A (Slightly Belated) Merry Christmas to You All
I had hoped to write this blog before Christmas, but the usual chaos of the kids’ end-of-term activities took over. So, instead, I’m sending it now—perhaps it’ll make for some light reading as you relax this Boxing Day.
Another season has come to a close, and it’s hard to believe we’ve been at this for four years already. 2024 has been our best years yet in the market garden, though it’s also been one of the most physically demanding. As the garden slowly winds down for winter, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what’s gone well, what could be improved, and what lies ahead. Below are some of my thoughts on the 2024 season and a glimpse of what’s in store for 2025 at Tewin Greens.
Thank You.
First and foremost, thank you all. Your support is the foundation of this project, and without it, Tewin Greens simply wouldn’t exist. As I continue to build and grow the garden, one of my greatest joys is the relationship between grower and customer. Some weeks are tougher than others, but on customer days, your kind words and encouragement always renew my energy and remind me why this work matters.
2024 Highlights.
Every season comes with its weather challenges. My first year saw the coldest April on record, followed by a year of drought, then a season of storms and high winds. This past year, 2024, was exceptionally wet. Damp conditions created challenges for many growers, including a rise in pests like slugs, which made starting seedlings tricky. Fortunately, our well-draining land spared us the worst of it. While some crops struggled, others thrived in the rainy conditions.
With the addition of a second tunnel, we started selling crops as early as April, offering fresh salad and herbs at the start of the season. The wet weather also gave us a fantastic rhubarb harvest, prompting us to plant another 2 beds of plants to expand our offerings in 2025.
The main veg box season began in late May, and we consistently supplied 30+ customers each week. Key successes included kale, cabbages, salads, broad beans, and sugar snap peas. Onions and garlic had a bumper year, thanks to being grown under netting, which kept the allium leaf miner at bay. However, our leeks weren’t as fortunate, succumbing to pests and leading to significant losses during the winter months.
On the flip side, carrots and parsnips were lost to carrot root fly—an oversight on my part. Broccoli and cauliflower remain a challenge, and I’m considering removing them from the crop plan next year as they require more attention than I can currently provide. Extending the growing season into winter remains a top priority. Although I’ve improved year by year, I had to reduce veg box offerings to biweekly from late October, something I aim to address in 2025.
Summer brought melons, tomatoes, and an abundance of cucumbers, along with our ever-resilient strawberries. To extend the strawberry season, I plan to introduce early and late varieties in 2025, I never get sick of the taste of in season strawberries picked fresh from the ground, warmed by the early summer sun.
We also held our first NGS event, welcoming over 130 visitors and raising more than £400 for the charity. It was a resounding success, and I’m thrilled to announce that the event will return on 27th July 2025.
Some numbers from the past season
- Over 600 veg boxes sold in 2024
- More than 400 cucumbers grown and sold from a single 30-meter bed
- 200kg of kale harvested and sold
- 300kg of fresh seasonal salad mix sold throughout the season
Looking Ahead to 2025
Here’s what’s on the horizon for the new year:
- Organic Certification: I plan to start the process of converting to organic status.
- Expanding Partnerships: I aim to supply more vegetables to the Cowshed restaurant and Tewinbury Farm Shop, making our fresh, pesticide-free produce more accessible to the local community.
- New Courses: Nick and I will host more workshops, focusing on both growing techniques and the medicinal uses of plants.
- More Veg Boxes: By growing more vegetables, we hope to increase our offerings and expand our veg box program.
- Apples: I’m hoping 2025 will be the year of the Tewin Greens apples as we finally see the fruit trees ready to produce.
Challenges and Transparency
As wonderful as this past year has been, it hasn’t come without challenges. Despite a successful season, I’ve yet to draw a salary from the business. Every penny earned has been reinvested or used to cover staff and expenses. I continue to support the project through offsite work, but balancing these commitments has been mentally taxing.
These reflections aren’t shared to garner sympathy but to remain transparent about the realities of running a venture like this. While I’ve made progress each year, there’s still much to learn, and I’m determined to keep growing both the garden and my skills.
The garden remains a place of healing for me—a space I find hard to leave even for a day. This tells me I’m on the right path, and I’m committed to continuing the journey. While the work ahead in 2025 feels daunting, the excitement of a new season, new projects, and new customers keeps me motivated.
The positives far outweigh the negatives, and with careful planning, I’m confident 2025 will be another great year.
Once again, thank you for your support and encouragement. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year. I look forward to welcoming you back to the garden in the coming months.
All the best,
Lloyd