Garthdee Allotments

GFAA – Community Update – April 2025

On April 21, 2025

At Last – Some Decent Weather!

With the sunshine finally making an appearance, it’s the perfect time to get back into the garden — and we’ve got a few updates and opportunities to help you make the most of it.

GFAA Annual Plant Sale – Sunday 18th May 2025

We’re excited to announce that the GFAA Annual Plant Sale is happening again this year!
Date: Sunday 18th May 2025
Time: From 10:30 AM
Location: On-site

Just like last year, we’ll be offering a wide range of vegetable seedlings, tomato plants, and other homegrown plants — all at very low prices! We’ve even got some second-hand gardening tools available this year.

Raymond (Plot 83) will be on hand to offer technical advice and plant wisdom, so don’t hesitate to chat with him.

Please bring cash.
All proceeds go towards maintaining and improving our shared communal areas.

Remnants of the Annual Bonfire

There are still some remains from our GFAA Bonfire in the North Car Park.
Feel free to take what you can make use of — but please be cautious of any nails or screws that may be mixed in with the ash.

Horse Manure Deliveries

Great news for soil lovers! We’ve arranged a few small deliveries of locally sourced horse manure.

You’ll find bagged manure left beside the south Planings bin.
You’re welcome to help yourself, but please dispose of the empty bags responsibly once you’ve used the contents.

On-Site Rubbish Issues

We’ve noticed a rise in rubbish dumping, especially around The Bothy recycling area.

While we’re all in favour of recycling (and The Bothy is a great resource!), please don’t leave general waste behind.
Take it home with you, or drop it at a nearby recycling centre — Hazlehead Recycling Centre is a great option and always very helpful.

Let’s all do our bit to keep the site beautiful, clean, and welcoming for everyone.
Happy gardening!

Garthdee Field Allotments Association Awarded Green Flag for 2024/25

By Garthdee Field

On November 9, 2024

In News

We’re delighted to announce that, in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, Garthdee Field Allotments Association has once again been awarded the prestigious Green Flag by Keep Scotland Beautiful for the 2024/25 season!

The Green Flag Award is Scotland’s benchmark for well-managed, high-quality parks and green spaces, reflecting our commitment to environmental standards and sustainable practices. Earning this distinction requires meeting 27 rigorous criteria, encompassing biodiversity, community involvement, safety, and overall quality of green space management.

This accomplishment follows a thorough assessment, confirming that our allotments not only meet but excel in these standards. Achieving the Green Flag acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our members and volunteers in maintaining Garthdee Field as a thriving, environmentally friendly community space.

Thank you to everyone involved in making this possible – it’s a fantastic achievement! Now, all we need is a gentle breeze to fully enjoy the sight of our Green Flag waving proudly.

GFAA – Community Update – February 2025

By Garthdee Field

On February 23, 2025

In Events, News

In case you missed it in your inbox, here’s a quick update on upcoming events and volunteer opportunities at Garthdee Field Allotments.

Communal Annual Bonfire – Sunday 16th March 2025

We’re excited to confirm the date for our annual communal bonfire! All Plotters are invited to attend and burn any suitable material. Please ensure that only appropriate items are added—no plastics, metals, brussels sprout stalks, carpets, or other unsuitable materials.

Details:
Location: North Car Park
Fire starts: 09:30 AM
Come along to help build the bonfire, throw materials on the flames, or simply enjoy the warmth and a chat with fellow plotters.

Our Volunteer Squads

We’re fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who meet on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 10:30 AM to tackle gardening, site maintenance, and DIY tasks.

Need help on your plot? Plotters who require assistance can request support from our volunteer squad. For longer-term assistance, we may be able to arrange a volunteer buddy.

Want to help organise volunteer activities? We’d love to hear from plotters who are available on volunteer days and can assist with coordinating tasks.

If you’re interested, please get in touch!

Annual Plant Sale – Sunday 18th May 2025

Get ready for our annual Vegetable, Fruit, and Plant Sale! This is the perfect chance to pick up reasonably priced plants for your plot, just after the last frost of the year.

Stay tuned for more details as the date approaches!

Community Bar-B-Que – Sunday 27th July 2025

One of our most anticipated events of the year—our annual BBQ! A great opportunity to relax, enjoy some delicious food, and have a good chat with fellow plotters and their families.

More details will be shared closer to the event, but be sure to mark your calendar!

Stay warm and happy plotting!

