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.

Cycle stands!

Four new cycle stands have been installed by volunteers on the Scarcroft allotment site... and they look great! 

There has long been a desperate need for this provision, with cycles being locked to bits of fencing, drain pipes, gates etc. Happily cyclists can now confidently secure their bikes whilst visiting their plots or the allotment shop. The stands are spaced to accommodate panniers and trailers and it is hoped that they will encourage even more people to cycle to Scarcroft.

On the occasions when you do need to bring a vehicle to the site then there are still 6 generous parking spaces for cars and vans.

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

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

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.

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!

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

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

Patrick Cairns

It is with great sadness that we share the news that long term plot holder, allotment shop volunteer, allotment association committee member, Leeds United fan and friend, Patrick Cairns, died suddenly on August 16th 2011.  He was only 47.  We wish his mother, Pat, who gardened his plot with him, and the rest of his family, strength and comfort at this difficult time.

2009

For many years, Patrick was a familiar face on Sunday mornings in the Scarcroft and District allotment association shop, which he ran with Tom Walters.  He will be sadly missed. 

Patrick's Funeral Service will be held on Friday, September 2nd at English Martyrs RC Church, Dalton Terrace at 11am, followed by a Burial in Fulford Cemetery. Family flowers only, donations in memory of Patrick will be gratefully received to support St Leonard’s Hospice. A plate will be available at the Church.

The Allotment Shop - Opening Hours

There will be a few changes to the opening hours at the Allotment Shop on Scarcroft over the coming months.

At present the Shop opening hours are as follows:

Saturdays 13.30 - 15.30

&

Sundays 10.00 - 13.00

From 1st September 2011, the Sunday opening hours will be 10:00 - 12:00

Saturday opening will remain 13:30 - 15:30

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 of your winter supplies!

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

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

Bean Poles, Fence Posts & Bamboo Canes

Various structural support solutions are now available at the Allotment Association's shop on Scarcroft http://bit.ly/eDlEZv.

Come on down to take a look.

Silver Birch Bean Poles: £9 for 15 poles

These 8' Silver Birch poles (pictured above and below right) are cut from sustainably managed woods in the Vale of York.
The uneven texture of the poles gives the plants a better grip than imported bamboo cane.
A bundle of fifteen poles will make a sturdy frame with seven uprights each side and one crosspiece.
Properly stored they will give you several years' service.

Fence posts: £2 each, 5' 6" x 2"

Sturdy fence posts are also available at the bargain price of only £2 each, pictured to the right resting amongst the bean poles, and modelled below by the glamourous hut assistant, George.

Bamboo Canes: Various lengths available

See attached photo, always available in the Association Shop.

Seed Potatoes: Now only 50 pence per Kilo!

Seed Potatoes at just 50 pence per kilo, now available at the Allotment Association's shop on Scarcroft http://bit.ly/eDlEZv.  Assorted varieties available, come down to the shop to take advantage of this special offer before they are all snapped up.

All chipping in to move the chippings

Some of the many volunteers who shifted chippings on to the muddy paths

It was a rainy sunday but loads of volunteers showed up to shift the chippings that had been spread across the car park of the Scarcroft Site.  They were mostly spread along the path behind Wentworth Road and around the main gates.  Once this was done we ferry some up to any volunteers plots that wanted them and then moved what we could of the remainder into the newly built bay.

Many thanks to all who helped out.

If you want chippings please make sure you take them from outsie of the remaining pile in the middle of the the carpark and not the two orderly piles at either end.  Despite 4 hours of labour from a large team we haven't managed to shift all the chippings, so if you want some it would be helpful if you took them from the spread out pile in the middle of the car park.

Before (Sunday 9th) - this may not look masses but believe us it took long enough to shift.

After (Sunday 16th) - the pile was reduced to at least a quarter of its original size

Arlo was extremely helpful and brought his own wheel barrow

Frank and Mike built a new bay for the chippings

Volunteers filled Mike's trailer twice and took chippings over to Hob Moor

Some of the chippings were piled up in the new bay

Did you miss this volunteer event?  Don't worry the next one will be on Saturday 26th of February.  Look out for details nearer the time.

