Page 66 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2023

Welsh Section
IVOR MACE
As we start off another season, may I
say a season like no other in my lifetime. Every time I turn on the TV we seem to get reports of inflation at 10%, Fuel and heating costs doubling. Along with this gardening materials have shot up in price, we’ve had a price hike like no other I’ve ever known. You have to wonder if greenhouse raised plants will decline in numbers, while Peas, Beans, Cauliflowers carrots and parsnips may become more popular. Trust me to grow onions and leeks. All this has happened while peat is being withdrawn. It’s just like everything is conspiring against us. In my opinion we will come out of it stronger, more resilient, and more determined to carry on and succeed.
Our Welsh Branch committee continues to work well together, I’m the chairman and it’s the eighth wonder of the world how patient they are with me with all
my eccentricities. We’ve had good news from Arwyn Edwards who is our main link with the Museum of Welsh Life at
St Fagan’s nr Cardiff. We can hold our Branch Championships in their atrium in
conjunction with their food festival. On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September. This was a great success the year before Covid when we held it there. There is plenty of accommodation in the Cardiff area and Cardiff Bay shopping centre and restaurants are only about 5 miles away. Likewise, Cardiff City Centre is a similar distance. Entry to the museum is free with a small parking charge. The museum is in about 50 acres of parkland with historic buildings dismantled from around Wales and re-erected there. There’s a good restaurant/cafeteria on site.
We hope to attend the Royal Welsh
Show again 24th to 27th July with a promotional display of vegetables. It’s a great get together, a fundraiser, and a chance to meet other growers.
You will probably read elsewhere in
the magazine that we are adopting more flexibility into the judging examination. Now it should be possible to sit the written exam in spring and there is no reason why a branch can’t hold it in two venues to avoid travelling long distances. The practical exam could be held anytime anywhere because its unique, for example straight after a branch championships when plenty of vegetables are available.
The atrium at St Fagans is big enough to hold our branch championships, and all the visitors pass through our show
Irish Section
RAYMOND HIGGINS FNVS, NVS IRELAND CHAIR
We are delighted to welcome a large number of new Irish members for
2023. In addition to receiving this magazine four times a year, you now have access to all our members only benefits via our website including growing guides, videos and talks. If
you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us, as we are always happy to help. The winter zoom series was another great success. I hope the members who joined, enjoyed the talks and gained some valuable and interesting information. It’s great to be able to connect with members in the
UK and Ireland from the comfort of our homes.
At the time of writing, we are looking forward to our first spring seminar which is scheduled for Saturday March 4th, Moore Hall, South Roscommon. It’s really important to provide opportunities for
our members to meet in person for the chat, cuppa and share tips for the new growing season. Many thanks in advance to everyone who helped and supported on the day.
Sincere thanks to all the members who
have supported the “200 Club” by buying and selling tickets to date. The club was established to provide additional funding for the society in Ireland and will enable us to have events and activities. A special word of thanks to our promoter Sean Egan. Monthly draws will continue until December.
We are very much looking forward to the return of the shows in the coming months. It’s currently a busy time of the year for many members sowing seeds and plants for the coming season.
For our new members, The Irish Shows Association (ISA) organise and oversee
the annual All Ireland Championships for Vegetables. Qualifying rounds will take place at shows designated by the Irish Shows Association. The ISA publish a Yearbook which contains details of all championships and affiliated shows around the country. This is now available for purchase on the ISA website.
The Bord Bia All Ireland Championships finals are held annually at the Tullamore Show. This year’s show will be held on August 13th. It’s become the highlight of the growing and showing season within
Ireland. We will hold our AGM at 11am in steward’s marque. We very much look forward to seeing you all at the AGM and indeed at the various shows around the country.
“The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies”
66 Simply Vegetables
Junior Member Erica Tully helping uncle Ray in preparing the barrels for sowing of Parsnips