Gardening Panel: Preparing Your Growing Space for Winter

By Garthdee Field

On September 30, 2024

In Events, News

The first event in the library’s upcoming talk series will feature a panel of gardening experts, offering advice on preparing gardens for the winter season.

The panel will include Jen MacDonald from Bonnymuir Green Community Garden, Pam Nwelih from The Seed Box, and Julie Sarab.

When: 07 Oct 2024 – 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Where: Central Lending Library

To reserve a free spot, register here or refer to the contact details on the event poster.

Community Allotment Association Update: AGM, Volunteers, and More

By Garthdee Field

On September 29, 2024

In Events, General Meeting, Minutes, News

Dear members of the GFAA Allotment Plotting Community, we are inviting you to participate in several upcoming events and have some important updates for you:

AGM/GM
Date: Saturday, 2nd November 2024
Time: 11:00 – 13:00
Location: Cults Bowling Club, 293 North Deeside Road, Cults, Aberdeen, AB15 9PA
Members are encouraged to attend both the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the General Meeting (GM). Agendas will be shared soon. Nominations for committee positions and suggestions for discussion topics can be submitted to the Secretary.

Chair Vacancy
The GFAA is in need of a Chairperson. The role requires approximately two hours a month. Members who can volunteer are urged to step forward.

Volunteers Leader for Sundays
Norman (Plot 81), long-serving Sunday Volunteers Leader, is stepping down. A replacement is needed to oversee the Sunday sessions. Anyone interested in taking on the role is asked to come forward.

Community Sundays
The third Sunday of each month is Community Sunday, where all members are encouraged to join for community tasks. It’s a fun way to get involved and help maintain the site.

New Website and Webmaster
Marin (Plot 96B) has taken on the role of the new webmaster. Members are encouraged to send him any updates or news for the website.

Car Safety on Site
Members are reminded that cars parked on the allotment site are at their own risk, as it is not covered under the Road Traffic Act of 1988. A speed limit of 10 mph is advised, with potential speed control measures being considered due to frequent speeding concerns.

Rubbish Disposal and Bonfire 2025
Members are asked to avoid leaving rubbish around the site, particularly near The Bothy and North Car Park. Instead, rubbish should be taken to the Hazlehead recycling facility.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact the GFAA Secretary.

10 Smart Ways to Use Eggshells at Your Allotment

By Garthdee Field

On August 7, 2024

In Advice, News

We have a routine supply of eggshells, egg boxes, and coffee grounds thanks to the lovely people from Café Connect at Mannofield. These are placed at our general recycling point located beside the Bothy and are being refreshed every two weeks. Feel free to use as much as you want, but please do not remove the plastic boxes we use to collect/rotate the items from Café Connect.

With a steady supply of eggshells coming our way, here are 10 smart ways to put them to good use at your allotment. From boosting your soil to keeping pests at bay, eggshells are a versatile and natural addition to your gardening toolkit. Let’s dive in and make the most of this fantastic resource!

Pest Deterrent: Crushed eggshells around your plants can keep slugs and snails at bay. They don’t like crawling over the sharp bits—nature’s own barbed wire!
Soil Booster: Mix crushed eggshells into your compost or directly into the soil. They add calcium, which is great for plants like tomatoes and peppers.
Seed Starters: Use halved eggshells as tiny biodegradable pots. Fill them with soil and seeds, then plant the whole thing in the ground once the seedlings are ready.
pH Balancer: If your soil is too acidic, eggshells can help neutralize it. Just crush them up and mix them in.
Bird Food: Bake and crush eggshells to add to bird feed. It gives them a calcium boost, especially in nesting season.
Blossom End Rot Fix: To prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers, add crushed eggshells to the planting hole. This adds calcium directly where it’s needed.
Natural Fertilizer: Make a calcium-rich fertilizer by soaking crushed eggshells in water for a few days. Use the liquid to water your plants.
Compost Activator: Toss eggshells into your compost pile. They decompose slowly, helping to aerate the compost and add essential nutrients over time.
Garden Mulch: Sprinkle crushed eggshells around your plants. It acts as a mulch, keeping the soil moist and deterring pests.
Rooting Powder Substitute: Crushed eggshells can act as a natural rooting powder. Dip the cut ends of your plant cuttings in powdered eggshell before planting to encourage root growth.

Happy gardening!

Garthdee Allotments

Grow Greener with Garthdee Field Allotments Association

GFAA – Community Update – April 2025