A hot day for weed pulling.

It's no secret that the plot has been neglected over the past few months. Ill health has meant that I just haven't had the strength to keep on top of it all. But today we had some of our neighbours visit the plot and lend a welcome hand in clearing the pathways of any infesting greenery.

They also managed to take the time to tour around some of the plots, and I do believe that they were particular impressed with one of our fellow plotholder's archway of hops. I think there were thoughts of beer in the making.

Our popcorn seems to be coming to fruition. We've tried picking them to eat as a normal corn-on-the-cob, but it seems we don't have the right variety for that. However it does work superbly well in the popcorn machine. So we've come to terms with that. Although we have still to attempt grinding it to cornmeal and baking corn bread. I think I mentioned that at one point. Still not got around to it.

Today also happened to be the MAGA annual Produce Show. We didn't enter anything not having anything worthwhile to enter, least ways not show quality. But we still got a reasonable harvest which we gladly donated some to our erstwhile helpers.

But there were some impressive showings at the show.

There was even some rejoicing from one of our old bread club members who won a first for their Kashmiri Apple and Date Chutney.

Last time I entered something was a couple of years back. Again Bread related. I'm spotting a theme here. Definitely have to get around to making that corn bread.

Working party (again)

So today was another working party. Part 1 involved getting an unloved plot back into shape. The plot regularly flooded and a previous tenant decided that a moat was the best way to counteract that. Unfortunately doing so made the site dangerous as it was very easy for anybody walking past to slip into it with potentially ankle damaging results.

We strimmed the long weeds, and uprooted what we couldn't strim (these ended up being dumped in a pile, then a load of horse manure piled on top and the covered by black plastic and some car tires to compost down). We also covered the plot with manure to give some of the bare ground a bit of nutrition where everything had gone to wrack and ruin over the scorching summer.

After Tea and Brownies, we then embarked on part 2 where we emptied out the MAGA Marquee and repaired the flooring (much wood chip and replacement carpet) and repaired some of the marquee flaps and side panels with new bungee cord. I didn't manage to get any photos of that part, so you'll have to make do with just a description.

After that we were so exhausted that we nearly didn't manage to do anything on our own plot. But there were a load of red juicy tomatoes staring at us saying "pick us, pick us".

So we did.

Plenty of trays of large toms (Ailsa Craig), one small tray of cherries toms (Sweet Million), a lonely chilli and a few obligatory courgettes (gave four away), liberally scattered across the back seat of the car, and hoping that the journey home won't leave them liberally scattered.

I guess we now need to figure out how to make tomato sauce properly. Unlike chutneys (where vinegar preserves it) and jam (where sugar preserves it), a good tomato sauce needs enough acidity to stop botulism forming, but enough taste so that it won't end up too acidic. Best get some research done quick.

But Freddy Fox doesn't think much of it all. He just wants his rest.

As do I..

Working Party

There are times when work on the actual plot has to be put on hold for the work on the site for the good of the community. Today we were working on fixing up one of the central pathways across the site. It took a couple of hours to get through it but with everybody helping we soon managed to clear out the old carpet and weeds and laid down a nice thick pathway of woodchips.

Once we managed to fight our way through, we ended up with a pretty decent path.

The Workers then stopped for tea (and brownies courtesy of Sue) and posed for photos.

The workers (left to right): Hiroe (aka The Wife), Pippa, Greg, Brian, Julie, Jasper, Simon, Michelle, Abby with Yours Truly taking the photo.

The whole thing probably took a shade under three hours (including tea and snacks). It's one of the benefits of everybody pulling together. Many hand make light work as the saying goes.


Once we all disbanded then we could face some work on our own plots. For my part I planted out Beetroot and Purple Carrots, into what we're calling the Purple Bed. The Wife potted on some of her beloved Cape Gooseberries. After that it started spitting with rain, so while we packed up and sheltered in the greenhouse we had a visit from the local Vixen.

We've been told that she has two cubs but we've yet to see them. Unfortunately it seems like we've lost Ben as we haven't seen him for a few months now. Now we have to choose a name for this little lass.

Back to the plot tomorrow as I have Shop Duty, and there is still much to do.

Plant Sale and recovering plants.

Today was MAGA's annual Plant Sale.

We donated a load of Cape Gooseberry plants, and a small number of Foxgloves. The CG's we're pretty sure of because the seeds came from a couple of the fruits of last year. However we were repeatedly told that our Foxgloves weren't foxgloves because the shapes of the leaves are wrong, which has got us confused because there were also taken from previous plants. So unless our seeds have been contaminated in some way then they should be Foxgloves.

