Well perhaps. Certainly, our plots are beginning to spring into colour and are teeming with new life.
I spotted these tadpoles to be in my wildlife pond yesterday. Then these:
The two bodies of spawn are in the same small pond, but they are very different in appearance. The first are round and large in a big round ball of spawn. The second lot are small, elliptical and in a flat, thin body of spawn.
Any idea why the difference?
Other than that, all around the site we have some lovely splashes of colour.
Any more photos going? It would be great to have them.
I am sorry to say that our ace volunteers, Mike and Gordon are not going to be able to visit with us for the next wee while. Gordon is ’embargoed’ or whatever, as he needs to self-isolate from the Covid19 virus. Boy, are we going to miss them!
Gordon at WorkMike keeps a watchful eye
Well, we all have to do the right thing and help keep each other safe, but the volunteer sessions are just not going to feel right until we can welcome these two back. In the meantime a thousand thank yous for all your hard work and good humour. Take care boys, and keep washing those hands!
It was wonderful to see such a good turnout for our first Community Sunday of the year. Thanks go to all who found the time to come along and help with pruning, primary plot digging and lots more.
GFAA has secured funding which will allow the Bothy to be re-purposed and refurbished. We submitted a bid to NHS Grampian’s Neighbourhood Health, Health Improvement Fund and have recently heard that we have been successful.
Our entirely new initiative for the Bothy is called, “The Potting Shed Plus Project” and seeks to extend our long-standing commitment to active community engagement and spread the health benefits of outdoor working beyond those who have plots and out into the wider community. The “Plus” in the title refers to the fact that the project will support both Gardening and DIY learning activities.
This new project will provide a year-long programme of structured tutorials and associated open-access workshop sessions on gardening and outdoor DIY delivered through hands-on learning-by-doing.
During the summer months, tutorials and workshop sessions will focus on gardening skills and communal growing. Over the rest of the season, activities will focus on Do It Yourself work generally and specifically on small-scale woodworking and garden equipment repair projects.
These will aim to support an appreciation of being and working out of doors in nature and associated health benefits. Examples include: building greenhouse staging, planters, storage systems, benches and tables, bird boxes, cold frames, bug hotels etc. and repairing hand tools and other equipment. These will be used on site and made available to local community organisations.
The Potting Shed Plus Project will bring all sorts of benefits:
healthy outdoor activities for all participants
increased opportunities for our volunteers
an inclement-weather workspace
inter-generational learning activities
better and greener-growing practices
further recruitment to our Volunteer Squad
bringing more visitors to our site
use by plotters outwith scheduled classes and workshops.
If you think you might be able to help with the refurbishment work or the programme please get in touch with a member the GFAA Committee.
GFAA gratefully thank NHS Grampian for their support and funding of The Potting Shed Plus Project.
Plotters will know that our Volunteer Squad does all sorts around our site and helping (in special circumstances) on individual plots.
I’m pleased to say that Gordon Bennett is turning his skills to tool repair and refurbishment on our behalf.
Better than new
If you have a special tool (hand tools only please, no power tools) in need of TLC, or a broken tool that could be repaired and put to community use, please have a word with any member of the Volunteer Squad (Anne, Plot 92a, Ron 65a or Norman Plot 81). We will be pleased to look at it.
