Kelvinside Allotments Association Newsletter Number 30

March. 2012

Chris Wilkinson

It's with great sadness that we report that Chris Wilkinson died at home surrounded by his family in late February. Judy has indicated there will be a memorial service in April for all friends and colleagues. Chris had asked for no flowers please but if anyone wishes to send anything in his memory, he suggested donations to Chromosome 18 (Europe) www.chromosome18eur.org

President's Message

Hello and welcome to the new year, new growing season and new committee! This is my first newsletter since becoming President of KAA and although I have been a gardener for many years, as a relatively new plotholder I am really enjoying the opportunity to meet so many new people - all of us engaged in this most absorbing, beautiful, frustrating but ultimately rewarding pastime. I'm sure you, like me, are looking forward eagerly to the growing season and hoping once again that maybe in 2012 someone will find a guilt-free final solution for slugs and snails - or alternatively a good recipe for them! This year I am hoping to grow some regularly shaped carrots and parsnips - although my recent crops of the latter have been not too bad, the carrots if they grew at all looked as though they should have appeared as an item on an episode of 'That's Life' circa 1979.

We may all still only just be making plans for our plots this year but the new committee is already working hard - so far we have secured some additional grant funding for two more raised beds at Julian and we have another funding application pending which will enable us to make further improvements in the years to come. We are also looking into installing some raised bed plots at Kirklee. Plus we have organised a number of working parties to tidy the borders, shift compost about, clear fallen trees and tidy up after the terrible winds at the beginning of January. The communal activities have been a great way of getting to know other plotholders and despite the occasional bit of rain, have been good fun. I really would encourage as many of you as possible to join in with a working party whenever you can. Doing something for the common good improves life for everyone on the plots, we reap what we sow in every sense.

As we start the year it's now perhaps the perfect time for a polite reminder to everyone to be a good neighbour on the plots, take care of paths and be aware of security.

We're trying to improve the lines of communication with everybody - we've set up a regular get together - on the first Saturday of the month at Julian we now have 'A Coffee, a Clear and a Chat' on the site (thank you Oran Mor!) and the dates and minutes of our committee meetings will be put up in the huts on both sites. We are keen to send communications by email so do make sure we have your current email address, but if you don't have email we will of course continue to send notices out by post or will display them on the notice boards at both sites. We would be delighted to receive suggestions as to how we can improve things and in each hut you will find an up to date list of the committee members with our contact details so please do get in touch with any of us with your ideas or comments. We really do look forward to hearing from you. Have a great Spring, happy gardening!

April Bassett Plot 7

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Plot inspections

The first plot inspection of the year will be on Sunday 15th April. To ensure that we know which plot is which, can you get your plot numbers tidy and visible. Not sure if you are 'A' or 'B' on a half plot? On Julian the numbering runs from Julian Avenue to Mirrlees Drive On Kirklee it runs from the Hut and boundary with Kirklee Gate flats to the 'Big Gate'.

Grant for raised beds

Last year we applied for a grant to create more raised beds as starter plots and plots for those finding difficulty with a conventional plot. We were successful in getting sums of money from three local area committees and two new raised beds will join the others on the slope at Julian Ave. This year we'll scope potential for more starter plots on Kirklee and continue to press for more plots in the West End.

Committee minutes in folder in hut/porta-cabin

After approval committee minutes will be placed in the Kirklee hut and Julian porta- cabin in a folder. We will also have some form of suggestions box/notebook.

Life membership - 10 years minimum

Following on from the resolution taken at 2011's AGM about conferring life membership on plotholders as they retire from allotment gardening the committee recommends that life membership be granted to members with a minimum of 10 years membership at the time of 'retiral'.

Skips

Please try to use the skips and green cage appropriately. The skip is essentially for non-plant rubbish or wood; plastics, rubble, old pots etc. Definately not for Xmas trees - I'll put a reminder about that in the Autumn newsletter! The green cage is for plant waste; perennial weeds, old cabbage stumps hedge trimmings, etc.

POD

We'll be ordering POD, the soil improver, again for both sites. Last season we recovered abut 40% of the cost of POD and considered raising the price per barrow. Currently the committee asks for 50p per barrow for POD to be paid along with rents and membership fees at the AGM. We really need to do full cost recovery on this so here's a suggestion; consider the cost per barrow of POD is 50p as a minimum donation, do consider what great value for money it is and perhaps give little more if you are able.

Apple tree care workshop John Hancox has considerable experience with apple trees and is offering to put on a workshop on pruning and general care. Please get in touch if you would be interested so we can gauge numbers.

Work party Julian 1st Saturday of the month

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As April mentioned there's 'A Coffee, a Clear and a Chat' on Julian the 1st Saturday of the month. Come along and help tidy-up communal areas and, I suspect, have some home baking!

Glasgow Allotments Forum GAF has a series of talks for the spring and luckily they are near us in Woodside Halls.

Tues 27th March Onions, Carrots & other Roots

Tues 17th April Tomatoes and greenhouse crops

7-9pm Woodside Halls Glenfarg St. off St Georges Rd St Georges Cross G20 7QF

GAF meets every other month and is for anyone involved in allotments in Glasgow. The next meeting is March 7th 19:00 Woodside Halls. The GAF website is great source of information and inspiration: www.glasgowallotmentsforum.org.uk/

KAA website

www.kelvinsideallotments.org/

Our own website is where you'll find details of the committee, minutes of meetings etc. Please contact John Hancox with photos, ideas for content and notices

John Hancox 0778 606 3918 email

Open Day - Saturday 23rd June, 12.00 to 4.00pm As our annual contribution to the West End Festival, both sites will be open to the public. This is an excellent opportunity for members of the community to visit us, and see the benefits of these open spaces. We also raise valuable funds for the Association from sales of refreshments and plants - so...... please ensure that we have well-stocked plant stalls by preparing a few cuttings or pots of seeds, perhaps of slightly unusual things, that will be in good shape by June. Herbs sell especially well - so please see what you can do.

3 Committee for 2012

Office holders

  • President: April Bassett plot 7 email
  • Vice President: John Hancox plot 8
  • Treasurer: Roger Downie plot 81
  • Committee Secretary: Catherine Steel plot 107
  • Membership Secretary: Anne Dunbar plot 88a
  • Site Secretary Rose Kelly plot 22

Ordinary members:

Judy Wilkinson SAGS rep., Maggie Mclellan, Marilyn Boyd, Marlies Pfeifer, Margaret Williams

GAF representative: Anne Dunbar,

General Correspondence to Catherine Steel Kirklee plot 107 email

Correspondence re: the newsletter or membership enquiries to Anne Dunbar Kirklee plot 88a email

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