Dear Garden Friends,

🌞 As the approaching summer sun bathes our garden in warmth and abundance, we’re thrilled to share our quarterly update for our Living Vital Community Garden. The beds are flourishing, the polytunnel is buzzing, and there’s so much growth to celebrate! Let’s dive into a recap of our progress and the exciting plans for the sunny season ahead!

🌻 SUMMER VITALS

Seasonal Tips

Growing 🌱

Continue succession planting of salads and quick crops for continuous harvest
Water regularly in the early morning or evening to conserve moisture (and prevent slugs by reducing night time moisture!!)
Harvest herbs frequently to encourage continued growth
Plant out tender crops now that frost risk has passed
Support climbing plants like beans and peas with canes or trellises

Protecting 🏡

Provide shade for sensitive crops during the hottest part of the day
Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds
Watch for summer pests and continue companion planting strategies
Keep on top of watering – consistency is key for healthy growth

Nature Connection 🦋

Enjoy the peak butterfly season – count species you spot!
Listen for the busy hum of pollinators at work
Observe the longest days and celebrate the summer solstice
Watch for birds feeding their young

Foraging 🌿

Abundant summer pickings: Elderflowers (perfect for cordials and fritters)
Wild strawberries (tiny but super yum!)
Plantain (nature’s natural plaster – great for cuts and stings – try making your own balm!)
Cleavers (excellent in smoothies and soups, or just in your water!)
Lemon balm – nature’s tranquilizer! Perfect for a calming tea to regulate your nervous system!

**Please always ensure 100% identification and forage responsibly.

🌱 IN THE GARDEN

Spring Recap

Continued accessibility improvements with our new raised bed
Continued construction 3 new seed tables for community use
Member-led community workshop in poetry
Bed Preparation: We’ve been hard at work preparing our outdoor beds for summer planting! The soil is rich and ready for our exciting crops including squash, courgettes, and other summer favourites.
Polytunnel Transformation: The polytunnel has had a complete refresh! We’ve cleared the space and it’s now home to a thriving collection of heat-loving crops:
- Juicy tomatoes climbing toward the roof
- Crisp cucumbers spreading across supports
- Beautiful aubergines developing their glossy purple fruits
- Colorful peppers in various stages of growth

Summer Plans

Continue our planting:

Tend to our established plants – squash, courgette, cabbage, garlic, onion, beetroot, carrots, salad, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers.
Succession plant beans and salads for continuous harvest
Support and train our polytunnel crops as they grow

Upcoming projects:

Move our herb spiral with Mediterranean herbs to new area by steps to create more space for outdoor seed tables
Discuss seed saving process for autumn preparation

Seek funding for new projects:

Install rainwater collection & irrigation system for sustainable watering
Plant hedgerow between plot and neighbouring plot
Build retractable roof for covered area where fruit cage was, providing more opportunity for workshops

📚 WHAT WE’RE DIGGIN’

Summer Recipe: Simple Courgette Fritters – A perfect way to use the abundance of courgettes and foraged summer herbs. Crispy, flavorful & fun!

Book Recommendation: The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer – A beautiful exploration of abundance, reciprocity, and our relationship with the natural world. From the beloved author of “Braiding Sweetgrass,” this book weaves together indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge to deepen our understanding of how to live in grateful partnership with nature’s generous offerings.

Podcast We Love: Dive into The Organic Gardening Podcast by Garden Organic for expert UK-based growing tips with a focus on organic methods, permaculture principles, and sustainable community gardening – perfect for our eco-conscious growing journey!

🌍 GROW THE MOVEMENT Join Us!

Attend our weekly and fortnightly community garden sessions
Follow @living_vital on Instagram and Living Vital on Facebook for session updates and garden photos
Bring friends to experience the joy of growing together!

Spread the Word

Share our harvest photos on social media
Tell friends and family about our community
Connect us with potential partners who share our values!

Stay Connected

Connect with Living Vital:

Key Summer Dates

JULY
Thursday 3rd July
Saturday 5th July
🔔NO SESSION THURS 10th JULY
Thursday 17th July
Saturday 19th July
Thursday 24th July
Thursday 31st July

AUGUST
Saturday 2nd Aug
Thursday 7th Aug
Thursday 14th Aug
Saturday 16th Aug
Thursday 21st Aug
Thursday 28th Aug
Saturday 30th Aug

*Check our pinned Instagram post for the complete session schedule and any weather-related updates.

💚 SUPPORT US

Your donation helps us create inclusive, thriving green spaces where diverse communities in Brighton can grow, learn, and connect with nature.

🌱 Click here to make a donation.

Choose either a one-off or monthly donation to support our ongoing projects. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us:

Keep our garden sessions free and accessible
Provide tools and materials for community members
Maintain our productive garden spaces and polytunnel
Support diverse communities in connecting with nature
Run educational workshops and seasonal cooking sessions
Purchase seeds and plants for community growing

Living Vital is a registered charity (1192957). Gift Aid can be added to your donation to make it go 25% further at no extra cost to you.

🙏 THANK YOU

🙏 Gratitude Huge thanks to our supporters! We are deeply grateful to all our funders, volunteers, and community members who make our flourishing garden possible.

Shout out to Craft House Coffee – thank you for the generous donation through 1% for the planet

Check out Craft House Coffee, local Sussex based coffee house – they are now offering a subscription coffee service for those who love their coffee!!

🌱 New on our Blog: “Summer Abundance: From Seed to Harvest“ Explore the journey from tiny seeds to bountiful harvests, with tips for maximising your growing success and making the most of summer’s generous offerings. Discover how to preserve and share your garden’s abundance.

🌱 Seeds for Thought

As we witness the incredible abundance that emerges from the seeds we planted in spring, we invite you to reflect: What have you nurtured in your own life that is now flourishing? How might you share your own abundance with your community?

Wishing you a fruitful and joyful summer,

The Living Vital Team 🌻🌱

This newsletter is dedicated to Nick’s father, who sadly passed away this month. The Living Vital Family extends our deepest love and support to Nick and Alex during this difficult time. Click here to read the beautiful eulogy written by Nick. RIP