I’ve run out of potato puns, but suffice to say that this email heralds the beginning of our new season. As well as alerting you to the exciting news that the potato delivery has taken place this week, it also includes important news about :
Seeds
Break ins, hedging and gates
Volunteering opportunities and opening hours
Poly tunnel growing space
Plant (ish) sale
Yes! The potatoes and oniony items have arrived and orders will be available to collect from Sunday January 29th between 10am and 1pm (as opposed to our normal 10 -12 noon). We would ask you to collect them sooner rather than later; we are always concerned about possible deterioration in wintry conditions. If you did not place an order, there will still be some varieties available, although it is worth noting that we are scaling back on our total order year on year, as demand decreases.
The Kings Seeds orders have also landed, and are available to collect. We achieved our target of £200 and enjoyed the benefit of half price seeds! Yay! Additionally, we have a good selection of seeds at the Hut, although these are not quite as generously discounted!!!
Unfortunately, our allotment site has had more unwelcome visitors during December and January, and if you only visit your plot occasionally during the winter months it would probably be worth popping by to check that everything is ok. There are frequent reports of the security gates being left unlocked and even wide open, and this is obviously frustrating to allotment holders who are more vigilant. PLEASE close and lock gates responsibly, and consider if there is anything that you can safely do if you see anything suspicious. As far as your own plot is concerned, the society has had a kind donation of some pots of hawthorn whips which are intended for use on the Hagg Lane allotment site in order to fill any gaps in hedging. Please come to the hut if you would be interested in using some of these. Free!
Changing the subject completely, do you think that you might be able to help us? It has been a long road, and we are just about getting back to normal , but we are aware that the personal circumstances of members the volunteer team are ever changing, and we’re not always able to give the time that we used to in the past. Obviously we have reduced our opening hours, although we are aware that some members would be pleased to see us open on Saturdays as well as Sunday, if it was practical. If you are at all interested in helping, please get in touch, or pop in for a chat. You will find us a motley crew - some more motley than others – but we do our best to be friendly and hospitable! In the short term... we are hoping to get some working parties together in March. Amongst other things, the society polytunnel needs a complete overhaul, and we need both brains and muscle to help dig trenches and do battle with a new cover. Expressions of interest, please!
And then...once the polytunnel is back in working order, we hope to offer growing space to people who could make use of it. We’re open to discussion!
And then...last year we had many enquiries about the return of a plant sale, and lots of people called in looking for seedlings. We know that we cannot undertake a plant sale on the scale that we used to, but we would like to be able to offer something in its place. Anybody got any ideas?!
Well, that’s it for now! We hope that you’re looking forward to the warm spring sunshine, hosepipes at the ready!
