Garthdee Allotments

Grow Greener with Garthdee Field Allotments Association

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Seeing things differently…

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On April 25, 2016

In News

Plotters and visitors may have noticed some changes around the Community Garden and Orchard of late.

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With funding from Aberdeen Greenspace and help from Aberdeen City Council we have been able to define better the planned Primary Plot, add a new field drain and sump to improve drainage in the area and build up the road to level the area between this area and the Polytunnel.  Our collaborations with HMP Grampian have borne fruit with the provision of a pergola and a set of garden benches.  Work is still ongoing and dependent on securing appropriate funding, but we hope to see further exciting developments in this area, including provision of a disabled toilet and a gazebo for use by plotters and visiting groups in the future.

Watch this space!

Bonfire boys – and girl.

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On April 23, 2016

In Events, News

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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.

 

Kaimhill Primary Come Calling

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On April 22, 2016

In Events, News

GFAA hosted the first of our extended primary school visits this Thursday when Mrs McKenzie brought her Primary 2 class to visit with us.  This year we have planned to have a primary 2 and a primary 3 class visit with us on Thursdays over the next 10 weeks and some older classes visit for five weeks in May and June.

All gloved up and ready to go!

All gloved up and ready to go!

The pupils did three activities this week – seed sowing with Jacqui and Gill; tattle planting with Stuart; and soil science with Marion and Norman. Well, actually the last group did compost and dung carting, but a good time was had by all at least!

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If you could spare an hour from time to time to help out with these visits, please see any of the above named: We would be delighted to have your help.

 

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

Primary Plans 2016

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On January 31, 2016

In Events, News

After a successful meeting with Diane Rough, Depute Head from Kaimhill Primary this week, we have confirmed that another series of pupil visits will take place this year. Last year we hosted Primary 2/3 visits to our site.  I think we can say a good time was had by all!

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We hope to start earlier this year, in April rather than June and we plan one or two visits a week over a 10 week period.  Details are yet to be confirmed, but we hope two Primary 3 classes will visit to look after the new Primary School Plot being developed down by the Community Orchard, taking alternative weeks.  Stuart is in charge of getting the plot ready for use and Vinny has agreed to maintain it.

In addition Primary 6 pupils will be building bird boxes and Bug Houses which we hope they will come on site to distribute to interested plotters.  Other classes may come to follow some of the learning trails we developed and supported last year.  All visits are planned for afternoons on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.

We need to say a big thank you to Aberdeen Greenspace who have agreed to fund this collaboration over the next 12 months.  Without their support the development of the new plot as part of our ‘outdoor classroom’ would not have been possible.

Last season Stuart, Norman, Gill and Jacqui hosted all the sessions. In the coming year we will be pushed to meet all of the demand. If any plotters or volunteers could offer to help out for an hour or so on any days they would be most welcome.  See any of the above if you can help.

New Equipment Arrivals

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On January 29, 2016

In Equipment, News

Thanks to our successful bid for funding from Aberdeen Greenspace, GFAA has recently been able to add a new lawn mower and a generator to our stock of power tools and equipment available for community use.

These tools have been secured to support our collaboration with Kaimhill Primary and the development of a primary pupils’ plot in the first instance. This project will have first call on the items, but both may be borrowed by GFAA members when not otherwise required. (See below for arrangements for borrowing and training.)

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The lawnmower is a Webb 48cm self-propelled rotary model and will be suitable for a wide range of uses including maintaining verges and smaller areas of grass around our site. It is described as a high quality, self-propelled 3-in-1 mower powered by a Briggs & Stratton 675EX Readystart engine. Can be set to rear discharge, collect or mulch. Features 7 cutting height settings, large 70ltr grass collector and ergonomic soft grip handles which can easily be folded for compact storage. With large rear wheels for easy manoeuvrability, alloy deck and 8″ front and 11″ rear ball bearing wheels as standard.

2016-01-29 at 19.20The Generator is a SDMO Perform 3000 TB UK 3000W model and will be useful to GFAA members who need to run power tools on site from time to time.  It is described as a powerful 3000W industrial site generator. Robust, compact and heavy-duty frame with ergonomic, rubber-grip handles for easy transportation whilst sturdy feet provide stability in all conditions. Suitable for small site and domestic applications.

Arrangements for safe storage and commissioning are underway and will be completed in time for the new season.  If you are interested in borrowing either item, please contact Vinny Goss in the first instance.  Vinny helped specify and procure the items and has kindly agreed to offer initial training in their use.  Please arrange all borrowings and use with Vinny in advance.

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