A few of our tenants are self-isolating due to Covid 19.
This means that they cannot get to their plots at the moment.
As plants do not stop growing, these tenants may need help with their plots.
Please let me know if you could help these tenants and the Association by volunteering to cut hedges or mow grass for tenants who are isolating due to Covid 19.
E mail, text or call me using the contact details on the web site.
Or let me know if you see me on site.
Thanks
Dave Secretary Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association
It’s been another glorious weekend and it was great to see and speak briefly to many of you as you arrived.
A few people have said they were caught out by the mini cold snap mid week as was i, but I will put it down to inexperience.
I would like to say a big thank you to Steve Williams for the work he has done replacing the chain link fencing by the railway, a job well done.
In my email to you all last week I talked about having a new fence on the perimeter between the main and bottom gate, well, I have spoken to Ilkeston fencing and they have advised me that they have a bit of a back log but all being well they will be able to start the work in a couple of weeks.
New Chairman Sadly Steve Yorke has decided to stand down from being Chairman after many years of excellent service. Thank you Steve for all the work you have done for the Association over the years. Steve kindly stayed Chairman over the last few months allowing the Association to go through a transition period when the officers of the Association have changed. Steve has said that he will continue to offer help to the Association and its tenants as he does so selflessly today.
I am pleased to announce that John Stooke has volunteered to be our new chairman. John gardens a plot near to the main gate and his details will be on the website soon if you need to contact him.
Water Advice Thank you to Jane and Barry for the advice on water usage which you may have seen on the website. The very wet winter was followed by a surprisingly dry spring meaning that the advice came at the right time. Happily posting the advice on the website seems to have brought out the rain today and I hope many of you have taken the advice and collected some rainwater to minimise the need to use water that we have to pay for.
Thanks I offer my thanks to everyone who has volunteered to help on the site in whatever capacity. Dave Hurt and Steve Yorke have repaired the fence around the polytunnel. Steve Yorke and Steve Williams have also been busy around the site including improving the main gate and starting work on the fence by the railway embankment. They do so much to help the Association that it is easy to take their work for granted, but it is always valued.
Volunteering The Association really does need more volunteers helping in lots of ways. If there is anything you are willing to do then please get in touch. The Association manages the site rather than the council. The rental we all pay for our plots would be significantly higher if it was not for the work done by volunteers, so please consider what you could do and get in touch with me.
All the grass lanes need mowing regularly and litter should be picked up and taken off site. Thank you to all those who already mow the grass and pick up litter. It would be great if all of us picked up a little bit of litter when we see it and mow the grass outside our plots. I would really appreciate a few people mowing the grass on the lane by the bottom gate (by the railway embankment), in the South West corner (nearest to the Royal Mail depot), and on the lane to the north of the site (just off the main car park) – all help would be gratefully received.
Sharing Seedlings This Spring has been especially testing for many of us. Some tenants may have found it hard to raise the seedlings that they would have liked to be able to plant now. If you have any spare seedlings then please offer them to other tenants. The Association will be refreshing a seedling sharing area near the recycling bay in the main car park. Please leave any spare seedlings there and if you would like some seedlings take what you need while leaving some for others.
Hedges Just a reminder to make sure that the hedges around your plots look like they have been cut since the Autumn. If you do decide to cut your hedges, please consider nesting birds but maintaining the hedges is part of your tenancy agreement.
Enjoy your plots and stay well
Dave Secretary Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association
Smarter Watering: less often, but more water (i.e. NOT a little and often!) Watering an allotment is hard work and boring, and can also be very expensive; we cannot, as an Association, afford to pay another bill like that for 2018. So, ideally, we need to reduce the time we spend watering and ensure that every drop of water used, counts! To do this we need to consider: What is the best watering method? What do we need to water and what can be left? How much do we need to use? When should we water? How else can we reduce the need to water?
The basic principle is that water is needed by the roots, ideally below the roots to encourage root growth. Aim at the soil near the base of the stem. If the soil is baked hard, break it up a bit before watering so that water can penetrate the soil more easily. Avoid general or overall watering that puts water on leaves (encouraging disease) and empty soil, where it is wasted. For larger crops (broccoli, cabbages etc) consider sinking an upside-down plastic bottle with the bottom cut off, at an angle into the soil next to the plant, so that water can be poured into the opening and it will go directly where it’s wanted. Alternatively, when planting larger crops like corn, courgettes, tomatoes, plant them in a ‘dip’ with a ridge around the edge (like a volcano ‘crater’). This will encourage water to run towards the roots. Consider developing a drip or seep system to deliver the water. These can be expensive but Barry (plot 81) has an effective system that he has made quite cheaply. Use a watering can or hose without a rose as a rose will put water where you don’t want it (leaves and empty soil). If you use a hose, ensure it can be turned off at the watering end (a Hozelock device or similar) so that water isn’t wasted as you move from bed to bed. A large watering can saves time walking back and forwards to the water source (provided it’s not too heavy when full) Rainwater is better; it’s free! Ensure you have plenty of water storage on your plot and use buildings to collect water via guttering. The Association can provide advice on how to do this (contact Dave).