Anyway, things are looking a little better on the plot. The plants that were affected by that frost are on their way to recovery. The potatoes have started putting up new leaves...

... and the courgettes are doing the same...

Now if there was just some decent way of keeping the munching buggers off my Pak Choi.

Back to the plot tomorrow because I'm on shop duty. And maybe afterwards, I can finish building new shelves for the second greenhouse.

Produce Show Categories

Belinda asked what categories we have for our show. These are they:

CATEGORY - FLOWERS & HERBS

• Class 1: Mixed flower arrangement in a vase (vase not taller than 20cm)
• Class 2: One scented rose to be judged on perfume only
• Class 3: A single bloom / flower spike
• Class 4: A gentleman’s buttonhole / lady’s spray
• Class 5: Tied bunch of 5 different herbs

CATEGORY - VEGETABLES & FRUIT

• Class 6: Selection of vegetables (min 5 different types) within 12” square (to be provided)
• Class 7: Longest runner bean (judged as straight-line length)
• Class 8: Biggest marrow (judged on both weight & size)
• Class 9: Five onions on a plate
• Class 10: Five potatoes on a plate
• Class 11: Five tomatoes on a plate
• Class 12: Heaviest pumpkin (weighed on plot)
• Class 13: Funniest vegetable (can be assembly of vegetables or single item)
• Class 14: Selection of home grown fruits on a plate (minimum 3 different types)
• Class 15: Five apples on a plate

CATEGORY - HOME PRODUCE

• Class 16: Jam, jelly, marmalade or fruit curd
• Class 17: Chutney/pickles/relishes
• Class 18: Cake (to include at least one home-grown ingredient)
• Class 19: Home-made or home-brewed alcoholic or soft drinks

CATEGORY - PHOTOGRAPHY

• Class 20: Plant portrait
• Class 21: The weather
• Class 22: Views of the allotment
• Class 23: Allotment wildlife
• Class 24: Dusk-to dawn (photo must be taken between these times)

CATEGORY - CHILDREN’S (under 16 yrs only)

• Class 25: Photograph of my plot (8-16 yrs)
• Class 26: Tallest sunflower (judged on plot, under 8 yrs)
• Class 27: Best scarecrow (under 8 yrs)
• Class 28: Best arrangement of garden flowers in a jam jar (8-16 yrs)
• Class 29: 3 decorated cup cakes (under 8 yrs)
• Class 30: Decorated stone (8-16 yrs)

We have a Best In Show award for each category. As well as we can also give out Special awards at the Judges discretion for entries which are innovative (whilst probably not a winning entry in their group). This year we had a number of classes which had no entries (Classes 4 and 24 for example) and multiple entries for some. Most notably Class 6 which is by far our most popular entry. Yesterday's winning exhibit was this:

The MAGA 2014 Produce Show

What a busy day. I was on site at 8am this morning to start getting things ready for the Produce Show. The Marquee hadn't been used since the Plant Sale back in May and the weeds in there had taken over. Much to do.

Before

After

Still when the volunteers started turning up at 10am things started moving a little faster and by the time 12noon came around we were ready for people to start arriving to set up their displays.

Unfortunately this year... I was in charge. Which meant I was busy and couldn't take many photos. So things were a little sketchy in that department. Still it all seemed to work out OK.

The final awards seemed to turn out pretty OK, and it was kind of fun giving out the awards at the end. Even if we were slightly delayed in that department. The thing which really slowed us up was the tasting of the home made produce. Some of it was delicious. Some was pretty foul. But it all got judged and people seemed happy with the end results.

Best in Show for Produce Display

Special Award for Unusual Vegetables

Some of the produce - Most notably the "five <things> on a plate"

The Flowers Section

Largest Pumpkin (No way was I going to weigh the damn thing)

2nd Largest Pumpkin (Still too damn big)

Best Scarecrow

What a difference a day makes

Well yesterday was a complete washout. Though it did brighten up in the afternoon. Today started out as brilliant blue skies and plenty of sunshine. Just the sort of weather to be wandering all over the site inspecting the plots.

MAGA has 150 10 rod plots. But a lot of the have been subdivided into 5 rod plots due to the popularity of allotmenteering. Altogether we have about 250 plots and about 180 tenants. This popularity has partially been driven by celebrity chefs (such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of River Cottage fame). This tends to give the impression that growing your own food is all simplicity and delightfulness. They show immaculate plots with not a weed in site and people expect the magic allotment faeries to grow all the food for them, so they can just walk out and pick it ready to eat.

