Page 54 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2021

East
Yorkshire
DA
Well, not a lot has changed, has it? We should now be looking back to our AGM at the end of January but we had to postpone that until such time as we are allowed to meet
up again. Thankfully, most of our Committee have agreed to remain
in post until that time. We cannot proceed with any of our meetings remotely using Zoom or similar digital technology because there was insufficient support expressed by
our membership following a canvas of opinion. There is also the issue of how to fund the speakers’ fees without a physical audience to offer donations on the night.
I took possession of my seed potatoes from Scotland in January and remain hopeful that our Show will go ahead at the end of September. Hopefully, most of us should have received our vaccinations by that time but we will just have to wait patiently and see what the future brings.
For many years, BT has offered charities and community groups the opportunity to design and operate a BT website kit free of charge. Several DAs, including ours, and many other horticultural groups have made use
of this facility but, sadly, the free service offer is being rescinded from 24 May 2021. To continue using the BT service through its partner hosting company would cost approximately £75 per year. Whilst this may not sound like an unreasonable amount, the promotional budget available to most small organisations is insufficient to justify this ongoing cost, especially if they are unable to generate advertising income from their website activity. We are therefore looking at alternative hosts and providers but, as a fallback, we have recently created our own dedicated Facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/natvegsoceyda which is free to operate but lacks the bells and whistles of a proper website.
Hopefully, I will have more enlightening news to report on in the next edition of Simply Vegetables but, as soon as Jack Frost allows, I must finish sterilising my carrot barrels and potato bags ahead of planting time. Let us hope that 2021 will bring better times for us all. In the meantime, any relevant East Yorkshire news will be posted on our website http://nvseyda. btck.co.uk (until 24 May 2021) and Facebook page.
Paul Neve FNVS
Yvonne cleaning tunnel
Lancashire DA
2 February and snow again today. Thankfully it wasn’t too deep, didn’t freeze and drizzle helped wash it away eventually, as has happened numerous times over
the last few weeks. Occasionally it hasn’t gone and we’ve had to resort to alternative techniques to deal with the snow. Volunteer Yvonne’s a dab hand at this.
Though it may be freezing outside, lots to be getting on with. I need to start off the chillies, peppers, aubergines, cucamelon, cucumber, loofa and onion seeds in the heated propagator at home with T5 light over. I’ll be starting tomatoes later in February with peas and beans, March to April. Along with anything else which takes my fancy.
As for the growing area, which is mostly inside, it’s all go again with preparation
of beds; clearing out remainder of old
crops; wrestling with nettle roots; pest patrols; setting up the glasshouse with the quadgrows; salad grows; vitopod propagator (https://www.greenhousesensation.co.uk) This year I’ve a Vivigrow - hydroponics growing system. I know quite a few NVS Members have tried hydroponics. Be interesting to see how it works out. We’ve used the other growing systems for a good number of years now. They suit our growing area very well, give good crops and save us a lot of time, effort and water. I’m looking forward to using the Vivigrow
The big question is, are any shows going to be on?
Southport has
been publicising
it’s August dates for a while now. We’ve heard nothing from Chorley yet
and Chelsea
has put its date back. If you
follow Medwyn Williams on twitter,
Clean tunnel
it’s created a few problems for him and #TeamMedwyns. It makes planning very difficult for all of us involved with shows.
In December, the DA lost a longstanding Member – Sheila McVan. She had been ill with Motor Neurone Disease and quietly passed away at home with her husband Frank by her side. Sheila was heavily involved as a volunteer in the Baxenden Community, driving many environmental projects and with other voluntary groups
in the wider Accrington area – Stepping Out, Prospects Foundation, Baxenden Community Forum, Baxenden Allotments & Gardens Society and of course, NVS Lancs DA.
It’s thanks to Sheila and her husband Frank, I became involved with the DA. Over the years, it’s been a fantastic opportunity to meet so many fabulous growers – amateur and professional from all over the country
- so many characters, learn so much,
share information and knowledge, put on displays at Southport and Chorley – Sheila introduced me to the fine art of tomato balls and pyramids - featured on the radio and TV; go to DA meetings / talks – which we hope to get back on track as the vaccines against Covid are rolled out.
In the meantime, keep safe all and enjoy the growing season ahead.
Cath Holmes, Secretary
Facebook Page https://www.facebook. com/NVSLancs
54 Simply Vegetables
Vivigrow