postponed until Monday March 28th, 7:30pm, 2022 Friends Meeting House

*ZOOM MEETING*

followed by *ZOOM MEETING* 7:30pm

Wakelyns Farm - An Organic Oasis

Talk by David

Members Zoom Event

*ZOOM MEETING*

January 31st 2022

*ZOOM MEETING*

Creating and Developing School Allotments

Matt Willers, The Papillon Project, http://www.thepapillonproject.com

*ZOOM MEETING*

November 29th 2021

*ZOOM MEETING*

From Old Carpet to Astroturf, A History of Geotextiles

Bob Flowerdew, Norfolk Organic Group President

*ZOOM MEETING*

October 25th 2021

*ZOOM MEETING*

"Caring for Elderly Apple Trees"

Illustrated Talk by Bob Lever

*ZOOM MEETING*

September 27th 2021

*ZOOM MEETING*

NOG Members Harvest Event

*ZOOM MEETING*

August 29th 2021 Group Summer Social/Visit

NOG Summer Social

Visit to Maggy & Partner's Garden

July 10th 2021 Group Summer Visit

A Tour around the Norwich Farmshare site at Whitlingham Nurseries, off Whitlingham Lane,

Norwich. NR14 8TZ

June 2021 Group Summer Visit

**Postponed Due To Covid**

May 31st 2021

*ZOOM MEETING*

"Perennials in a Royal Garden (Highgrove)"

Illustrated Talk by George Lockwood

Members Zoom Event

*ZOOM MEETING*

April 26th 2021

*ZOOM MEETING*

"Garden Bugs – Cohabit, Conserve or Control ?"

Illustrated Talk by Entomologist, Dr Ian Bedford

Members Zoom Event

*ZOOM MEETING*

March 29th 2021

*ZOOM MEETING*

"Never Mind The Burdocks"

Illustrated Talk by Emma Gunn

Members Zoom Event

*ZOOM MEETING*

February 22nd 2021

Annual General Meeting

ZOOM MEETING

followed by ZOOM MEETING 7:30pm

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followed by ZOOM MEETING 7:30pm

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