Page 58 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2021

Midland Branch
From the Acting Chair
Welcome Midlands Branch members. We have had some Churn in the Chair’s seat this year and as we come to the end of this extended period, I have stepped into the role of Acting Chair to get us all safely to the delayed AGM. For those of you
who don’t yet know me, I grow mainly for the table on three allotments in Bedford. I practise no dig gardening and have done for the past 15 years. I took up beekeeping a few years ago, a sort of ‘facing my fears’ activity, and now I can be seen dressed like a telly tubby most weekends.
That is enough about me. As you can
see in the separate article, we are making contingency plans for a virtual AGM, with all the required data being included in this issue of SV. Hopefully we will be able to meet up later in the year, maybe have some events.
To be able to do this successfully we will need your support and involvement. A few more of you becoming committee members would be a tremendous help. There’s
plenty of work to share around and different perspectives are always welcome. So please consider standing.
Happy Growing,
Jake Sale Acting Chair
From the Secretary
Sadly 2021 did not start off any
better than 2020 ended. I hope you
all managed to keep safe, but with
so many deaths and cases from the Covid-19 virus, I am sure it has touched many of us in one form or another. Hopefully by the time you read this, those who should be, will have been vaccinated and we can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
We have lost several of our stalwart members during the last few months and to those who have suffered loss of any kind, we extend our deepest sympathy.
When Nick Anderson resigned as Chairman due to family responsibilities,
the then Vice-Chairman, Bob Bleasdale stepped up as Acting Chairman and Patrick Lawrence took over as Vice- Chairman. Both have since resigned for personal reasons and now Jake Sale is the Acting Chairman until the AGM in June. We wish Jake luck in the role and thank him for taking the Branch to the AGM.
I would like to thank Sue Meek who resigned from her role as Membership Secretary due to additional pressure at work because of the virus. Ruth Bleasdale has stepped into the breach and we are grateful to Ruth for taking on this position.
I would also like to thank Carol Palmer who has resigned as the SV Sub-Editor
and from the committee, for the work she has done for the Branch since taking on the role. Having moved from the Bucks DA region, she felt it was not feasible
to continue. She obtained some very interesting articles for SV and we are most grateful. We wish her good luck with the move.
Owing to Covid-19, face to face meetings have been impossible for
the last year and the March AGM had
to be postponed. This has now been arranged for 12th June at Quainton, Bucks, hopefully face to face. Please see separate notice about this and we hope as many as possible will be able
to attend. Any changes will be reported on the NVS website so please keep an eye out. In accordance with regulations, all positions are open for election. If you would like to put yourself forward for one of these, please see the procedure in the separate notice.
The new NVS website is very easy
to access so please keep an eye on
it for any information relating to the Midlands Branch or else contact me on 01531 822750, or email june.davies03@ btinternet.com
June Davies, FNVS Branch Secretary
The day I was ‘Potatoad’
A funny thing happened on the way
to the recycling bin a few weeks ago. Having harvested my potatoes, I had made a small pile of old tubers and bits of haulm at the end of the row.
A few days later as I was passing, I scooped up a double handful as I made my way down the garden to the green recycling bin.
Suddenly the contents of my hand erupted into a wriggling, squirming mass, which was deposited on the path pretty sharpish.
Out of the pile emerged a very unimpressed looking toad, which was perfectly camouflaged amongst the rotting tubers.
They say toads release a noxious watery secretion when threatened. I can tell you, I was so surprised I nearly did the same!
Geoff Nash Bucks DA
Simply Vegetables Binder
Store your magazines away. Each binder holds 12 magazines. (3 years worth)
£5.00 + £2.95 P&P
To purchase contact: Sandra Hall FNVS, Midlands Branch, on 01952
541396 or
email: noddy. crudgington@ outlook.com
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