Jim Henderson, our It’s Your Neighbourhood Assessor has passed on his assessor report. It makes very good reading. Jim visited our site in early August and was clearly impressed with many of our activities: he awarded us a second to top-level grading and considered us to be ‘thriving’.
It is clear that all our allotment holders have contributed to this success for GFAA as Jim remarked on the big number of well looked after plots he saw as well as the well maintained communal areas of our site.
Here are some highlights from the report:
We scored 32/40 points for community participation with special mention made of help for novice plotters; our community orchard; support for TAMS; the RGU connection; social and communal activities to maintain the site; and our occasional training courses.
We scored 25/30 points on evidence of environmental responsibility, getting a special mention for our promotion of composting; waste management; encouragement of educational projects from primary to university level; use of natural materials and approaches to deal with problem areas; encouragement of wildlife with bird feeders and insect boxes around the site.
Gardening achievement scored 25/30 with praise given for the variety of fruit, veg and flowers grown across the site; the sharing of advice and plants; development of wild flower areas; and the use of small plots to help new plotters.
Jim indicated he looks forward to seeing more of the exciting new project with Broomhill Primary School and the raised bed plots planned for development with RGU in the Community access area. His score of 82/100 leaves us within striking distance of the ‘outstanding’ level on our very first attempt, so we have a clear target for the coming season.
A big thank you to all who contributed to this success on their own plots and on communal areas and to our principal partners, including the City Council and RGU. It is very pleasing to see our combined efforts recognised within the IYN scheme and we hope this success will encourage even wider participation and more new projects in the coming year.
Jim Henderson, our It’s Your Neighbourhood Assessor, made his first visit to our site today. Luckily, the rain held off for his visit and all involved enjoyed our wee walk around the plots and site.
Jim is a very experienced plotter himself and proved to be full of good stories and ideas which he was very willing to share with us. It was very useful to find out how other plot sites do things and where they find support for their projects and developments.
Jim spent more than an hour with us and left saying how much he had enjoyed his visit. He will deliver his judgement on our efforts in due course. Fingers crossed!
Can I remind all plotters of the importance of following best practice in matters of health and safety. An unfortunate incident this week came as a timely reminder of the need for vigilance at all times.
Apparently, Shiona from Plot 71a was about to leave with a batch of her spectacular onions when she met Stuart. Ever the gentleman, he offered to lift them into the boot of her car: however, he failed to carry out the approved risk assessment, misjudged the weight by several kilos and did himself a nasty mischief. I hear he left the scene moaning and clutching his back – well, I suppose it might have been worse!
Wow! That’s what I call an onion!
As they say – be careful out there.
Thanks to Shiona for the photo, but I should say she is in no way responsible for the story.
Ross Young
I had an interesting visit from Ross Young this week. Ross completed his first degree at Abertay University a couple of years ago and is about to start his PHD at the University of Aberdeen in September. He will study aspects of urban food production and was keen to visit Garthdee Field as one of a number of visits he is making to map examples of local food production sites in and around the city. His studies may focus on the sociological and community aspects of food growing and their contribution to health and well-being.
Ross’s interests in food growing are practical as well as academic: he is a keen gardener with a thriving veggie patch and greenhouse at his family home. Now he will be moving to Aberdeen to work on his PHD he is keen to find a plot he can work on. He is interested in putting his name down for a plot, but in the meantime would be happy to help out on an existing plot as an extra pair of hands.
Ross hopes to stay in touch with us at GFAA and so if you see him about please say hello: if you can take up his offer of help on your plot you can get in touch via me in the first instance.
Before he left Ross took some photos around our site. I think you will agree he has a real eye for a photo.
Stunning Sunflower
Perfect Day
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