Saturday, 28 March 2020
Sorry Closed
Friday, 20 March 2020
Not quite business as usual
We hope that you, and yours, are well, and continue to be well. Enough said.
For obvious reasons, we are having to consider what we can now do at the allotment hut.
Until further notice :
We will endeavour to be open for trading on Sunday morning, between 10am and 12 noon, and then weekly at the same time unless things change.
Volunteers will “man” the hut, but we will ask members to keep their distance – in fact remain outside! We will bring stuff to you, and give any assistance that we safely can, including moving compost for those who cannot do it themselves – but again asking members to keep their distance. Please do not come into the hut!!!!
If you are unable to visit this Sunday, and need items, please email us and we will try to do whatever we can to help. Or if you are housebound. No promises.
We currently hold good stocks of compost and growbags, but we do not know whether we will be receiving any further deliveries before the autumn. We also have plenty of potatoes , onions and various seeds.
We do not know if the Plant sale will take place. Some people are already growing seedlings, and it may be that in a month or so we will be in a position to sell these on. We do not know!
As volunteers, we obviously have our own concerns and responsibilities, and we request that you do not visit the hut if you are unwell, or if you are self-isolating because someone else in your household is unwell.
If you should arrive at the hut and find that we are not there, please forgive us. We will do what we can!!!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To say the least, composing this seems more than a little surreal, but hey ho(e)- interesting times. With any luck, soon we will be back to worrying about chocolate spot, verticillium wilt, blight and slugs. Oh those happy, heady days! Maybe this season will be the one where we get on top of those darned weeds, and bring home a hearty harvest! We can dream!
Stay well, and stay in touch with us by email if you wish. We will update you as and when.
Very warm and bestest wishes to you all.
Debbie and Eric (on behalf of the volunteer team
For obvious reasons, we are having to consider what we can now do at the allotment hut.
Until further notice :
We will endeavour to be open for trading on Sunday morning, between 10am and 12 noon, and then weekly at the same time unless things change.
Volunteers will “man” the hut, but we will ask members to keep their distance – in fact remain outside! We will bring stuff to you, and give any assistance that we safely can, including moving compost for those who cannot do it themselves – but again asking members to keep their distance. Please do not come into the hut!!!!
If you are unable to visit this Sunday, and need items, please email us and we will try to do whatever we can to help. Or if you are housebound. No promises.
We currently hold good stocks of compost and growbags, but we do not know whether we will be receiving any further deliveries before the autumn. We also have plenty of potatoes , onions and various seeds.
We do not know if the Plant sale will take place. Some people are already growing seedlings, and it may be that in a month or so we will be in a position to sell these on. We do not know!
As volunteers, we obviously have our own concerns and responsibilities, and we request that you do not visit the hut if you are unwell, or if you are self-isolating because someone else in your household is unwell.
If you should arrive at the hut and find that we are not there, please forgive us. We will do what we can!!!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To say the least, composing this seems more than a little surreal, but hey ho(e)- interesting times. With any luck, soon we will be back to worrying about chocolate spot, verticillium wilt, blight and slugs. Oh those happy, heady days! Maybe this season will be the one where we get on top of those darned weeds, and bring home a hearty harvest! We can dream!
Stay well, and stay in touch with us by email if you wish. We will update you as and when.
Very warm and bestest wishes to you all.
Debbie and Eric (on behalf of the volunteer team
Thursday, 23 January 2020
Pallets, Potatoes & Plants
Pallets of stuff will be reporting for duty on Friday, this week, as the first delivery of 2020 arrives at Hagg Hill. In keeping with tradition, all members are invited to witness this mighty harbinger of spring, and, in deed, participate in the great unloading and re-stacking ceremony. Eric has suggested that those wishing to demonstrate their muscle-power would be extremely welcome to join the fun at 8.45am (for 9). Please!!!
Following all of this excitement, the second event of the day will commence. Potatoes and oniony items will be the stars of this part of the show, and members are, again, invited to join in the ceremony, which involves unpacking and repacking, along with the odd bit of counting and weighing. If you feel that you could be a part of this historic occasion, you are invited to join this fray from 10am. If you have a set of scales that can easily measure 500g, you will be given priority access...! Please!!!
In all of the above, it is hoped that the kettle will be contributing to the sense of optimism and cheer!
Depending on how we get on, on Friday, pre-ordered potatoes should be available for collection on Sunday. Normal opening hours will be operating, but we should be returning to Saturday and Sunday opening from the beginning of February. Unsold potatoes and oniony things will be available for general sale from Sunday, also, but we recommend that you get your skates on if you have your heart set on a particular variety.
