midmarallotments.org.uk

 The 2008 Open Day began for some plotholders as early as 8 o’clock; by then the sun was already warm, the grass was being cut, plots tidied up and produce cut for delivery to the stalls.

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FEDAGA (Federation of Edinburgh and District Allotments and Gardens Associations) organise this interesting and inspiring event every year. This year it is taking place on Sunday 14th Sept. in the Southside Community Education Centre on Nicolson St.  Entries can be placed on display Saturday  and Sunday morning. All plot-holders should have received a schedule in the post early in the summer and this gives details on how to submit an entry and tips. Please be encouraged to put in a few entries, the cost of which is only 10 or 20p per entry. I am sure you can find a few good specimens of produce despite the poor summer we have had. Maybe you are good at baking or jam making and could win a commendation.

Our children are the next generation of growers and they are encouraged to enter in the children’s section. There is a new Trophy to be won in this section

This is your chance to demonstrate your skills. If you think you could not provide any item for entry by yourself, you may be able to make a contribution to the group entry from the Midmar site.

If you want to take part and need some encouragement or help, please get in touch with me, Liz Grace by e-mail by entering a comment on this announcement

People have asked what will we do with the compost created in the bins.

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Could one of the Committee put the contact details for manure suppliers on the website - The notice is obscured on the Field 1 notice board.

Are we sure that the suppliers are not likely to supply manure contaminated with weedkiller as in recent press.

Dianne

The Open Day this year will be on Saturday 23rd August from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm.

There will be stalls at the gates of both Field 1 and 2 for the allotment produce, home preserves and baking. We exchange these with our visitors for donations to the association coffers. The Open Day has become our major fund-raising event and we hope that plotholders will give generously.

Please deliver your produce to the either of the field gates from 11.00 onwards. If you have something that will serve as a prize for the tombola then please also leave at the field gates.

We will have a gazebo erected at each gate by 12.00. Gates open for visitors at 1.00 pm.

In advance of the Open Day, we will conduct a health & safety check and may have to place hazard bunting where a path may be unsuitable for visitors. We’ll clear all this away as soon as possible after the event.

The gates will close at 4.00 pm.

There will be a BBQ on the communal plot for all plotholders. We’ll supply the fuel. Bring your own food.

See the advert: midmar-allotments-open-day-poster-2008-vers-2.doc

Please feel welcome to print off and/or send on to any friends who might enjoy an afternoon out. 

HERE IT IS

Click on the following link to a PDF file containing the minutes, written by Ian Woolard,  of the last 3 meetings

FEDAGA /LEISURE DEVELOPMENT MEETING - Minutes.

We had a very useful 2 hour session which accomplished lots.

Thanks to Sylvia, David, Sylvia’s Irish friend, Peter, Neil, Alison, the Treasurer, Brian, Rod, Anne, Charlie, Tim, Grant, Penny, Barbara for your hard graft and support.

1. All the bins now have retaining planks, handily numbered so as they can be put back in the right order - the planks are different lengths since the the retaining pillars are tilting under the strain.

See Field 1 bins - resignposted and field 2 bins - also new signs

2. A lot of material was barrowed to the communal plot bins and bonfire site. The bonfire disappeared on Monday in about 45 minutes. Not too much smoke and lots of heat. Bonfire moment the following day

3. An executive decision was made not to cart the composted material at the bottom of the bins to the communal plot as it seemed a waste of time to move stuff that will be soon ready to use. You will see on both plots that the bins for Compost and Burning have been reversed and are suitably ?legibly signposted.

4. The heat generated in the Field 2 bin was impressive.

5. Two of the bins on the communal plot are pretty much full. The compost does sink with time. The idea is to turn them soon from Left to Right. Communal plot bins

6. Preparation of the top path on the communal plot was done and the first reinforcing structures have been tentatively placed Path reinforcement starte

Discussion took place on building more bins on Field 1 so that complete composting could be done without humping material far and wide. Also perhaps getting a brazier on Field 1 could save effort.

Comments and Ideas welcome

The BarbQ following was as ever a joy and went on far too late (for some). But the weather was so nice.

Next Barbq - Saturday 23rd August following the Open Day

Finally thanks to the person whose red onion crop was dumped in Field 1 bin. They will provide me with a steady supply for my salads for the next month or two. Also the carrot thinnings put in Field 2 bin provided excellent stir fty material. Waste not - want not. Any ideas for Couch grass salad?

I should have signed off as STEPTOE

Almost more rain than sun for June-which was 2.13 inches.

I am trying to make up a rainfall chart covering the last 3 years-watch this space!!