Sadly it's not like that. Having an allotment is generally a lot of hard work. It takes time to build up your allotment to a working state, especially if you have inherited an overgrown plot. People take on plots without realising just how much of a time commitment is needed. So by the time they get round to actually doing stuff, their plot is overgrown and unwelcoming.

This is what we are trying to overcome. Now it's not just simply a case of "You're not growing stuff therefore you are out." Each case has to be judged on it's merits. Some people on the site have been ill and haven't been able to work their plot. Others simply chose not to turn up for ages. But each plot needs to be individually inspected for signs of stuff growing.

There are two possible options for a plot. (Well three if you count the fact that they *are* growing stuff). These are either a full blown "Non-Cultivation", or a simply "Tidy Up". A Tidy up notice is just simply the fact that we have noted that they are growing stuff but their plot could well do with a removal of weeds or debris. Nothing the hire of the strimmer or mower from the shop and an afternoon couldn't solve.

The biggest issue we have is with the non-cultivators. This can often get into a tricky and protracted argument. However we have to act in good faith on behalf of Merton Council. We are a self managed site so it falls to us to police our own.

So today four of the committee set out in pairs to inspect every plot. We had thought to make a note of every plot that did not have a plot number on it. But it turns out that it's actually better to make a note of every plot which does have a number. This made for some tricky reasoning to determine which plots were which.

By my rough calculations there were about 30 Non-Cultivations, and about 12 Tidy Ups. That's rather a high number. And given that we have about 50 people on the waiting list then we'd really like to get a few more people involved with the site. People who are willing to actually knuckle down and get things sorted.

But in the meantime, I have to consolidate these assessments and start sending out letters to those who have let the weeds grow.

So, how grow the weeds on your plot?

New Gates

One of the item approved by the MAGA members at this year's AGM was a set of new gates for the West Side. We have a local smith and metalworker as one of our plot holders, so he got the job. Over the past few days (barring downpours) he has managed to get the new pillars concreted in, and finally today the gates have been fitted.

OK, semi bad photo that doesn't quite do the gates justice. Taken tonight, on the West Side, facing West into a setting sun. But you can make out a "M GA". We're just missing the middle "A" and it's complete. Height notices and board will go on once it's all finished completely. But anyway you look at it, it's far better than the old gates.

Best of the rest?

So, yesterday (May 22nd) there were local Council Elections throughout the UK. I was standing as a Paper Candidate for Merton Park. Did I win?

http://democracy.merton.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=32&RPID=500340908

No.

Why? Well for one thing this is more about community than it is about politics. The Merton Park Independent Residents are a tightly knit group who work on behalf of the community in which they live. And the community respects that and backs them.

The same goes for the allotment society. We're not a business, so the place should not be run as such. We do not need to make a profit, in fact we are an Industrial and Provident Society so we shouldn't even be thinking about making a profit. What we have to do is work for the good of the community as a whole. That is what we as the MAGA Committee are committed to do.

This is not easy. There are a number of works that we currently are undertaking, such as the replacement of the West Side entrance gates. This will help the security of the site. Especially as we have had a few fly tipping issues recently. We are currently looking into fitting security cameras near the shop in an effort to catch said tippers.



As an aside, MAGA was originally the "Merton Allotments and Gardens Association", but since we became a proper legal entity for the purpose of managing the site the name was changed to "Martin Way Allotment Gardens Association". Merton covers a large area and there are quite a few allotment sites under that umbrella. It was unfair of us to covet the name over everybody else. And since we're based on Martin Way...

Plant Sale

There has been little in the way of posts here for the past couple of weeks. The reason being is that a lot of hard work was done getting ready for the Plant Sale.

Well that happened this last weekend. Why no posts over the weekend? Because I was too damn exhausted once I got home to actually sit in front of the computer and write something up.

The Plant Sale is one of our yearly events. We order in a lot of bedding plants and vegetables, mostly in plug format. These we then pot on and keep in the various greenhouses around the site. Space in the greenhouses are donated by many plot holders. My own greenhouse was absolutely choked. No spare space at all. As a consequence I had to postpone the potting on of some of my own seedlings. This has had an adverse effect. For example my Pak Choi has gone straight to seed in it's seedling tray. This is not good and basically ruins them.