Some recommendations Seedlings – small root systems so need regular watering – about 3 times a week Young peas, beans – very little as watering just encourages leaf growth Flowering peas, beans, potatoes – lots as the fruit is setting and swelling Carrots, parsnips – very little to encourage long roots Squash, tomatoes, courgettes – twice a week (though might need more if they are in pots) Cabbage, lettuce, spinach – frequent watering – if they wilt, they need a drink! Leeks, sprouts, radishes, beetroot, purple sprouting broccoli, onions, Spring greens, perpetual spinach – drought resistant so little watering needed. Other ‘established’ veg – once a week A basic routine could be established that involved watering established vegetables once a week, squash and tomatoes twice a week, and seedlings and container plants 3 times a week.
How much water? Soil with an average crop of plants loses about 4 and a half gallons (approx. 20 litres) of water per square yard (approx. 1 square metre) per week in the summer and 2 gallons (approx. 9 litres) per week in the spring and autumn. Never apply small amounts of water (less than 1 gallon per sq yard or 4.5 litres per sq metre) Water thoroughly once you have decided to water. With overall watering apply 2-4 gallons per square yard (9 to 18 litres per square metre), using the higher amount in mid-summer. With point watering use 1-4 gallons (4.5 to 18 litres) per plant depending on its size.
When should we water? Never in full sun First thing in the morning or in the evening. Morning is recommended to avoid encouraging slugs and snails, and avoid leaving damp leaves overnight that might get disease. To check whether you need to water, dig down 3-4 in. below the surface. If it is dry, then water. As a general rule watering will be required about every 7 days during a period of drought.
How else can we reduce the need to water? Keep plots weed-free. They compete for water with the plants we want, so keep them away. Add organic matter, such as compost, to soil as this retains water. Add a 2 inch/5cm layer of mulch to the soil around plants. This can be compost, non-degradable plastic, other material. This will keep water from evaporating and will also block weeds. Add water-retaining granules to pots
And whatever else you do… Turn off the tap and disconnect the hose!
Please take note of the message below that I have received from the council.
Do consider whether it is appropriate to have bonfires or barbecues on your plot. If we receive any complaints from our neighbours or from the council we will have to review the Association position on bonfires and barbecues.
Stay safe
Dave Secretary Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association
Dear Allotment Associations,
I am writing to you today as we have been having a number of complaints into the Council about Bonfires on allotments and also to inform you about potential rent reductions to Associations.
We would request that your tenants follow the guidance below from the Nsalg about bonfires:- Bonfires and BBQs – Could those Associations who allow bonfires all year round ask people to consider their neighbours and not burn anything during this Covid 19 emergency. Many sites are surrounded by houses where vulnerable people may be getting their only bit of fresh air through an open window. This consideration also applies to BBQs.
The Council is also looking into a rent reduction for both Direct-let tenants and Associations. The level of discount will be confirmed once the lock down has ended, we would ask Associations to consider and let us know how their discount will be refunded to their tenants.
Kind regards Jo Tarrant For more information on how allotment association should be managing the current situation please see below.
The Covid 19 crisis means that our Association has had to re-think how it does many things. One thing we need to do differently is running the Association Shop. While the current guidance is in place we cannot arrange to meet to buy and sell things from the shop Instead please do the following: Please e mail me telling me that you want to make a purchase saying what you want. The things that the Association sells in the shop are on the website (click on the Supplies tab) and on a notice outside of the Association polytunnel. If you cannot e mail me, text me or put a note in the post box by the Association polytunnel (e mails will work better). The note should include who wants to make a purchase as well as what you want. I will check my e mails and the post box regularly, but remind me if I do not get back to you within a few days. I will check whether we have what you want. As of today we have all the items we usually sell, however we are not planning to buy any more stock while the Covid 19 guidance is in place. I will reply to you confirming what we have and ask for payment. Payment needs to be made in advance of delivery of the sale. Please pay directly into our bank account if you can. Let me know if you cannot pay into our bank account. Once payment is received I will inform you when your purchases will be available. The best way is for us to leave the items outside of the Association polytunnel. I will tell you when and where they have been left for your collection. Please note that you will be responsible for collecting the goods and the Association will not replace any goods that are lost because they have not been collected quickly. I am sorry for any inconvenience that is caused by running the shop in this way, but I hope you appreciate that we cannot run the shop in the way that we did before the Covid 19 guidance was published. Stay well Dave SecretaryOld Park Farm Garden Holders Association
Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association 