Maggie Johnson, visiting from Canada, contacted us after seeing the "Feeding London" exhibition at Squire's. She generously donated these pictures of W T Mann's market garden trade at Oak Farm in Isleworth and related subjects. The annotations are Maggie's own. Gravel pits were common throughout the neighbourhood to supply material for buildings and roads. See more pictures full size on flickr

'Chitting' means encouraging seed potatoes to sprout before planting out. Most garden vegetables originated in climates rather warmer than our own, and chitting is one of the techniques developed over centuries to get the best out of our very short growing seasons. The word 'chit' also has a long history, originating in the Middle English term for a baby animal or cub. The Model Market Garden in Marble Hill Park has enjoyed very successful potato harvests for the last two years.

More photos of the RHS Early Spring Plant Fair on flickr

Colin Squire, Chairman of Squire's Garden Centres, kindly hosted a coffee morning to celebrate the "Feeding London" exhibition currently on show at the Twickenham branch. Honoured guests included Tania Mathias, MP for Twickenham; Cllr Jean Loveland, Deputy Mayor of Richmond-upon-Thames; and members of several families with strong market gardening connections, including the Poupart family, a name most famous for jam.

On this mild and sunny day at the Model Market Garden in Marble Hill Park we moved strawberry plants from the new enlarged bed that will be used for cut flowers. We also dug over part of the central bed.

Volunteers at the Model Market Garden in Marble Hill Park are taking advantage of the horticulturally quieter winter months to re-think part of the garden layout. Joining together two raised beds increases the cultivable area and creates an ideal space for cut flowers. Very timely, as our seeds order has just arrived from Thomas Etty.

Maddie Lawson attended the School of Education, Roehampton, where she was introduced by Ed Bartram to the Jam Yesterday, Jam Tomorrow project's Market Garden Game. Now a qualified primary school teacher Maddie saw the opportunity to use the Jam project's resources for the children in her classes. She writes:

Protecting crops from pests and frost is a continual task and was the main focus of today's work at the Model Market Garden in Marble Hill Park. Even in the depths of winter there is a harvest - kale is a humble but delicious leaf crop.

Jam Yesterday, Jam Tomorrow volunteer and local historian David Lawrie (left) is greeted at Squire's Garden Centre, Twickenham, by Colin Squire. Chairman of the company, on the day of installing the "Feeding London" exhibition that celebrates market garden history in Middlesex. Squire's was founded more than 75 years ago and over the years it has adapted to changing needs, including vegetable production during the war years 1939-45.

Happy New Year! The Model Market Garden is being prepared for another calendar year and a new growing season. We welcome Sophie Harman as a volunteer and temporary co-ordinator at the garden. Sophie will support the volunteers and help to carry forward the traditions of market gardening in Middlesex in the spirit of the Jam Yesterday, Jam Tomorrow Project. Below are some images that suggest how the present has echoes of both recent and more distant past.