East Ward Allotment Association

Thanks to everyone who turned out today in spite of the rain! Many plants were swapped and we raised quite a bit for Garden Organic too.

Meet at the allotment shop at 10.30

Plant swap at the allotment shop, Sunday 12th June, 11-12.

Bring your spare plants, take something new home.

Make a donation to charity instead if you don’t have anything to swap!

This week in the EWAA shop (10-12 on Sunday), as well as the chance to buy your seed potatoes, onions sets, seeds and garden paraphernalia, you can participate in mapping Oxford’s food production history. We will be asking everyone to tell us about their memories of orchards, bakeries, breweries, farms, mills, eel-trapping grounds and anything else you can think of so we can map it all together. This is a trial run for what will hopefully be a much bigger community local history project later on running city-wide with interviews, research skills training for volunteers and events, leading to an exhibition at the museum and creation of various maps showing Oxford’s history of providing for itself.

This years Oxford and District Federation of Allotment Associations competition is open for entries!

Cash prizes!

The Judges will be looking for plots that grow a wide range of vegetables all year round, together with seasonal soft fruit. The emphasis is strongly on the quality of the crops and the overall productivity of the plot.

All individual entrants compete for the Challenge Trophy for the best plot, and there are 4 separate age categories: for seniors aged 60-69, and over 70 years, for 35-59 years, and under 35 years. The individual competition is open to all plot holders in Oxford, including those on sites that are not members of the Federation of Allotment Associations. Entrants do not have to cultivate a full sized plot to enter and this year they are introducing a special section for plotholders, who cultivate an area of 5 poles (127m²) or less.

The prizes for the classes for individuals, the Challenge Trophy and each age category will be: 1^st £25, 2^nd £15, 3^rd £10. Highly Commended certificates are awarded to runners up in the Challenge Trophy section.

Final date for entries: Friday 6 May

First round of judging: Sunday 22 May and Tuesday 24 May

Second round of judging: Sunday 4 September and Monday 5 September

Presentation of the awards at the Town Hall, to which all entrants and their partners are invited: Tuesday 27 September

Please email ewaa-oxford@hotmail.co.uk if you want the nitty-gritty and the entry forms.

Free cuttings of purple loosestrife (native pond plant) and fennel plants available from Bridget at EWAA – email her on bridgetathome@hotmail.co.uk if you’d like some.

We’re looking for volunteers to join the volunteer path mowing team, especially for middle grass road and play area.

As the people who have mostly been mowing these areas are getting a bit too creaky, it would be great to have more people joining the team. You may well have a plot on the middle road, but that’s not essential. We have two EWAA petrol mowers, and instruction can be given. Access to the equipment can be arranged.

With two or three people helping out on each road, the likely commitment would probably be a couple of mowings per season.

For more details, please contact Stewart Young, on plot 76, or via ewaa-oxford @ hotmail.co.uk

Barracks Lane Community Garden are hosting the annual seed swap a week Saturday, on the 19th of March 11-4. Bring your seeds you’ve saved, swap them (or make a donation) for other people’s seeds, including some seed donated by the Heritage Seed Library. There’s always a good mix of basics and unusual varieties, vegetables and flowers, plus plenty of advice on hand.

Barracks Lane will also be running a nettle festival (featuring soup, tea and wildlife gardening) alongside the seed swap, and felting workshops making animals and eggs – they’re asking for a small donation on the door, which covers all this entertainment.

If anyone finds themselves overwhelmed by vegetables, the Monday Shop are looking for donations/swaps:

Dear Allotment Secretary,