Mikron Theatre performance 'Beyond the Veil'

News of the eagerly anticipated return performance by the fantastic Mikron Theatre touring company. Scarcroft allotments is over the moon to be playing host to their latest production, 'Beyond the Veil' on Wednesday 29th May at 7.00pm

You may like to bring a chair and picnic for the event (refreshments will also be available)
And a collection will be taken after the performance
Any questions or offers of help please contact organiser Willy Hoedeman (details below)

To find out more about the Mikron Theatre group, you may like to check out their website http://www.mikron.org.uk/index.php#&panel1-1

DCI Mark Starkey thinks he’s got a quiet patch in sleepy Thistledale, but all that is about to change dramatically when there’s a sudden, unnatural death on the local allotment…

The grisly discovery down by the beehives is only the beginning for Detective Starkey. To unmask the murderer he must first uncover an altogether less savoury side of life in Thistledale; the bitter grudges, thwarted passions and murky pasts.

And then there are the bees.

The life of the honeybee might be described as one of great sweetness and harmony, punctuated by sudden, desperate, acts of violence. The same could be said for Thistledale.

Detective Starkey soon realises that the more he knows about bees, the closer he gets to the killer!

Poetry and Photography Event

We're really pleased to be hosting an event of 'Pictures and Words' at the Scarcroft Allotment site on Tuesday 16th April from 10.30 onwards. It is organised by Hannah Baxter of York Archaeological Trust and is part of her Plotting the Past community project. It is open to everyone with an interest in allotments, poetry, photography and archaeology, so if you're around please drop in for some, or all of the day. 

Look forward to seeing you there!

Onion Sets

At last... sunshine and the joys of Spring! Seeing the daffodils and crocuses appearing certainly lifts the spirits and focusses the mind on the coming growing season. If you're thinking of planting onion sets and shallots there's still time and they're on sale in the allotment shop.

White onion varieties of Sturon and Centurion £2.90 per kg
Red onion varieties of Red Baron and Red Karmen £3.20 per kg
Shallot varieties of Yellow Moon and Red Sun £3.30 per kg

Just pop in on Saturdays 13:30 - 15:30 and Sundays 10:00 - 12:00

York Get Growing Courses

York Get Growing Project is once again offering some great courses, the following are all free and run during the spring season.

Edible Forest Gardens - Film and Discussion 

An opportunity to find out more about forest gardens and permaculture techniques. Wed. 24th April 7.30pm - 9.30pm.

Introduction to Growing Your Own Food 

An opportunity to learn how to grow your own food in a garden or allotment, suitable for both the beginner of those with some food growing experience who would like to know more. A five week course running every Mon. from 15th April to 20th May (excl. bank Hol. Mon.) 7.00pm - 9.00pm.

Sowing and Planting Techniques 

Find out more about what you need to do to get vegetable seeds to germinate and plant out crops so that they grow away strongly. Includes some practical sowing and planting. A half day course Sat. 20th April 10.00am - 12.30pm.

Greenhouse Food crops in Spring and Summer 

If you have a greenhouse or polytunnel this is the course that will tell you how to make the most of it for growing veg. in the spring and summer months. Covers both growing plants to plant outside and using the greenhouse to grow crops like tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers and melons. A half day course Sat. 18th May 10.00am - 12.30pm.

Further courses are planned for later in the summer including: Grow, Eat, and Cook Soft Fruit; Growing Vegetables All Year Round; Harvesting and Storing Your Produce.

To book a place or for further information either phone 644300 or email yorkgetgrowing@tcv.org.uk

AGM Tulip Talk

We were treated to a wonderful talk by Teresa Clements of the Wakefield and North of England Tulip Society at our AGM yesterday evening. She covered so much ground from the heritage of English tulips and the history of the Society, to tulip cultivation and their presentation at shows - in empty beer bottles! It was an informative delight and was well received by all present, who can now happily distinguish between a feather and a flame, or between an English and a Dutch variety.

Group of English florist's tulips
Image from the website of Wakefield and North of England Tulip Society

The Society is holding its 178th Annual Tulip Show, on Saturday 11th May. At Primrose Hall, Horbury, Wakefield, WF4 6EG, from 2.30pm until 4.00pm. Sure to be a worthwhile visit.

