Plotters may have noticed that the P&J ran a feature about the increased demand for city allotments and Aberdeen City Council’s new strategy to promote food growing in the city.
It was pleasing to see this further commitment by the Council to allotment and green spaces. GFAA works in partnership with Aberdeen City Council and is a keen supporter of the strategy. We were delighted that Garthdee Field featured in the article.
An extended version of the article is available online.
At the recent The Allotment Market Stall (TAMS) AGM, dividends were presented to all those allotment sites who contributed surplus fruit and vegetables to the TAMS stalls over the summer.
Our dividend was £210.75 which has been paid directly to the Association. We contributed 322kg of produce. The produce is in great demand among the public and it’s good to see any surplus being put to good use.
The amount of produce contributed to TAMS this past year was well down on 2018 when we received just short of £400 for 850kg contributed which reflects the poorer growing season this year.
TAMS of course is run by volunteers and they have asked if any of the allotment sites could help out especially on a Thursday afternoon but at other times too on the stalls for example. If anyone thinks they might be able to help out please contact any of our Committee.
A big thank-you to all who contributed this past season and we look forward to supporting TAMS next year.
Say hello to Olivia:
Olivia attends a local school in our area and is doing a Community Service project as part of her studies. She visited today to help out with some weeding and raised bed preparation and did a really great job.
It wasn’t the best of days and Olivia (and her Mum) showed enthusiasm and stamina, making an excellent job in the face of some very stubborn weeds.
Sincere thanks go to both of them for their efforts. They are very much appreciated.
Spring will soon be upon us and it will be seed sowing time again. There is no excuse not to be ready with free and cheap seeds available from lots of sources for GFAA plotters.
Our Seed Swop area in the Octagon has had a Spring spruce up and has lots of veggie, herb and flower seeds ‘in stock’. Please feel free to help yourself to what you need, especially if you can bring along some of your own surplus seeds to swop. Thanks go to Raymond (Plot 95a) for adding some exciting new seeds.
If you don’t find what you need in the Octagon seed swop, don’t forget that as a GFAA plotter you can buy from Dobies the Seed Merchant and get 40% off your bill for seeds (and 10% off everything else in their catalogue. There are copies of their catalogue along with a letter with our unique Discount code in the Octagon. Remember the code MUST be USED at the point of purchase or no discount is possible. You get 40% off and GFAA gets a further 10% of your spend for our funds. It’s a win win.
The very popular Tarland Seed Swop is another great way of getting something special at a bargain price. Thanks go to Val (Plot 23) fr this reminder.
Finally, GFAA has just secured two more tractor loads of ex-Hazlehead Compost for use by our Plotters. The new load is not quite as ‘clean’ as the first consignment, but it is still excellent, mature stuff. Help yourself, but please take a bag or bucket with you for any bits of branch, or debris you might find while filling your barrow. Please don’t leave the rejected waste to be blown about and make the site look unsightly.
Roll up, roll up! First Come, first served. Form an orderly queue please!
GFAA have been gifted a number of industrial shelving units. We need to thank Murray from SANMAC, the company concerned, and Keith Slater who facilitated matters and transported the units to Garthdee Field for us.
The units are tall as you can see, made of metal and designed to last a lifetime. the shelves are adjustable. Obviously, they are pre-loved, as they say today. If you have a Container they will fit height-wise and of course they can be cut down in height if necessary. They are likely to be especially useful for plotters with Containers, metal or plastic sheds – but they are on offer to any and all.
If you are interested, register your interest in a comment below or text or phone Norman on 07702127346. They are free, but if once you see them, you feel a donation to GFAA funds is appropriate, then such a gesture will be much appreciated.
The volunteer squad will be pleased to deliver to your plot and cut them to size if necessary.
As I said, first come first served! We have about 10 units.
We now have a good and growing stock of leaves, wood chips and compost on site, kindly provided free by The Council, local contractors and from Hazelhead Park. Plotters should feel free to collect as much as the like for use on their own plots.
I had an interesting conversation recently with Bruce (Plot 79) on the safe handling of these materials. Bruce believes he may have contracted a respiratory complaint from spores in the water vapour released when these materials are handled. A little internet research (Daily Mail Article: Gromicko Article) suggests caution is sensible when handling leaves, wood chips and compost (both homemade and commercial).
These seem sensible precautions:
Always wear dry, breathable gloves to avoid direct contact with the skin, and to protect yourself from injury while using gardening tools and implements.
Wear protective footwear that covers your skin adequately to avoid direct contact with compost. Do not wear them anywhere except outdoors.
When stirring and tilling the compost, which is required on a regular basis in order for it to process and break down, always wear a nose and mouth guard or dust mask to avoid inhaling the various spores that will become airborne during tilling and turning.
Avoid tilling on windy days.
Do not store compost in fully closed or airtight containers. Without any air, it can actually become combustible.
Wash your hands after dealing with compost. While this suggestion may sound obvious, many garden enthusiasts get so absorbed with their activities that they forget the potential dangers from poisoning.
If you develop a severe cough or infection of the skin (especially if there is an open sore or puncture wound), seek medical attention immediately. You may require antibiotics or a tetanus shot.
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