Page 25 - Allotment Gardener Issue 1 2024

COMPETITION WINNERS
Bronze Winner
Jade Woodhouse, Brighton
Jade waited 3 1⁄2 years, so was grateful to get her hands on her abandoned plot. She spent hours clearing rubbish, digging out palms, brambles, dock and other invasive plants during the winter. Fast forward to August 2023 and she had so much produce she was able to feed her neighbours, friends and anyone willing to take her vegetables! Her no dig plot was so successful that other plotholders who have been at Eastbrook Road for 20 years or more have been inspired to try the method for themselves.
Silver Winner
Matt Lominski, Yeovil
Matt was originally from Poland where he
lived in a small village with his farmer parents. Missing the farm, he applied for and took on an allotment that had been abandoned for 5 years. He works as an emergency worker on night shift and found that going to his allotment after a night shift very therapeutic. He used the no dig method to transform his plot and in 2022 he was awarded best new allotment keeper in Yeovil – a huge motivation. He now spends most of his spare time at the allotment.
Charles said: “A fabulous plot and a heartwarming story of how the no dig approach has helped a night shift emergency worker.”
Charles said “A highly successful no dig transformation and a plot that has inspired many others!”
Commended entries
The entries were so impressive; Charles also highly commended the following no dig allotmenteers: Scott and Mandy McKenzie, Jonny & Carly Kimber, Russell Attwood, Karen and Paul Thorpe, Lauren Wellburn, Matthew Coombes, Glenda Spence, Ron Heath, Weronica Crossan, Emma Fletcher, Amanda White, Matt Beaumont, Alison Andrew and Janet Granger.
Allotment Gardener | Issue 1 2024 | 25