Bouncing in to Spring with a whole lot of news

The newsletter sums it up! What a week of news, and what a lot of dates to put in your diaries...
Look out for follow-up information on many of these events.
You may also wish to follow us on Facebook
Look forward to seeing you soon! 

Pumpkins Galore!

With pumpkin season well under way this is a timely reminder of an Allotment Pumpkin Challenge organised by the City of York Council. If you believe your pumpkins have what it takes, then why not pick up the gauntlet and get in touch with Darren Lovatt the council's Allotment Officer and register your interest. Judging takes place on 1st November, so don't delay... darren.lovatt@york.gov.uk

The photo below shows an impressive display of pumpkins laid out and hardening off at our local Brunswick organic nursery in Bishopthorpe. To see them in the flesh why not pop along to their 'Pumpple Festival' this Sunday 26th October, when they will be celebrating all things 'pumpkintastic' and 'applicious'. How can you not resist!!!
http://www.brunswickyork.org.uk/

Cycling & Allotments

There can be few people in Yorkshire not looking forward to next years Tour de France Grand Depart. It's going to be quite some party! Those lucky cyclists and visitors are going to be sampling some of the best countryside and hospitality in the country... or indeed the World. 

According to the Lonely Planet travel guides for 2014, Yorkshire has been named as the third top global region to visit! And we can't argue with that...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24713858

Here in York, Stage 2 of Le Grand Depart begins just across the road from our Hospital Fields and Scarcroft allotment sites before heading into the city along Bishopthorpe Road. Check out the official route and zoom in for more detail...
http://letour.yorkshire.com/stage-2

Continuing the cycling theme, we're pleased to announce that the Hob Moor allotment site now also has 2 cycle stands. These have been provided for free by the lovely people at Parkthatbike
http://www.parkthatbike.com/freeStands.cfm

2014 Calendar

It's at the printers and will soon be on sale! 

Here's a sneak preview of our 2014 Calendar and it's looking great with thanks to all those who contributed photos to this community project. It will be on sale in the allotment shop by the end of the month priced £5 (what a splendid Christmas gift!!) 

Once again we're fortunate to be supported by our fabulous local businesses: Pextons, Frankie and Johnny's & The Good Food Shop all on Bishopthorpe Road, who will also be selling the calendar for us.

Member's photographs

Here are just a few photos taken by members of the association.  If you'd like to email in any of your pictures that would be great! It's always nice to see what's going on elsewhere - a bit like peering over the garden wall!

If we receive enough photos we will once again be compiling an association calendar 2014 
Please email your pics to: scarcroftallotments@live.co.uk

Sarah Austin

Iris Wells

Eric Leadley

Sally Hayes

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

The Scarcroft and District Allotment Association 2012 Calendar

Calendar Submissions - last chance

A reminder that you might all wish to take photos of your plots for next year's Scarcroft Calendar.

The deadline for submissions is this Sunday, 16th October



 The suggested theme for the 2012 Calendar is Vegetables, Fruit & Flower from Seed & Blossom, through Growth to Harvest.

We hope that each page in the 2012 Calendar might be devoted to a particular vegetable, fruit or flower - showing all stages of growth from seed to harvest.

The calendar is open to submissions from plot holders and home gardeners.  There is still time to get out in your plots and gardens to get photos of your own produce, or if you have any photos saved which you feel might be worthy of submission, please dig them out and send them in!

 

It's nearly time to begin the selection process for the calendar, so start collecting your photos together and send them to:

sk.austin@btopenworld.com

The closing date for submissions is Sunday 16th October.

Happy Snapping!