Deadline for ordering seed potatoes is November 21st 2010

Double click on the table if you want to make it bigger.

2011 Allotment Association Calendar is on sale now

Did you know that our beautiful 2011 Scarcroft and District Allotment Association Calendar is on sale now, at £5 each?  This lovely calendar is made up of 60 different photographs taken by plotholders (from Hob Moor, Hospital Field and Scarcroft) and private gardeners.  It was expertly compiled by Sarah Austin, a Hob Moor plotholder and talented graphic designer.  Please note that we only printed 300 copies and we have 254 members, so please get yours soon to avoid missing out.

Front cover

A month view

If you want to pick up a copy, you can get one from Pexton's or the Good Food Shop on Bishopthorpe Road or at the Allotment Association shop on the Scarcroft site, or by asking any of the site secretaries (on Scarcroft Claire Pickard and Graham Sanderson, on Hob Moor Malcolm Hainsworth, on Hospital Field Chris Adams).  Johnny and Frankie from Pextons and Caroline from the Good Food Shop have very kindly offered to help us sell our calendars, without any benefit to themselves, except the warm glow of knowing that they are supporting a local community group.  We think this is particularly generous when you consider how precious display space is at this time of year. So thank you very much.

By the way did you know that the Good Food Shop has a weekly newletter?  It highlights new and interesting products they are selling, gives recipes and is often really quite entertaining.  If you are not yet a subscriber, email info@thegoodfoodshopyork.co.uk and Caroline Lewis will add you to the mailing list.  Let her know that you heard about her email from our website.

http://www.thegoodfoodshopyork.co.uk/
http://www.bishyroad.net/shop/pextons/

Please remember that the Scarcroft and District Allotment Association shop is only open at weekends Saturday 1.30 - 3.30 and Sunday 10 - 1pm (and only 11 - 1pm in December).

Calendar 2011 - the contributors

The 2011 Scarcroft and District Allotment Association calendar has gone to the printers.  It should be available in the shop from the 6th of November for £5.  Below is a list of all the contributors that were selected.  Well done to you all!

A special thanks should go to Sarah Austin of Sarah Austin Creative and a Hob Moor Plotholder for her HOURS of dedication to this project.

Deadline for entries to the 2011 calendar looms

After the success of the 2009 calendar and a short lie down and breather, the Scarcroft and District Allotment Association is now producing one for 2011.  The calendar will be made up of photos taken by plotholders and local residents - basically anyone who is a member of the association.  If you would like the chance of your photos being included in the 2011 calendar please e-mail your images to scarcroftallotments@live.co.uk or bring them in on a disc/USB stick to the association shop. Please mark them with your name and which site your are from or where the photo was taken.  Photos should be taken on Hob Moor, Hospital Fields or Scarcroft or other York allotment plots.  If they are not taken on the plots they shouls show fruit/veg grown on the plots. Images can show people, produce, the plots or wildlife. Both landscape and portrait are fine.  If you include pictures of children please make sure you have their and their parents permission.  We will try to include a wide range of photographers in the calendar so everyone has a good chance.

Deadline for submitting photos – Saturday October 16th 2010.

We hope to have them on sale by the first week of November - £5 each.

Manure and Chippings Delivery on Scarcroft

There has been a delivery of (cattle) manure and chippings to the Scarcroft site.  The manure is £1.50 per barrow, the chippings are 50p a barrow. Please pay in the allotment shop.  If you want to pay when the shop is not open please put the money in an envelope with your name (and plot number if you have one) on it and put it in the allotment shop letter box. 

The manure is the same stuff that they use at Brunswick Organic Nurseries.

Tom's Retirement Party

Thanks to all who came to Tom's retirement tea party in the shop yesterday and thank you to Laura Potts for organising it.

Have you seen the padlock to Scarcroft main gates?

Have you, by any chance, walked off with the padlock from the main gate at Scarcroft last Saturday?  If you have absent mindedly put it in your pocket by accident please contact the association by emailing scarcroftallotments@live.co.uk or by putting in the post box on the front of the shop. 

If we do not get it back we will be issuing new keys in the shop soon, although we'd much prefer to get it back as it will be very expensive to replace all the keys.

Thanks

The shop team