Page 56 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2021

NVS Lancashire DA
Since the last magazine issue, the DA have held their AGM via Zoom in May. Sadly, only a few attended but we got through the meeting and necessary business of an AGM. David Metcalfe had indicated at a couple of previous AGMs he’d like to step down as Chair having been in the role for many years. At the meeting, I was elected as Chair. David kindly agreed to stay on as Talks Secretary, Tony Harulow re-elected as Treasurer; Bob Mason and Paul Goodman to continue with the Road Show which
Frank McVan offered to help with too. Thank you to all for continuing with their support of the DA and the NVS. We’re just short of a Secretary – if anyone is interested in the role, please get in touch.
We aim to meet again in November, review the covid situation and look to begin talks again at Ribchester in January 2022, all being well.
Some of you may
remember back in March 2019 the DA were invited by NVS Member, Andrew Clark; to attend a wonderful event at his School – St James’ CE Primary in Chorley – Let’s Get Growing. July 2021 saw me returning to the School.
A few months back, Andrew asked if I would be willing to judge the Flower Show at the school. Well I’m not a judge but over many years have been judged plenty of times at shows as an exhibitor – amateur and professional
- stewarded with numerous qualified judges, so I thought what a great opportunity and why not.
Thankfully the weather was good as the show was being held outside. Several local schools were taking part besides St James’ and there was an array of vegetables, flowers, herbs, artwork, crafts by children of various ages up to 11.
I was met by the Gardening Club – a very enthusiastic bunch of children
– they all wanted to steward with me, running backwards and forwards with slips, certificates, listening as I explained what I was looking for with each exhibit and why I’d placed each one, asking questions.
It was lovely to see their polytunnel
and growing area in person. Andrew has tweeted so many photos in the past. What a marvellous credit to Andrew, the Gardening Club, the School and Jacki Smith, a local resident who helps out with the garden. Andrew
told me the children had worked
so hard this year and had wanted
to garden almost every lunch time. They’d even had fresh produce sales after school.
After lunch the children came
out classroom by classroom to see
the Show, followed by one of the other schools taking part. They had chance to see the other exhibits, see who had won which places in the various categories. I thanked them
all for taking part and attending, explained how and where I’d started in horticulture, how it involves so much of what they’re already learning at school – all the sciences, maths, English, languages (Latin) – many practical skills and the opportunities out there if they wished to take that route.
What made it for me was one little girl asking me several times “are you having a great afternoon Miss? I am!” One little boy, who loved the smell of garlic and mint (ended up with a garlic bulb stashed in his pocket), wanting to show me the polytunnel three times. A tour of the orchard by the Gardening Club. And at the end of the day, whilst packing up, “this is the best day ever at
school. I don’t want to go home.” See you next year Mr Clark! Growing wise it’s not been great,
with so much being behind, despite
a recent long spell of hot and sunny weather. The cold, damp start with frosts at the beginning of the year and into spring meant most things couldn’t go out even into the glasshouse until April/May. We even had hailstone last week (end of July).
On the topic of being behind, mainly due to the lack of produce
and uncertainty of whether we’d have enough produce, we had to pull out of putting on a display at the Chorley Flower Show which was on for 3 days this year. It was a real shame, but
it would have been an injustice to
the DA and wouldn’t have been fair
to have left it to the week or even a few days before. We’d probably just about enough folk to stage, man and then break down an exhibit but more volunteers are always welcome and our thanks to those folks who did step up to the mark. Hopefully next year we’ll be back
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Andrew told me the children had worked so hard this year and had wanted to garden almost every lunchtime