Page 44 - ALG Issue 1 2019

Yorkshire
Rotherham ramblings 1
I am sure you will not be surprised to read that all the seeds I planted on the morning of the Rotherham Show are still in the pots and trays. They have grown incredibly slowly, but look quite healthy. Whether they actually make it into the ground is another matter. I have almost emptied the polytunnel and my wonderful assistant/wife has tidied
it up. However, the newly raised beds are taking longer than planned, and they are the destination of the grow bags and compost from the polytunnel. This is not because they are difficult to construct; in fact there have been only three 'major rethinks' and two 'deconstruct and rebuilds' so far, and they are now half built.
Whilst I appreciate the genuine concern of my nearest and dearest, I'm not as convinced as they seem to be that, 'left to my own devices' I will just sit and watch
the clouds roll by, or develop an unhealthy interest in daytime television. I realise that, to them, or some of them, or one of them - I need to have my time organised.
Rotherham ramblings 2
Well that's another year done and dusted, and what a year it was. The record- breaking cold winter followed by the long hot and dry summer was quite a challenge to professional growers and not just us incompetent amateurs. Rotherham show was a success and we had the President
of the National Allotment Society in attendance on both days. The formation
of the Rotherham Allotment Alliance was completed and launched with the council and the allotment holders of the borough. The Annual General Meeting of the Yorkshire Allotment Gardeners Federation was successfully held in Rotherham. Oh, and
I grew the best crop of courgettes and outdoor tomatoes I've ever grown.
The culinary talents of my nearest and dearest were stretched to come up with new and different recipes to make best use of the courgettes, but she rose to the challenge magnificently. I can still taste the chilli, courgette and chocolate cake (that should be worth a few Brownie points), and had
to battle with the grandson for each piece. The seeds are ordered, the new raised
beds almost ready, manure spread, and I'm looking forward to the challenge, but it will need to be an exceptional year to top 2018.
All that remains is for me to wish you all a very Happy New Year, and may all your cabbages be big ones and all your caterpillars small ones.
Mike Farrel
44
Victory Garden Allotment Association
Out with the old... in with the new(ish)
Shed was collapsing but still proved difficult to demolish
Finally Nearly there
Not quite yet
The final opening And there’s the new (second hand) toilet