The incredible Bucket competition will be taking place again this year. After much careful debate, a variety of potato has been selected which is reputed to be both blight resistant and a heavy cropper, and you are invited to join in the fun (oh yes!!!) and give it a go. Buckets from previous entries can be reused. £3.00 for a bucket + 2 potatoes, or 50p for 2 potatoes. The bucket and potato harvest is yours to keep.
Looking ahead to the Plant Sales, we will be scaling these back somewhat this year. Our current thinking is that we will have just one main sale, over the weekend of May 9th and 10th , although any plants/seedlings that we have will obviously be available in the weeks before and after. The current volunteer team is unable to sustain the level of commitment required to keep the sales going at previous levels – sowing, growing, pricking out and watering has become too big a task. We will continue to grow bits and pieces ourselves, and still hope to have a reasonable selection to offer to members and to the public. In fact we would be very grateful to recruit anyone else who might be interested to do some extra growing, and would be happy to provide seeds and compost to encourage you! You have only got to say the word, although you may get your hand bitten off!
Hope that you are well-rested after a relaxing winter... and look forward to catching up with you soon.
Best wishes for the 2020 season.
Debbie (on behalf of the volunteer team)
Friday, 20 December 2019
Hoe, hoe, hoe
Santa’s helpers are taking a break for a few hours on Sunday morning, and are inviting you to pop along to the Allotment Society Grotto, for a cup of tea, mince pie, and general festive cheer. You may have to fight off the regulars to get a cosy place next to the fire, but, in spite of that, we will endeavour to make you feel very welcome! The elves will be arriving at about 9.30, but will be recalled to the North Pole by about 12.30.
Very much hope that you can join us for a chat and a crumb of comfort.
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and fruitful 2020! (and vegful)
Wednesday, 30 October 2019
winter drawers on
As well as causing us to reach for our (very fetching) thermals, the end of October heralds the beginning of November, and the onset of our winter opening hours. With immediate effect, the mad hutters will only be in attendance on Sunday mornings , 9.30 – 12.30, until the potato season kicks off towards the end of January. Needless to say, we will still be pleased to enjoy your company and custom, and the cake baking and tea brewing will be continuing, although you may well find us huddled together around the stove. As always, if visiting on a Sunday is a major problem for any of our members, please feel free to get in touch and we will see what we can do to help.
Speaking of potatoes, panic seems to have been spreading throughout the area following our failure, this year, to send out an order form. In case you are wondering, no – it is not too late to place an order. A form is available to download from the Society website, or you can place an order in person, on a Sunday.
Seed modules and root trainers: one of our members has discovered a company that supplies heavy duty plastic seed-raising modules and root trainers. They appear to be very durable and long lasting, although this is also obviously reflected in the price. As such, we are not in a position to hold a large stock, but thought that it would definitely be something that members would be interested in, with a view to reducing the amount of single use plastic in gardening. We would, however, be prepared to place a large order, and consequently negotiate a discount, if there are enough people wanting to purchase them through us. We have got a set of samples in the hut, if you want to have a look. Definitely a possibility for Santa to consider on your behalf, for you or for that special person in your life!
Hope that you didn’t get washed away last weekend, and trust that the coming frosts will improve your soil, and curb the enthusiasm of your slugs. And we obviously look forward to seeing you and your winter woollies soon.
Debbie
(on behalf of the volunteer team)
Friday, 13 September 2019
Setting the scene, crikey and cricket
Setting the scene
With all thoughts of a warm and sunny autumn fading, you may have already found yourself reaching towards the central heating “on” switch. “But it’s only September!”, I hear you wail. Whatever! I have to advise you that quick-off-the-mark members (those rare, optimistic souls) have been beating a path to the hut, in order to carry off the prize of next year’s harvest. Paper bags containing the holy grail of overwintering onions, shallots and garlic have been flying off the shelves, and other delights such as broad beans, peas and green manure are likewise generating much interest. Safe to say, though, that we have not yet sold out, and there should be plenty for everyone.
Onion info cobbled from internet:
Onions can be grown following on from potatoes.
Rake in general purpose fertiliser a week before planting.
Allegedly, onions prefer firm soil, so if yours is too well dug (ha ha), you could stomp up and down on it for a bit of exercise.
Sets should be planted 1” deep so that just the tip is showing. September, October or November.
The early bird can mistake onions for worms, so you can cut off the wormy bit, or just keep bunging them back in. Mind you, I swear that some of my onions spontaneously throw themselves out of the soil, as they have been found languishing on the surface when the birds have been carefully excluded.
ALLIUM LEAF MINERS are not to be messed with. These now appear to be commonplace across our area. The only defence seems to be careful covering of beds to stop the blighters getting in to lay their eggs on your onions in the first place. The egg laying period is reported as being the end of April, and October and November. Believe that if you will. I cover mine from beginning to end.
