Hayfield Allotments Society

Amidst the excitement of the current controversies, I offer the following on the business of growing vegetables.

I have a very longstanding friend who is a botantist and (like me) has retired to his vegetable patch. As a fellow peace seeker amongst the wonders of nature, we naturally exchange tips on growing stuff. The following extract from his latest letter to me, might be of help to others:

“Concerning carrot root fly - we use a system which keeps them out for most of the year (would work better if we maintained it).  We grow carrots in ’squares’ of 1.7metres, around each square we have four 6ftX3ft sheets of the clear corrugated acrylic; the sheets are held in place by canes tied with twine (a more rigid system would work better).  It keeps the carrot fly out of the early crops.

We have used ‘ The Prince Charles’ method of growing runner beans for two seasons now - we get bigger and better crops with half the number of plants.  Attached is a photo of the frame (runs approx E-W).  On the S side we attached a row of canes at 9in intervals,and another lot of canes over the top (looks like a lean-to shed). The beans grow up the front, and then across the top thus intercepting more light, with the advantage of being able to pick from below.  It cost about £80 to set up using re-cycled fencing material, the main cost was in the post holders.

I calculated I get 40 tons/acre from my potatoes.  Spuds are ‘capitalists’; the big spuds get bigger and the later initited tubers just do not grow as well.  Instead of just diging up the plants at maturity I carefully remove the largest tubers as they form using a trowel (or ususally a digging stick), replacing the soil. I can do this for about 6 weeks before  I have to cut off the tops because of blight,and then I harvest the lot.”

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There will be an EGM at The George Hotel, 19th January 2009 at 18.30 hrs. If you’d like to see an agenda ahead of time, contact committee secretary Natalie. 

All members of HAS should attend. We’ll be voting on the new compulsory contribution, and various other important matters.

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Natalie says:

Happy New Year for 2009.

Works are to commence on Sunday 11th January at the allotment putting in place main pathways. The first of these paths borders plots from 13a and 18 down the site to river and will affect plots 13 a,b and c, 14a and b, 15 a and b, 16, 17, 18 and 20. This will result in a safer path and easier access.

A work party is being put together to help with the operation meeting on the site from 9.30 am, so any volunteers that can help dig out the path and lay stone chippings will be very greatly appreciated. Hot drinks and biscuits will be supplied.

Hope to see you there

Best wishes

Natalie
HAS Secretary

 

Edit—this was called off due to bad weather. Natalie will announce a future date for the work.

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Committee membership secretary Natalie says:

Think you know your turnips from your tomatoes? Then join in our pub quiz in the bar at The George Hotel. It’s only £1 to enter for your chance to win a whopping £40 in garden vouchers. Teams can be any size and anyone can join in. See you there!

Thursday, 22nd January 2009 7 p.m. The George Hotel Hayfield

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One of the joys of allotments is wandering around and admiring everyone’s ingenuity. There are quite a few home made contraptions around ours, and I dont mind admitting I will be incorporating some of them into my plot.

Now, I have it on good authority that next year is going to be inordinately dry - after all we are due for a hot dry summer. This creates extra problems for those of us who dont have a conventient stream near our plots.

So here is a challenge for the inventive amongst us. First, go to www.christainaid.org.uk/gardeningtips. Secondly, read the article on how farmers manage in droughts in Burkino Faso, West Africa. Page 3 of the short article has a particularily interesting article on an automatic, gravity fed, watering system made from polybags and thin pipes - a working contraption in the best traditions of British allotment gardening.

So I offer a small prize to the first working example I see operating on our site!

Colin

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Hayfield Allotment Society AGM was held last night at the George pub. I’ll post the minutes to the meeting as soon as they’re available but the salient points were as follows:

