Conference - Future Growing, Composts for Gardeners

Here are some details of a conference in February that may be of interest to allotment gardeners and others

Future Growing Composts for Gardeners

Keynote Speaker: Christine Walkden

Plantswoman, Horticulturist, Writer and Broadcaster

Chairman Mr David Allison - National Vegetable Society

Gardeners are having mixed success with seedling and growing composts.

Gardening Gurus disagree on which is the best compost to use, being quite vociferous in their criticisms of each other in the press.

The issues have arisen mainly because of reduction in the use of peat and its replacement with other materials such as wood, coir and municipal green composts.

These composts have very different watering and nutrient management requirements but there is very little information given to gardeners.

The selection of a product in a garden centre is confusing and as often the compost areas are dominated by special offer posters rather than advice. There are no accreditation labels for guidance.

Many gardening publications are continuously reporting erratic and confusing test results, quite often for the same product. Product names change more often than some men change their socks!!

We are having a conference at STC, where you can discuss these issues with our scientists, who have been doing trials over many years. They will show you their latest trials and discuss best management practice with you.

We also have some manufacturers to tell you how they are developing new products and details of how you may be able to identify accredited products in the future.

Christine Walkden will be on the trials tour to comment and answer your individual questions.

Date February 16^th

9.15am -4.30 pm

Stockbridge Technology Centre

Cawood

YO8 3TZ

FREE admission, lunch and refreshments.

Book your place with Ann Black 01757268275 or Ann Black (annblack@stc-nyorks.co.uk)

Further details on www.stockbridgeonline.co.uk

2012 Seed Orders

Dear All

Yes, that time of year is nearly upon us and it's time to start curling up with the seed catalogue for next year.

As in previous years, we can offer members a 35% discount on many seeds from the Mr Fothergills seed catalogue.

Catalogues are available to borrow from the allotment shop (open Sunday 10am - 12noon on Dec 18th, then from 8th Jan 2012) or can be found online at:

http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/

The list of seeds which attract the 35% discount and the allotment association seed order form are available on request from the association (scarcroftallotments@live.co.uk) or at the Allotment Shop on Scarcroft.

Please use the association form to place your seed order; either drop it off at the shop or email a copy of it back to scarcroftallotments@live.co.uk.

Don't send any money in yet; we'll let you know the total when the seeds have arrived.

Any questions just drop us a line to the above address, otherwise happy browsing, planning and ordering!

Late night Christmas shopping at Brunswick

 

Brunswick Christmas Fair

Autumn Social in full swing...

Scarcroft and District Allotments Associatio​n 2012 Calendar

The Scarcroft & District Allotments Association 2012 Calendar is now on sale!

The calendars are only £5 each.

Stock up now to ensure you have enough to give away as Christmas presents!

They are now available from the Allotment Shop, Pextons Hardware and Frankie & Johnny's Cookshop (newly opened on Bishopthorpe Road).

The calendars will also be available at the Allotment Association Social Gathering the Golden Ball on Friday 18th July: http://bit.ly/rv74IP

Community Arts & Crafts

Featuring:

Heather Dawe - Christmas Decorations from Natural Materials ... Rosedale Sue - Country Crafts ... Karen Free - Contemporary Ceramics ... Ian Cameron - Artist ... Herald Armer - Handmade Glass ... Joanna Oak - Handmade bags & Gifts ... Jo ‘The Olive Heron’ ... Susie Thomson - ‘Inside Out’ using recycled materials ... Jane McWeeny - Fancy Hats ... Renni Prelle - Reflexology & Indian Head Massage ... Di’s Material World ... Marianne von Tucka - Ceramics ... David Cook - Sculptor ... Holly Hennell - Hand-Made Cards ... Kate Harper Jewellery ... Eleanor Jones - In Pieces ... Sadim Habib - Little Giant ... Carrie - Happypig Design ... Gaynor’s Glorious Tea Parties

Potato Availability & Prices 2012‏

 

Seed Potato Orders Deadline - 30th November 2011

Below is the full list of seed potatoes which will be available for the coming season.

