Dear All,
The above notice has been issued by OCC and is a temporary measure.
If you have lots of green waste on your plot, composting is a good way of disposing of it and then you will have lovely compost to add and improve your soil in the following year.
Owing to the CoViD 19 pandemic, the ewaa shop has had to close. However we still have some stock and our suppliers still seem to be able to take orders and deliver. So we’d like to see if its feasible to run an occasional email and deliver to plot service.
Initially we’d like plot holders to email the shop@ewaa.org.uk with any requests for orders. We’ll then review what’s been requested (possibly after a few days) and reply back with a confirmation of what’s available, how much it’ll cost, and ewaa bank account details, to take bacs payments (we will not accept cash or card payments). We’ll then check the bank after a period of time and deliver (it will not be practical to chase for payments, so please pay ontime to avoid missing the window).
Depending on stock there may be a delay for deliveries. Demand, will determine the frequency we can provide the service.
We are considering providing some things not normally stocked in the shop such as seed compost, tomato bags and carrot seed and shed repair materials, so do ask.
“Covid-19 Pandemic: EWAA Emergency Measures
The following changes come into effect immediately and will remain until further notice:
These measures were agreed by an emergency committee meeting held on 24 March 2020. They will be revised periodically by the EWAA committee according to any changes in advice from Public Health England and other government bodies.
The government has issued clear guidelines that are to protect vulnerable members of our community, social distancing needs to be followed by everyone.
The National Trust overnight has now closed its parks and gardens due to people not following these rules and behaving as though they are on holiday.
For us to keep open as an allotment association it depends on on all of our members keeping a safe distance from others.
in practice this should mean that each plot holder and any of their household should keep at least 2m away from other plot holders. In addition hands need to be washed for 20 seconds after opening and closing the entrance gates. There is soap in the toilet block. water supplies are now turned on.
I was on the site all day yesterday and unfortunately not everyone has yet understood the urgency to follow these rules. This is endangering the ability of the NHS to treat those hospitalised with COVID-19 and indeed everyone accessing treatment.
An emergency committee meeting is being held this week to discuss compliance on our site.
If these rules are not followed then we have no option other than to consider closing the allotment for all further access.
Chris Clifford
Chair, East Ward Allotment Association
Everyone will be aware of the quickly developing situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s impact in England.
Our Association is now in regular contact with the Oxford and District Federation of Allotment Associations as we consider how we may need to change the way in which our association operates in the months ahead.
We cannot give public health advise. All members should follow this themselves through media broadcasts and the internet.
For now, many members will want to continue normal allotment gardening on their own plots and make sure that plots remain well maintained and are productive in the months ahead especially now as we are entering the main growing season.
For this to work we need to respect each other’s space and the fact that some members may not wish to have the normal social contact that we enjoy especially if they are in those groups that the government have said need to take social distancing measures.
The committee will be in regular communication to see how we need to respond – for instance, whether the shop can remain open as normal, whether we need to suspend normal cultivation guidelines or respond to any changing public health advice.
Please keep checking the website for up-to-date information.
Apple Sale and talk
Sadly Andy Howard has cancelled his sale and talk. He has promised to return in the Autumn . He can be contacted directly to purchase stock and he will be wending out bare root trees until the end of March
Plot Inspection New Date
18th-19h April is now the new date for the plot inspection
Dear All,
Plot Inspections are now the 21st & 22nd March.
Seed Swop– a new idea, bring your spare seeds to the shop on Sundays & do a swop, the shop is now open 10am-12pm from 15th March.
Work party– come & join fellow plot holders to clear overgrown areas & rubbish on Sunday 10th May 10-12pm, 1-3pm and Sunday 17th 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm, refreshments provided.
Free-Bean Poles available from recent coppicing at the nature reserve, please help yourself from next to the reserve.
Free-Big pile of wood chip in the car park on Cricket Road, come & help yourselves.
Dear plot holders,
Just a gentle reminder that there will be plot inspections 21st & 22nd March.
If you are unsure what this means for you, please check the association cultivation rules.
The first delivery of Potatoes was a big success, and we sold the last bag on the weekend of 23rd Feb. The shop volunteers pointed out that I hadn’t communicated the reason for the new plan for potato sales this year, so apologies for that: Last year we bought about 250kg of Potatoes and had to throw away 30kgs unsold. So this year we decided to buy less, and buy in 2kg bags (and sell only in whole kilo’s), so we’d have less wastage. This seems to have worked well so far.
The second delivery of potatoes arrived this week, so we now have Duke of York (1st Early), Charlotte (Salad & 2nd Early), Nadine (2nd Early), Cara, Desiree and Orla (all Maincrop) varieties in the shop, ready for the weekend of 1st March.
As March is upon us, the shop opening times are a changing. As always, during March and April, the shop will be open from 10am until 12 noon.