• Pete Webb has resigned: Pete is off to Kazakhstan for a year, so is reluctantly unable to continue his duties as Chairman of the committee. He is also giving up his plot. Unfortunately, nobody volunteered to fill his shoes, so the committee currently lacks a chairman. Existing committee members have agreed to share the chairman’s duties between them. Thanks were given to Pete for doing an excellent job over the last few years. 
• New External Liaison committee position created: It was agreed that the post of External Liaison Officer be created for Keir Thomas. As well as maintaining this website and notice board, Keir will also investigate external sources of funding for the society. 
• Quarter plots introduced: A plan for quarter plots was introduced. Put simply, if anybody vacates a plot, it will be split into two quarter plots. The individual who’s highest on the waiting list will then be asked if they want a half plot or a quarter plot. If they choose a quarter plot, the next person on the waiting list will be offered the remaining quarter plot. That person can choose to wait until a half plot becomes free, or go for the quarter plot. In addition, any existing allotment holder who feels that their half plot is too much can also give-up half, thus making a quarter plot available for somebody on the waiting list. As you might realise, this is very much about bringing down our extraordinarily-long waiting list. At the present time, over 30 people are waiting. 
• Site maintenance: The deer fence appears to be working very well and the shed is now entirely water tight. The dam has gone but will be back next year, and thanks were given to those who improved access to the stream. Work is on-going to install a toilet within the shed, largely for the use of female allotmenteers. As mentioned, the strimmer is now functional. 
• Ideas invited: With a new committee member who will be seeking funding, and also Parish Council involvement, this year a big effort will be made to seek sources of funding. Ideas were requested for projects we could undertake. Suggestions are still invited (contact the committee) but those that came up included:
  • Buying compost bins for everybody
  • Mains water
  • Tarmacing the main paths
• Wood chippings: We desperately need wood chippings to repair (or even create) paths around the site, but it seems there simply aren’t any. Our usual source of chippings—tree surgeons—have been getting less work because of the recession, and also can’t chip wood that’s wet because it jams the machines. And this summer has been almost exclusively wet. Work is ongoing to find other sources of chippings. 
• Social events: It was agreed that we’d hold a number of social events throughout 2009. News will follow, and hopefully a new “Calendar” section will be added to this website. 

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This in from Committee Secretary Natalie:

There have been a couple of reports of fruit theft that have reached the attention of the committee. Has any allotment holder had any experience of this, whether produce or otherwise? Has any tenant witnessed any individuals on the site that did not appear to be allotment holders or their family/friends?

If you have any information, contact one of the committee.

Apparently, rhubarb is one of the fruits no longer safe—some people were witnessed helping themselves to some. When approached, they walked off hurriedly.

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The strimmer is back up and running, thanks to the insertion of a new spark plug.

It’s a bit reluctant to start. Don’t prime it, but just switch it on, move the choke to half, pull the thottle in, and yank the cord.

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Here’s a mystery for you!

Take a look at the photograph to the right (click to make bigger). I saw this poster lying on the ground at the allotment the other day. It reads “Getting around Coventry. Visitor’s map.”

My sense of direction is notoriously bad but even I know that Coventry is some miles from here.

The question is: How did it get here? I know the answer, and will post it in a few days’ time! (Hint: It didn’t fall off the back of a lorry! And, anyway, why would a lorry ferrying-around Coventry’s rubbish be driving past Hayfield?)

THE ANSWER: It’s a little complicated, so bear with me. Terry’s son’s occupation involves dealing with the large information displays typically found in town centres. They’re usually covered by perspex. He very kindly brought some old perspex sheets down to the allotment, rather than dump them, along with some opaque sheeting that’s equally useful to allotmenteers. Some of these sheets still had their information sheets attached to them, including a map of Coventry in this case!

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This in from Natalie:

Now that the weather has turned cold any deer damage to crops may become more and more apparent. If you have experienced any evidence of deer entering the allotment site since this summer please could you let the Allotment Committee know as soon as possible?

Many thanks.

Natalie
HAS Secretary

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From the Daily Telegraph:

Around 100,000 people are said to be waiting for an allotment in England alone and provision is lagging behind public demand.

Around 200,000 allotments, the equivalent of an area 15 times the size of Hyde Park, disappeared over the last 30 years as affluence increased and convenience foods became widely available.

The report mentions that, in some areas, farmers are even renting out their land for allotments.

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Cautionary note for those of us who have ever wondered exactly how much that grows wild is edible:

Worrall Thompson, 57, recommended a weed called henbane as an excellent addition to salads in a recent magazine article.

The herb is in abundant supply, locally grown and organically produced—the only problem is it contains a potentially fatal poison.

He recommended the plant in an interview for the August edition of Healthy And Organic Living magazine, in which he discussed his passion for organic foods.

Here’s a link to the story.

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This came in from Committee Chairman Pete Webb last week — apologies for posting it a little late:

The HAS Committee had an inspection tour of Hayfield Allotments on Monday, 30 June. Generally speaking, we were satisfied with what we saw. Where there were any matters outstanding, we have contacted the relevant tenants, or tried to; in one or two cases we only got the answer machine.

As a general point, we would ask all tenants to keep their paths in good order. The Clerk to the Parish Council has been round the site and noted that in some cases, the paths are uneven, and therefore present a danger to tenants. Please check your paths and level out any bumps and holes as necessary.