Unfortunately, once again last year, we had some wastage on seed potatoes. This year we shall only have a small level of surplus stock over and above that pre-ordered by members and the range of stock varieties has been reduced.

To ensure your requirements are met you are strongly urged to place your seed potato order, either by e-mail to scarcroftallotments@live.co.uk or directly at the allotment shop, before 30th November.
Once again it is the intention to purchase the varieties marked in red in bulk which will enable us to retail these at what we believe is still a very competitive price of £1-20 per kg ( Pink Fir Apple £1-40 per kg ).

All other varieties are available to order in 2.5 kg nets priced around £3-75, however, if there is sufficient demand for a particular variety then these could also be purchased in bulk with a subsequent price reduction.

We regret that we are unable to split 2.5kg bags but you may be able to arrange to share a bag with a fellow plot holder.

First Earlies:

Arran Pilot
Home Guard
Pentland Javelin
Ulster Prince
Ulster Sceptre
Sharpes Express
Duke of York
Maris Bard
Foremost
Vanessa
Epicure
Dunluce
Rocket
Premier
Winston
Red Duke of York
Swift
International Kidney
Lady Christl
Casablanca
Witchill


Second Earlies:

Maris Peer
Catriona
Wilja
Estima
Nadine
Stroma
Marfona
Balmoral
Kestrel
Charlotte
Saxon
Nicola
Carlingford
Bonnie
Pixie
British Queen
Anya
Edgecote Purple
Gladstone
Heather
Ospray
Ulster Sovereign
Vivaldi


Main Crop:

Pentland Crown
Pentland Dell
Pentland Squire
Majestic
Maris Piper
Desiree
King Edward
Romano
Cara
Golden Wonder
Stemster
Kerrs Pink
Pink Fir Apple
Record
Sante
Valor
Maxine
Blue Belle
Picasso
Harmony
Markies
Edzell Blue
Setanta
Argos
Orla
Harlequin
Rooster
Sarpo Mira

Scarcroft & District Allotment Association Autumn Social

Scarcroft & District Allotment Association Autumn Social

At the Golden Ball, 2 Cromwell Road, York

http://www.goldenball-york.co.uk/

Come along to catch up and to discuss what we hope has been another eventful and productive year of gardening for everyone, plot-holders and home gardeners alike

There will be a buffet and a fine selection of drinks available from the bar - as well as good company, of course!

Allotment Shop Opening Hours

A reminder regarding seasonal changes to the opening hours of the Allotment Shop on Scarcroft Allotments.

At present the Shop opening hours are as follows:

Saturdays 13.30 - 15.30

&

Sundays 10.00 - 12.00 

Throughout the winter months - November, December and January - the Allotment Shop will be open on SUNDAYS ONLY, but we will be returning to Saturday and Sunday opening from February 2012.

Please make a note of these changes and times, so you are not caught short when shopping for your winter supplies!

Full details about the shop can be found on its Blog Page:

http://scarcroftanddistrictallotments.blogspot.com/p/allotment-shop.html

Apple Day Celebration - A message from Laura Potts

 

Dear friends,

Let's celebrate Apple Day on Saturday October 15th at our very own orchard - in the middle of the Green on Scarcroft Allotments.

Although there won't be much by way of a harvest from this year, there will be a varied selection of apples and pears for us to sample and enjoy.

Do bring along any you have too, with names if you know them.

Contributions of fruit-based delights to share for an afternoon tea would be very welcome too. Bring a flask if you want a hot drink - or juices.  Plastic cups will be provided.

There will be bit of work to do to build up your appetite: We need to weed around the bases of the trees, and then to plant up the area with some traditional orchard meadow flowers - now I have finally succeeded in preventing the council mowing it to within a millimetre of its life!

Do bring any donations of plants you may have, trowels and watering cans.