If you would like to know more about the Society you can visit their website at http://www.tulipsociety.co.uk/

Plotting The Past

Interested in finding out about the past and allotments?
Would you like to help record our allotments?
Hannah Baxter of York Archaeological Trust is undertaking a year long community project involving allotments across the city. She has many activities lined up including photography, site surveys, oral histories, archaeological finds identification and even film making.

The film idea is to follow several plots throughout this year as they evolve through the seasons. If you grow photogenic carrots, have a Tarantino streak in you, or cut a dash in your wellies and would like to be involved in anyway, just let Hannah know emailing: hbaxter@yorkat.co.uk

Compost Giveaway

Yes! ...Free Compost!

Yorwaste Ltd in partnership with City of York Council Waste Services, would like to let you know of the free compost giveaway dates. The compost has been made from garden waste collected from the city’s green wheelie bins and is now available on the dates shown below.
Don't forget to bring a shovel and bags! 

Seed Potatoes

Yes! Seed potatoes are now in the allotment shop. 
Choose from Lady Christl, Rocket, Arran Pilot, Pentland Javelin, Orla, Vanessa, Wilja, Kestrel, Charlotte (including organic), Maris Piper, Cara, King Edward and last but not least Desiree.       A potato for every season, from extra early to main crop.

If you placed an order before Christmas then it will be bagged and ready for collection. Otherwise just pop along and purchase.

Harvesting Desiree

Notice of AGM 2013

We're pleased to announce details of our forthcoming 2013 AGM 
Date: Wednesday 20th March
Venue: Southlands Methodist Church Hall, Southlands Road 
Time: 7.30pm ending by 9.00pm 

Please put this date in your diary, we're keen to see as many members as possible. This is your chance to hear from the committee and share your views and ideas. More details concerning the guest speaker and the agenda will follow.

Autumn Social

We hope you can come and join us at our annual end of season social event at The Golden Ball, Friday 23rd November, 7.30pm onwards. Look forward to seeing you there!

York Get Growing! Courses

York Get Growing! have organised a wide range of free courses and sessions for Autumn and Winter 2012 -2013
For further information or to book a place 01904 644300
or see http://www.edibleyork.org.uk/project-partners/get-growing/training-courses

Local History Event

There's an exciting Local History Event being held at Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Road.  This is a two day programme of free events Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd November from 11.30am onwards. On Friday at 3pm is a talk that may be of particular interest to gardeners and allotment holders, The History of Allotments in the Scarcroft area by Catherine Heinmeyer. 

Please see this link for more information 
http://clementshall.org.uk/events-2/public-events/local-history-project/

2013 Calendar

Look out for the Scarcroft and District Allotment Association 2013 Calendar

On sale in the Allotment Shop, Pextons and Frankie & Johnny's Cook Shop on Bishopthorpe Road from first week in November. Priced £5 
Yes! Only £5 how's that for solving Christmas gift ideas.
Limited number printed so don't delay.

Once again this community project would not be possible without the photographic contributions from Association members and the support from our local businesses.

In case of vandalism

Unfortunately there have been a number of incidents of vandalism on Scarcroft Allotments recently.

As a reminder to plot holders if you find any damage done on your plot, please call 101, the police non-emergency number, and report it. 

Because few of the incidents that have happened have been reported, the site has been taken off the list of places for routine patrolling by the neighbourhood police team. 

If we report every incident, we’ll get routine police patrols again and that police presence does act as a deterrent!

'Losing The Plot' performance

Mikron Theatre Company are returning to York with their hilarious play 'Losing the Plot', first seen by 100+ in an open air performance at Scarcroft allotments in May. No one who has, or has had, or wish they had an 

allotment should miss their best night out!

Read what the York Press review had to say...

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/theatre/9716343.Review__Losing_The_Plot__Scarcroft_Allotments__York/

The company has now clocked up over 60 sell-out performances around the country and happily for us are 

returning to York for a second performance on 18th September at Clements Hall, Bishophill 7.30pm 

Tickets can be purchased from Pextons Hardware, Bishopthorpe Road, 

Or send cheque payable to Mikron Theatre Company to: 

Willy Hoedeman

7 Howe Hill Close

York

YO26 4SN

Include a pre-addressed envelope and the tickets will be posted to you by return.

Any queries please E-mail willyh@phonecoop.coop 
or text 0797 486 7301

A special family rate will give you up to 5 tickets for the price of going to the movies! 

It's VERY teenager friendly, so bring a crowd of rowdies!

Look forward to seeing you there!