Garthdee Allotments

Grow Greener with Garthdee Field Allotments Association

Category: Advice Page 7 of 13

Going, going, gone

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On May 21, 2020

In Advice, News

Sadly, a number of plotters have reported that recently, items have gone missing from their plots. Examples include hand tools from sheds, perennial and other veggies dug up from beds, bird feeders removed from fences and hand-sanitiser taken from the composting toilets.

We know that this happens from time to time, but we have had a long period relatively free of such thefts. Stuart asks that we take care to lock away items where we can, make sure communal buildings and containers are kept padlocked and report to a member of the Committee any recent losses or others in the future. It’s important that we build up a picture of how bad the problem is, as we plan an appropriate response.

Himalayan Balsam

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On April 30, 2020

In Advice, News

Plotters will be aware of this message sent out by Stuart 10 days ago.

Pat Wilson at Aberdeen City Council has emailed to say that some recipients, at other Council allotments, of the recent delivery of compost from the Council have discovered Himalayan Balsam growing in it. This is a non-native invasive species.
“This is an annual plant which grows each year from the previous year’s seeds, so the aim of control is to prevent the plant from flowering and setting seed. Scattered plants are best pulled by hand, being careful to remove the whole plant. Cutting or grazing on dense stands can also achieve control but cutting should not be attempted once the seed heads have formed, as this would effectively spread the plant.”

The young seedlings look like this:

Himalayan Balsam Seedlings

If you have helped yourself to compost please keep checking for these seedlings and pull them out but don’t put them in your compost bin. It has been suggested to leave them on the surface to let them dry out in a controlled environment then bag and removed them from the site for disposal.

Over the next few months we will all have to keep checking as the seeds work their way to the surface. Hopefully with a combined effort we will be able to get rid of this invasion. If we can prevent these plants from reaching the flowering stage we should be ok.

Stuart has arranged for the Council to come and remove the remaining pile of infected compost.

This is a website with information on Himalayan Balsam.

Bonfire Guidelines

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On April 5, 2020

In Advice, News

Plotters will be aware of the Council’s new advice on bonfires on allotments. They have a strict set of procedures which must be followed. These are set out as ACC Regulations accessible via the Advice Tab on this site. Please consult these and follow the rules carefully.

I heard today of another allotment site where a plotter had not followed the advice and as a result had caused considerable nuisance to local homeowners. This resulted in a number of complaints. As you know, the Council has issued a warning that if they start to receive complaints about bonfires they will issue a total ban on all fires on pl0ts and allotment sites.

We can’t say we have not been warned. Please pay due attention.

Plot Working & Covid-19

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On March 29, 2020

In Advice, News

You will be aware of Pat Wilson’s email stating that the Council is leaving the decision to the individual allotment holder whether or not to visit their plot during the current national emergency.

Plotters who decide to visit their plots will want to take account of this further advice issued by Stuart.

“Hi Everyone,
You will have noted that the City Council have agreed with the UK government’s advice, expounded by Michael Gove that it is ok to visit your allotment. I think most of us are relieved that we are permitted this freedom when there are so many other restrictions impacting our lives.
I am emailing you to ask that you strictly follow the rules which attach to this freedom to visit your plot. I have repeated the guidance from the BBC Gardeners website below.

Avoid public transport if possible. Instead walk, run, cycle or drive to the allotment, either on your own or with one other member of your household.
Do not pick up anyone on the way and travel to the allotment with them. This is not allowed. If you bump into someone on the way then maintain safe social distancing protocols (stand two metres apart).

Wash or sanitise your hands after using the allotment gate. It would be helpful to others if you wiped down the gate, as well, if you can.

Do not work on the allotment in groups of more than two. If you share the plot with someone from a different household then you must observe safe social distancing rules. Ideally, work out a timetable so you can visit the plot separately.

If you bump into people then maintain safe social distancing protocols at all times. Do not make anyone a cup of tea. Do not share tools. Do not visit the allotment shop.

Wash or sanitise your hands thoroughly before and after eating food, and when you get home.

The key points are – no more than two people on your plot at one time and maintain that 2 metre social distancing.
We don’t want to jeopardise our and our fellow plotters’ freedoms by behaving irresponsibly.

APRIL AUDITS CANCELLED
Pat Wilson has asked me to advise everyone that the Council have cancelled the plot audits for April.
Stay safe and compliant!
Stuart Oram
Chairman
GFAA”

With this in mind The Octagon should not be used for group meetings or coffee breaks until further notice.

Seeds and Compost Galore!

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On January 16, 2020

In Advice, News

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.

Free 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.

Treat yourself to something special at a discount

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.

A Great Day Out

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.

Brown Gold by the tipper full

Leaves, wood chips and compost

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On December 1, 2019

In Advice, News

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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