Garthdee Allotments

Grow Greener with Garthdee Field Allotments Association

Author: Garthdee Field Page 32 of 35

BBQ Date for your Diary

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On June 12, 2016

In Dates, Events, News

Stuart

GFAA Summer Barbecue
Sunday 19th June 2016 
from 12.30 pm
Plotters and their families and friends are invited to an early Summer Barbecue 
at the community orchard area of the Garthdee Field Allotment
We are delighted that representatives from the Aberdeen Branch of
Macmillan Cancer Support will be joining us
Please bring your preferred BBQ food and drink
There will be a Raffle during the afternoon 
with proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support
Donations for the raffle will be gratefully received by
Gill Earle (Plot 64) Stuart Oram (Plot 8) or Norman Coutts (Plot 81)
Any queries to Gill Earle – g.earl20@btinternet.com / 07951021319
DSC_2040 - Version 2

IYN Preparation 2016

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On April 28, 2016

In Events, News

Stuart2016 marks GFAA’s third year in the It’s Your Neighbourhood Scheme. We achieved a Thriving assessment at our first go and now we have an Outstanding ranking to defend in 2016 after our success last year.  Outstanding is the highest award possible. Taking part in IYN has been a source of good advice on growing, the environment and building a better community, but just as importantly, it has helped us open doors to getting more external funding for our site and facilities.

This last month Norman and I took part in a workshop to help us prepare for this year’s assessment.  It’s an important year as 2016 marks the 50th Anniversary of Britain in Bloom.  The workshop was hosted jointly by IYN, The Royal Horticultural Society and Aberdeen City Council.

Juliette Camburn hosting and appearing for IYN

Juliette Camburn hosting and appearing for IYN

Stephen Shaw for Aberdeen City Council

Stephen Shaw for Aberdeen City Council

Liz Stewart for RHS

Liz Stewart for RHS

Karen Allan for Aberdeen City Council

Karen Allan for Aberdeen City Council

Some of the key messages for our preparation included:

  • keeping in touch and seeking advice
  • using online resources from IYN and RHS
  • using print and digital comms to get our message across
  • have a vision of where we want to go
  • marking the 50th Anniversary in some way
  • building partnerships with others
  • seeking Council officer and elected member involvement
  • celebrate our successes and good news stories locally and nationally
  • get all ages involved
  • use the council media office to help with the press
  • think about sustainability and long term vitality
  • don’t stand still and get stuck in ruts.

So, we have lots to get on with then!  I and any of the committee members will welcome all suggestions and discussions about our key developments and plans for the future – and of course help to prepare our site for the upcoming IYN Assessment visit.

 

 

Bonfire boys – and girl.

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On April 23, 2016

In Events, News

DSC_1770

StuartThanks to the Magnificent Seven who helped with the bonfire today. We started in snow at 10.00, but finished in sunshine at 12.30 – largely due to the above and beyond efforts of our helpers.  No names, no pack drill, but thanks to all who were able to find the time to help.

It was very satisfying to see our site get a good clear up as tonnes of old wood, rasp canes and the like went up in smoke.  It’s amazing how much rubbish we seem to gather over the course of a plotting year.

It was less satisfying to have to wade though the piles of cut grass, weeds, plastic, old metal and other non-combustible debris that were left to be dealt with.  Please remember that there is NO facility for the collection of waste from our site and plotters should remove such materials from the site and use their domestic brown or black bins for their disposal – assuming they cannot be composted on individual plots.  Remember that most annual green waste is compostable and provides an excellent soil improver – this being the greenest possible form of treatment.  Plotters without cars can approach any committee member who will be pleased to help with alternative methods of removal where it is possible.

We are suffering a spate of fly tipping.  If you do see anyone dropping off waste on site, please challenge them and take a note of their car numbers, or better still photograph them.  Get in touch with a committee member and we will inform the appropriate authorities to take action where and when we can.

 

We are up to our necks in it

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On April 6, 2016

In News

StuartWe’ve just received a 10 tonne load of manure from the City Council. The load was dumped at the bottom of the site near Plot 20
Please help yourself but I suggest you take only one or two barrow loads so that as many of our plotters as possible have an opportunity to share the load.
This is in addition to the 15 tonnes of compost we received a week ago so we’re well set up this year for feeding our plots.
We were unable to divert any of the load to the top of the site as the vehicles were too large both for the manure and the compost.
Stuart

New Zealand Flatworm Survey

By

On February 23, 2016

In News

The University of Aberdeen are conducting a survey of NZ Flatworms and are looking for a number of allotment holders to participate, both those with and without NZ Flatworms and would appreciate answers to the following questions

1. Do you have New Zealand Flatworm on your plot at present?
2. Have you had New Zealand Flatworm on you plot historically?
3. Would you be happy for someone from Aberdeen University to visit your plot and record presence and abundance of NZ Flatworm, soil pH, take a small soil sample and record earthworm numbers?
In addition they would ideally like to talk to you or alternatively get you to fill in a questionnaire to enable them to gauge the scale of the problem and find out more about your experience of NZ Flatworm. This would be done mid-March- April at a time convenient to you.

4. If you are not able to participate in the study they would really appreciate it if you could fill in this short survey http://www.opalexplorenature.org/nzflatworm Hard copies of the survey can be obtained by contacting Annie Robinson direct at annierobinson@abdn.ac.uk

If you wish to participate please contact Annie as soon as possible. It would be helpful if you would be good enough to let me know if you decide to participate.

Stuart.

Community Sunday Thanks

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On February 23, 2016

In Dates, Events, News

StuartI’d like to say a big thank you to all who turned up at the weekend to make our first Community Sunday of the year such a great success.  We think we had a record high turnout and managed to get a whole bunch of tasks completed.  By the end of the session the site was looking great and some essential maintenance got completed to the Bothy roof.

CommunitySundayAdThanks to the enthusiasm and efforts of all those who were able to come along we have made a super start to the 2016 season.  If you could not make it this time I hope you will be able to come along to our next Community Sunday which is planned for 20 March.

The plan stays the same – about an hour or so of activities suitable for all ages and stages followed by coffee, cake and a good natter.  What’s not to like!

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