Crikey?
Well I’m afraid it’s that time again. THE POTATO etc ORDER FORM will shortly be available. As always, we recommend that you pre-order your preferred spuds to avoid disappointment in the spring and the order form will be appearing on our website, or can be collected from the hut.
Which brings me onto cricket.
Cricket?
Bet you’re stumped by this reference… Well, if the Cricket World Cup Final had you on the edge of your seats, you would have been bowled over to witness the Potato Bucket super over. Some competitors had already gone for an early tea when bad light had stopped play and their potato foliage had withered. Others managed a slightly longer innings. So, the crowds gathered on the slopes of Hagg Hill last weekend to watch the final ball of the match with baited breath, and the last bucket was unceremoniously tipped into the society wheelbarrow for scrutiny. An imaginary fanfare preceded the declaration of the winners:
Winner and Man of the Match (largest total weight) John McConnan 3.955kg
Winner and Man of the Match (heaviest single potato) Malcolm Lee 0.325kg
Congratulations and the firing of party poppers to them both!
Eagle-eyed members have been quick to point out that this is suspiciously similar to the results from last year, give or take the reversal of the titles. Honours even, then, and John, at least, has thrown down the gauntlet for best of three. Hmmmm.
And the variety? Well! Much speculation took place during the span of the competition. I would like to say that the variety was carefully chosen. Cough. Say no more… It was, in fact, King Edwards and I will leave this subject with a direct quote from the omnipresent internet.
“The key disadvantage to King Edward potatoes is that the crop is not one of the largest, although not one of the smallest either.” Ho hum.
Hope to see you soon – tea and cake still usually available!
Debbie
(on behalf of the volunteer team)
With all thoughts of a warm and sunny autumn fading, you may have already found yourself reaching towards the central heating “on” switch. “But it’s only September!”, I hear you wail. Whatever! I have to advise you that quick-off-the-mark members (those rare, optimistic souls) have been beating a path to the hut, in order to carry off the prize of next year’s harvest. Paper bags containing the holy grail of overwintering onions, shallots and garlic have been flying off the shelves, and other delights such as broad beans, peas and green manure are likewise generating much interest. Safe to say, though, that we have not yet sold out, and there should be plenty for everyone.
Onion info cobbled from internet:
Onions can be grown following on from potatoes.
Rake in general purpose fertiliser a week before planting.
Allegedly, onions prefer firm soil, so if yours is too well dug (ha ha), you could stomp up and down on it for a bit of exercise.
Sets should be planted 1” deep so that just the tip is showing. September, October or November.
The early bird can mistake onions for worms, so you can cut off the wormy bit, or just keep bunging them back in. Mind you, I swear that some of my onions spontaneously throw themselves out of the soil, as they have been found languishing on the surface when the birds have been carefully excluded.
ALLIUM LEAF MINERS are not to be messed with. These now appear to be commonplace across our area. The only defence seems to be careful covering of beds to stop the blighters getting in to lay their eggs on your onions in the first place. The egg laying period is reported as being the end of April, and October and November. Believe that if you will. I cover mine from beginning to end.
Crikey?
Well I’m afraid it’s that time again. THE POTATO etc ORDER FORM will shortly be available. As always, we recommend that you pre-order your preferred spuds to avoid disappointment in the spring and the order form will be appearing on our website, or can be collected from the hut.
Which brings me onto cricket.
Cricket?
Bet you’re stumped by this reference… Well, if the Cricket World Cup Final had you on the edge of your seats, you would have been bowled over to witness the Potato Bucket super over. Some competitors had already gone for an early tea when bad light had stopped play and their potato foliage had withered. Others managed a slightly longer innings. So, the crowds gathered on the slopes of Hagg Hill last weekend to watch the final ball of the match with baited breath, and the last bucket was unceremoniously tipped into the society wheelbarrow for scrutiny. An imaginary fanfare preceded the declaration of the winners:
Winner and Man of the Match (largest total weight) John McConnan 3.955kg
Winner and Man of the Match (heaviest single potato) Malcolm Lee 0.325kg
Congratulations and the firing of party poppers to them both!
Eagle-eyed members have been quick to point out that this is suspiciously similar to the results from last year, give or take the reversal of the titles. Honours even, then, and John, at least, has thrown down the gauntlet for best of three. Hmmmm.
And the variety? Well! Much speculation took place during the span of the competition. I would like to say that the variety was carefully chosen. Cough. Say no more… It was, in fact, King Edwards and I will leave this subject with a direct quote from the omnipresent internet.
“The key disadvantage to King Edward potatoes is that the crop is not one of the largest, although not one of the smallest either.” Ho hum.
Hope to see you soon – tea and cake still usually available!
Debbie
(on behalf of the volunteer team)
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