Talking of paths, several of you have asked when we are going to get some more wood chips. I’ll be getting in touch with our suppliers very shortly. Hopefully, they will drop us a load or two in a few days.

Meanwhile, the fruit is ripening, the onions are swelling, and we are approaching that time of year that makes it all worthwhile -– happy harvesting!

Pete Webb
Chairman, HAS.

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My father once told me many years ago when I was very young, that he thought there was something a bit “odd” about blokes who grew flowers on their allotment. I think I now know what he was hinting at but, I hasten to add, dissociate myself from it. On the contrary, I believe that there is something missing in blokes who cannot appreciate natural beauty  in flowers, wildlife or landscape - all of which we are fortunate enough to have in abundance in Hayfield.

We don’t have a flowershow in Hayfield - but we do have the next best thing - A flower festival - where themes are interpreted using the medium of flowers. Over the last week the people of St Johns church have spent many hours interpreting the theme of “Nursery Rhymes” to produce a really wonderful spectacle. Entrance is free - though donations are welcome and go towards updating the kitchen there. It is open from 2 to 4.30pm every day next week (including Saturday and Sunday) and suitable for all ages. Young children would particularly enjoy it. 

Please pop along - they even off refreshments with lovely home made cake at very reasonable prices.

Perhaps next year we might be able to persuade a few allotmenteers to grow some flowers for the event?

Colin

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The Royal Horticultural Society has said that a “significant” number of allotment holders are getting deformed crops. The cause is a herbicide called aminopyralid that’s passing through animals and into manure, which is then being used in allotments. Aminopyralid isn’t rated for food crops but is used to stop weed growth in grassland. Animals are then eating the grass. Despite the fact the herbicide passes through them, and is rotted into manure, it’s still potent and causing problems.

The Guardian has more info.

Have you noticed your crops are growing strange? Have you spotted weird foliage? Have your potatoes been coming out rotten?

Robin and Christina Jones spread a large amount of manure over their flower garden and vegetable patch at their home in Banstead, Surrey. When the potatoes failed, Robin took a sample to the RHS, which identified aminopyralid. His neighbour, who bought from the same source, suffered the same problems. ‘We have lost 80 per cent of our vegetable patch,’ said Jones, 65, a retired sound engineer. Raspberries, French beans, onions, leeks, even a newly planted robina tree were all affected. ‘We are distraught. But what worries me is that the courgettes look very healthy. Had we not had the problem with the potatoes, we might never have realised. Now we are advised not to eat them.

‘This is a very serious issue, and people must be made aware of the advice not to eat vegetables grown in contaminated manure.’

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The more exercise you do, the fitter you get, or so the medics tell us. It doesn’t seem to work for me, though - I simply get more and more tired. Whenever the tiredness gets too much down on the allotments, I often take my self off for a chat with whoever else is down there, or simply go for a nosey around.

About a month ago, I was nosing around and happened to have my camera with me, when I came across this strange plant.

Do you know what it is?

Do you know whose plot it is on?

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A middle-aged man has died after shifting a lot of dead bark and compost, according to BBC News. The cause was Aspergillus mould, usually not a problem, but this poor guy was engulfed by clouds of the stuff when he disturbed it. Part of the problem was that doctors didn’t realise what the problem was until it was too late (they thought it was pneumonia). Doctors are now recommending the use of dust masks when shifting a lot of compost:

David Denning, of the University of Manchester, said that while Aspergillus itself could be found in many gardens, it would generally be dangerous only if disturbed in large quantities and the resulting dust inhaled.

He said: “This should not be a problem for your average small-scale gardener who is using small quantities of compost at one time.
“However, if you are moving it in very large amounts, then perhaps wearing a face-mask would be advisable.”

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The Derby allotment targeted by vandals has seen a huge public response in the form of donations — both glass, to replace that which was broken, and money:

Allotment spokeswoman Gladys Clarke said the public reaction has been an antidote to the shock of the attack.

“We have worked really hard to repair the damage but we have also had so much support and help,” she said.

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Vandals have pretty much levelled an allotment site in Derby:

It is believed the culprits scaled a wall at Sinfin Moor Park allotments overnight on Tuesday.

They smashed more than 40 panes of glass in sheds and greenhouses and repairs could cost thousands of pounds.

Site managers said insurance was difficult to obtain and many plot holders had lost months of work which they could not afford to replace.

Allotments are always an easy target for bored teenagers.

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