Hi all... I recently got a contact who is willing to deliver wood chips and logs "free of charge" for anyone who is interested

His name is Michael
Company Name - Aspen Tree Care
Contact Number - 07888 731807

In the last couple of days I've been made aware of a catastrophic problem with manure contaminated by a hormone weedkiller- Aminopyralid - causing major crop failure up and down the country.

I had a problem with some spud plants not doing very well (in a raised bed that I had treated with manure taken from the midden last autumn) but my guru suggested black rot. Since reading about this Aminopyralid problem, I'm wondering how everyone else is getting on.

I'm down south again, back up tonight and will get up to the plot tomorrow to have a closer look and see if my symptoms match those listed on various forums and websites.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/news/Weedkiller-manure.asp

There are dozens of links littered about the net, just Google Aminopyralid and you'll probably be shocked at what you find.

There is contradictory advice about whether you should eat healthy looking produce from areas treated with contaminated manure, and it even appears to have entered the grow bag chain as many people are reporting that their crops have been affected from using compost from commercially sold growbags.

Anybody else heard about this problem up on the site ?

I was chatting to a chap yesterday who has an allotment here down south, and a few of his neighbouring plottees have suffered some type of crop failure but hadn't worked out the cause. I've sent him off to ask if they manured their ground recently. He was totally unaware of this problem as I suspect an awful lot of us are.

Lordy B, what's it like when you can't even shovel some poo in your ground without wondering what's in it !

Would be interested to hear if anyone is suffering from an unexplained crop failure.

Regards

MrsKP

Once again the elections of the new committee has taken place.I`m happy to say that we are now in a position to field a full team having filled all the posts and committee places.Once again as I have been re-elected as chairperson I wish to thank all those who turned up and hope this is a sign that the future will bring commitment and growth to the plots. Some of the new members who turned up have said that perhaps if asked they would consider sitting on the committee next year.This is an understandable situation as it takes time to bring a new plot into shape to allow yourself the time to take part in the other activities that we need to undertake to progress in the plots.We are still waiting word of the supply of the new committee hut. In the mean time I have been asked to investigate prices for a gazebo tent in order to put on some undercover open day event tables.Iwill report back to the committee in due course. please feel free to leave messages at any time.TAKING CARE OF P`S andQ`S

Dear Members I would like to point out to all members that the derelict site at the far left of the allotments are in the process of slowly being cleared . A long labour intensive piece of work. I am therefore extremely disappointed to find that there are members within the allotments dumping all sorts of rubbish on this site including excess vegetable matter which could have more suitably been composted. Perhaps we should have made it clear to everyone that this site is not a dumping ground and anyone found doing so may be penalised by the amount it costs to remove it. Moving your waste problem to someone else is not acceptable. We expect more responsible behaviour from all our members. If you see someone dumping it is all our responsibility to bring this to a halt and point out
the wrong being done. Please no more fly tipping .You wouldn`t want it in your back yard.

I would like to extend my thanks to those members who gave a little of their time to help clear the fire debris. There is still quite a lot to be done to remove the bulk of the refuse but with enough people taking just one rubble bag and filling it and put to one side then arrangements to move all that is left can be made. I believe that it is the way to build a community .The Beatles wrote a song called With A little help from my friends. I believe that a good community inspires help from everyone .In a good community differences are put aside in times of trial. I would like to think that we were capable of achieving this in our dear green place. I personally would rather strive for that ideal than hold grudges and in the words of another song .Don't look back in anger. Once again thanks to those who heard the call please don't stop. Your singing chairperson ............Joe

Major apologies for the lack of action on the site for the past few months.

Family trauma has dictated that my head was elsewhere for the duration.

Am due to return north this coming weekend and look forward to focussing on allotment type things.

Thanks for your patience.

MrsKP

The weather has been unkind to a number of allotmenteers with huts and greenhouses suffering some major damage .It seems no matter how prepared we think we are the harshness of nature shows us how ill prepared we really are. It is at times like these I would hope that the spirit of community within the allotments shows its supportive side and neighbours help each other. We also have had a major fire in the allotments where one plot has been totally destroyed. No matter what the cause of the fire it raises the problem of removing the debris .It is hoped that we can gather some volunteers to help clear this sight as soon as possible . We will have to arrange a skip for an appropriate day .This skip would only be for clearing the fire damaged site. Hopefully one skip will be enough. A notice will be posted when we require volunteers . If anyone has any rubble sacks available for use these would be very helpful. Many thanks to all

I wish everyone at our dear green place a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope the coming year will be one of harmony and consideration and of course growth.

Mary's Courgette and Tomato Chutney

Ingredients:
1kg large courgettes
1kg green tomatoes
500g cooking apples
500g onions
500g sultanas
500g dark muscovado sugar
600ml pickling vinegar
1 teaspoon of dried chilli flakes
pinch of salt

Dice all the fruit and veggies.
Put all ingredients in a large saucepan
Stir occasionaly while bringing to the boil and simmer for 2-3 hours
The chutney is ready when it is rich, thick and reduced, If you draw a wooden spoon through it the mixture should part to reveal the bottom of the pot.
Pot up in warm sterilsed jars while still hot and cover with plastic coated lids.

This chutney is dark and rich and needs to be kept for about 6 - 8 weeks to mature. Usually it's just about right by Christmas

If you don't like metric, just substitute lbs and keep the proportions the same.

Mary, Plot 37

Plenty of cow poo still to be had in the Midden.

Better be quick before the weeds take over again.

Hello to all members and contributors to the new web site.

Sunday, 7th October was the monthly meeting of your committee and among the subjects discussed was the usage of our new web site. We had hoped that the site would bring together all those on the allotments to share advice information and friendly interchange of ideas in a positive and helpful way. We did not think that we would have to remind anyone of the need for mutual respect and decent language on the site.

It has to be said that there have been some submissions which are less than respectful and do not help the cause of creating a nurturing and pleasant environment in which to relax and grow our plants .

Personal issues must not be aired on this site. I would urge everyone to leave the past behind them and travel into a new growing and supportive year in the association.

Where there is the will to achieve good there is no doubt it can be achieved. Our Open Day and the will of everyone who took part to make it a success is testament to that fact . We raised a substantial amount of money which will go towards forward improvement of facilities on site.

I have been asked to make it plain to everyone that nothing that is complained about on the web will be discussed by the committee.  Anything that is wished to be seriously discussed must be submitted in writing for earnest consideration.
If you are not willing to stand by your comments it can only be considered as malicious trouble making and most reasonable minded members will recognise it as such.

The only way for any association to succeed is to be supported by their members and this is best achieved by communication and interchange openly of ideas and opinion.

Each year a group of people among the membership is voted into the role of overseeing the running of the business of the allotments association. This year, as in years gone by there has not been the will of enough people willing to stand in the capacity of a committee member.   It is easy to criticise after any event where something has gone wrong but why wait?

Give us your ideas, your comments about what you would like.

There are some older members who have wealth of information on what works best on this site. Share it. I still think of myself as a youngster at the age of 57 but I'm willing to learn from anyone be they 8 or 80 .

The day you think you know it all you may as well stop. I`m not that arrogant and intend to kick around for a while. So let's pull together before we pull it all apart and end up watching property developers rubbing their hands and earmarking disfunctional associations for their new block of luxury flats.

Chairman