The schedule for the afternoon is as follows:

3-4pm - planting watering weeding

4-5pm - tasting and feasting

hope to see you there

Helping Yorkshire's Hedgehogs

Britain’s hedgehogs are in serious decline and the hedgehog has been placed on the Red List of threatened species in need of conservation

A course, consisting of an illustrated talk and workshop, will be held by Toni Bunnell from 13.30 to 16:00 on Sunday 6th November

The workshop will be held at the Black Swan Inn, 23 Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PR [01904 679 131]

http://www.blackswanyork.com/

To secure a place on the course, please send a cheque for £10 (made out to ‘T. Bunnell’) to 5 Beech Avenue, Holgate, York, YO24 4JJ

Course content:

Reasons for the decline of hedgehogs in Britain
First aid treatment for new arrivals
Further treatment of sick or injured hedgehogs
Caring for baby hedgehogs
Attracting hedgehogs to your garden
Monitoring hedgehogs in the wild

Proceeds to go to York Hedgehog Rescue Centre
with 10% to go to Hull Hedgehog Rescue Centre (Lorraine Jackson)

For information contact: Toni Bunnell (01904 791124) T.Bunnell@hull.ac.uk

or see: http://www.hedgehoghelp.co.uk/index.php?topic=5060.0

Spare Plants Wanted for South Bank

Planet South Bank & Edible York have a plot at St Clements and are currently very keen to source Some strawberry plants, as they plan to underplant some of their old rose bushes with them.

They are also on the look out for perennial herbs (rosemary, lavender etc), for their plot.

If any allotment holders or home growers have any suitable plants going ‘spare’ following a seasonal plot tidy, donations can be left at the Planet South Bank & Edible York plot at St Clements.

Any donations will be greatly appreciated I am sure.

Planet South Bank promote Climate change awareness and local action in South Bank, York.

Edible York are a small group of dedicated  individuals who are committed to nurturing existing food growing spaces in the City and bringing new food growing spaces to life.

For more information about the work of these great local organisations, or for details as to how you can join, see the below links:

http://planetsouthbank.org.uk/

http://www.edibleyork.org.uk/

Chutney Making event at Scarcroft Learning Centre

The Planet South Bank & Edible York plot at St Clements grew a bucket-full of green tomatoes, so they are going to make chutney from them.

All are welcome to come along for chutney tips to help with any Green Tomato Glut you might be facing from your own harvests.

The Chutney Making Event is this Saturday 24th September, at the Scarcroft Learning Centre, starting at 10am.

The Scarcroft Learning Centre is located at Scarcroft School at the corner of the school playground and can be accessed from Nunthorpe Road.

This is a FREE event and all are welcome. Planet South Bank & Edible York would love to have any volunteers to help – and to take away some chutney at the end!

The Urban Horticulture Programme

The Urban Horticulture Programme at the Centre for Lifelong Learning

This year’s modules focus on the health, educational, social, economic, practical, environmental, and policy dimensions of local food. Combining guest speakers, visits, practical work and theoretical learning, the course will help you develop your understanding of the potential of urban horticulture in the twenty-first century.

 
You may be:

already involved in a community food project….

a keen gardener who would like to be….

a social worker or therapist wondering how to help your clients get out more…

a teacher trying to develop the school garden…

Or…

You may simply believe that food production is at the centre of society’s problems and their solutions, and want to find out more.



This FREE Saturday School introduces the year’s programme and we get straight down to some practical activities to explore society’s relationship with food. Come along and see which module(s) might be for you! (Existing UH students also very welcome)

SATURDAY SCHOOL: 1st October 2011, 10am-12noon

AUTUMN TERM Oct-Dec 2011: Society, food security and health

SPRING TERM Jan-Apr 2012: Scaling up to the community, national and global level

SUMMER TERM Apr-Jun 2012: Policy and the future
 

For more information or to enrol: www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning or call 01904 328473