Slugs attacked my Sprouts that I put out a while back. Of the 26 plants outside, only 1 survives. The Red Onions and Beetroot however seem to be going great guns. The runner beans are showing leaves the potatoes got hit by a late frost a while back, but seem to have bounced back. Well, except for one which seems to have been slugified as there is no actual foliage left, just stalks. But we shall see. The Carrot are doing extremely well. Their fronds waving in the breeze above the tops of their bags.

But back to the Plant Sale. Things started out bright and early Saturday morning. We had already got some of the benches and tables set out the previous week. The Vegetable trays had been stored in the marquee since Monday and many trays of the bedding plants had already been moved in to join them. So it was just a matter of rolling up the sides of the marquee, last minute layouts and sticking pricing labels in.

Setting up.

Sure enough, come 10am the buying hordes started streaming in.

The weather over the weekend was brilliant. Thank goodness for the shade of the marquee as without that a lot of the plants would have been wilting in the heat. But liberal doses of water for them (and the workers) saw us through until 2pm when we closed for the day.

We also had a couple of off-shoot stands. Firstly was a charity stand run by our Bee Keeper in residence, Alison, raising funds for Bees for Development. Helping her was Phil who was also selling bee friendly plants, but grown from MAGA plants and the funds from that went to MAGA of course. I think there was some confusion in how everything was discussed before hand, because there were some rumours going around that all of the funds on the Bee stand were going to charity. Yet everything was clearly defined on the day to show which plants were being sold to support which cause.

Support the bees!

Sunday started out with a smaller amount of plants as most had already been sold. But we cut prices all over the place, and dropped the prices even more towards closing time. In the end we gave people a tray and told them to fill the tray for £2. We didn't want anything left.

Sales in full flow

But even so at the very end, there were still plants left. So we simply left one side off the marquee and put an Honesty Jar for donations inside and let people take whatever they wished. I suspect over the next few days we'll offload a lot of the plants. But anything that doesn't go by the end of the week will probably end up on the compost heap.

All in all, we raised over £100 for Bees for Development and over £1,000 for MAGA. Not a bad weekends work.

Next weekend we'll start the Plot Inspections before the sunny weather pushes the weeds into overdrive. Which reminds me. I have to borrow the strimmer to attack the grasses and stuff that suddenly wants to take over my plot.

And now the hard work begins

Today was the MAGA AGM. MAGA being the Martin Way Allotment Gardens Association Ltd., the organisation which now has the full management of the site on behalf of London Borough of Merton. Once a year we call all the tenants together to vote on various things. Chiefly the Committee that runs things. I have been on that committee for the last two years. So once again the tenants get

And now I am the Chairman of said committee.

Caroline has been chairing the committee for the past three years and has now stood down as Chair and has done a fantastic job in getting the association set up as an Industrial and Provident Society. As such we now control the allotment site on behalf of our Landlords, Merton Council.

There was a pretty good turn out today. Probably helped by the excellent weather we had and the fact that we have our marquee up as our social and meeting place. Either way it was a good meeting.

The outgoing chair was thanked for her hard work that she has done in organising the transition.

One of the thing we do every year is an award to the most improved plot. This is the Margie Mulder award. This year it went to new tenants (well, it normally does). But it went to somebody who certainly puts my allotment to shame.

We also introduced a new award which is the Chairman's Award for the best plot. This went to a long standing plot owner who has 15 rods which I challenge any self respecting bird to get into. (Taking the photo from the parking area may not have done it justice, but it is a damn good plot.)

I suppose now I have my work cut out for me. There is much to do and organise. First thing is getting the new committee together for a meeting. That is going to have to happen pretty sharpish.

Time for the Annual Barn Raisin'

Every time we need to put up the MAGA Marquee I am always reminded of the Barn Raising shown in movies like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Witness, and much lampooned in Pinky and the Brain (Season 3, ep 34). But the one thing which it does show is a community coming together to put up a structure. In this case we come together to put up the marquee.

It's always a bit of a struggle. It's like playing with giant meccano. But if you look carefully at the pieces it all soon fits together. Even if I did make a couple of mistakes and had to re-do some bits. But it all started to go up.

And eventually the marquee was set for another season as being the centre point of our social space.

Meanwhile over on the plot, we had a friend visit for tea.

The girls gossiped, and I pottered about digging out weeds and hoeing as well as sieving soil getting the carrot bags ready. Might have to go back tomorrow to get any serious work done.