When the weather plays such a big part in most things you do, the first half of February is hard to plan for. But after Imbolc the busy-ness just… happens as pent up potential is released and everything, including us, springs into life.
It’s good to pause and take stock with a little round up of some of what’s been happening in our world.
Northern Fruit Moot
The Great Northern Fruit Moot is an annual grassroots event dedicated to bringing together fruit growers, particularly those from Northern England. A day of learning, networking, and the exchange of fruit tree scions.
First held in Bradford in 2023, the event quickly gained popularity, expanding in 2024 to Todmorden, and then in 2025 being held in Manchester. The 2026 event was held on Feb 13th in St Mary’s Community Centre in Sheffield, jointly hosted by Sheffield Fruit Trees and Regather Co-operative.
Emerging from the cooperative movement, this event goes from strength to strength. We’re pleased to have shared perennial veg and some fruit (raspberries, strawberries) with participants. There’s interest in a Midlands Moot in 2027. Watch this space!
Belper Community Hall Garden
We have been recovering overgrown and cluttered corners of the Community Garden at Belper Community Hall.
Last year, we installed raised beds and IBC water storage tanks, all part of the ongoing work to establish the community garden. This Spring, perennial flowers and herbs will bloom in the long border. We’re looking forward to seeing the fruit trees in bloom, maybe at a 2nd Blossom Day event on April.
In between showers, we planted a mixed native hedgerow and snuck in bonus bargain fruiting shrubs.
…oh, and us!
As well as the plants we grow, our members are hardy perennials, coming back year after year, undeterred by winter weather challenges. Mostly. We have plenty to offer every month of the year – plants either bareroot or potted, seeds, tubers, soil health products.
We have stocked up on organic peat free compost: for sowing, potting, mulching perennials, topping up raised beds. And if you’re not sure which to choose, we’ll help you, based on our experience of using it for years in our own gardens and in clients’. We can even deliver compost to your garden gate.
Biochar is an integral part of our peat free potting mix. And a way to keep warm! Last year’s brash, now seasoned, becomes stable carbon to help soil life thrive. We have plenty of biochar inoculated and ready for adding to your potting mix, planting holes, and veg beds.
Come see us, work with us
Earthed Up! is an agroecological plant nursery based in Belper Lane End. We grow edible and useful plants peat free without harmful chemicals. Come see us and what we’re growing
We offer garden design and maintenance. If you’d like us to come see you, please just get in touch.
Earthed Up! 