If you happen to have more fruit than you can eat, get in touch with Graham at iScream in the covered market who will make some icecream with it and give you back a share of the deliciousness. You can email him on graham@iScreamoxford.co.uk.
Dry weather, fires and water butts. Also lost glasses.
In view of the very dry conditions on site at the moment, we have taken the decision to ban all fires for the time being. In the past smouldering fires have spread in dry weathers, destroying sheds and crops as they go, and causing the emergency services to have to break in to the site to deal with them. To avoid this happening again, please compost your waste and make use of the Redbridge recycling facility. If there’s anything you feel you really must burn, please hold on until wetter weather returns.
In related matters, please a) refill water butts when you use them so they are full for the next user and b) turn off the tap when you’ve done that!
Finally, a pair of glasses were found on the middle row, and are awaiting collection on the table of plot 92.
Plot inspections
We have updated our cultivation guidelines to show how we inspect the plots, and what our next steps are for under used plots. There are a number of plots on site which are not being used effectively and we will be looking to relet those to new starters very soon. We are also aware that there are a great many unmown and unmaintained paths on and alongside plots that are being used. PLEASE MOW YOUR PATHS AND DON’T LET THE GRASSES SEED ON EVERYONE ELSE’S PLOTS.
Plant swap, Sunday 10 June
Rules reminders!
Plot inspections will be taking place at the end of this week, and we will be looking to re-let those plots that are not being used according to the rules, unless we have heard from you and agreed to extend the time allowed for getting them in order. It is the rule, and a great help to the committee, that each plot should have it’s number displayed.
Side paths are the responsibility of the neighbouring plotholders, and should be maintained and mown by them. They are not footpaths for the use of one and all, please stick to the main paths and your own side paths.
Please keep an eye on the waterbutts – they should be left full for the next user, but are occasionally left with the tap running and overflow – do turn the tap off if you see this happening or about to happen! Our water is metered, and we pay the bills with the rent money. Children sometimes love to play with them, but again, if yours are getting carried away, please redirect them to play with it in buckets or watering cans on your plot rather than at the water tank itself.
General Data Protection Regulations
As you know, the new data protection regulations come into force this week. As we are renting out plots to our members, we are entitled to hold contact information for our records. We do not pass this information on to anyone else, and take responsibility for keeping it secure. You can read our Data Protection Policy for more details.
In the Allotment Shop this weekend – Seedlings and cut-price seed potatoes
The following seedlings, produced by the Cuttleslowe Park Garden Project, will be on sale at the shop this weekend at £1.50 each:
- Aubergine ‘Moneymaker’
- Tomato ‘Ailsa Craig’
- Tomato ‘Alicante’
- Tomato ‘ Golden Sunrise’
- Cucumber ‘Femspot’
- Chilli Pepper
In addition, the remaining seed potatoes will be on sale at 25p per Kg
Cub scouts offering gardening help
Heritage fruit plant sale and talk, 8th April
Andy Howard of the Heritage Fruit Tree Company will be visiting East Ward on Sunday 8th of April. He will be giving a free advice/talk session from 10 til 11, and selling plants and accessories 11 til 12. A stock list will be available next week – if you are looking for something specific, please let him know in advance as he won’t be transporting his entire stock to us!
This is a great opportunity to ask your questions of a local fruit expert!
Spring work party, 7th April, 10-12
We will have a workparty on Saturday 7th April, for a spring tidy up of the site. We are planning to deal mainly with litter and brambles, so please bring gloves, secateurs, wheelbarrows, etc. Please come if you can, meet your fellow plotholders and spruce the place up a bit. No need to stay for the whole session if you don’t want to.