Page 64 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2021

Irish Section
Irish DA News
2020 was a difficult year for many of our members. Isolation has been a factor for many of us who live in rural areas. I produced Christmas cards and sent one to each of our members as a gesture of goodwill in the dark days of December.
At the time of writing, unfortunately due to the continuing situation with COVID, even with ongoing vaccinations and more vaccines being released, there’s absolutely no guarantee that Agricultural/Horticultural Shows will return in 2021 in exactly the same format as previously. Some type of restrictions may remain in place for the foreseeable future in terms of things like hygiene, social distancing and traceability of people attending large outdoor and indoor public events, so as we look forward to spring and the new growing season, our members who grow for showing are sowing their seeds with a feeling of uncertainty as to where they will actually be able to show their finished products. With this in mind we
will be running a virtual competition for our Irish members again this year. A virtual event could be an outlet where we may attract new members who might find it difficult to physically go to a show.
CREA MULDERRIG RIP
It is with great sadness that I have
to report the death of one of our members Crea Mulderrig, Tullamore and Dublin, who passed away peacefully at her home on 25th November 2020. Our condolences
are extended to her husband John, also a long serving member, and their family. John and Crea always attended our annual AGM in Tullamore. Some years ago I had the pleasure of being a guest of the Mulderrig’s at their home in Tullamore on Show weekend. Crea was a gracious hostess and her generosity is always remembered.
Show Day by Harold Herlihy
It is the eve of the local show. An eye is trained on the sky and ear to the weather forecast. Those ominous dark clouds could soon deliver their watery burden. Decisions, decisions.
As it is still daylight, it is best to dig out the potatoes. Several stalks have to be dug to get a matching set, the correct size and without
blemish. The same
criteria applies to the
other veg.
I left out? A flustered exhibitor wails he brought only 5 potatoes, he needs 6 so his entry is void. Each has his tale of woe. This is all part and parcel of the show Day and if things went smooth where would the fun be? The exhibits are all set up, the judges arrive and we are asked to leave. A last bit of banter
The garden now looks
like it has been hit by
a tornado, discarded
vegetables everywhere.
It is now into the kitchen
to create more chaos.
The wiser half leaves
me to it with a warning
to leave the kitchen like
I got it. The veg. is sorted and washed. Everything is now ready for the journey in the morning.
Show day arrives, the car is loaded up and it’s straight to the venue. Just as the steward is unlocking the Exhibition Hall as my car pulls in. Back at the car
I find the first mishaps of the day. In my hurry leaving this morning, what have
The garden now looks like it has been hit by a tornado, discarded vegetables everywhere
with the other exhibitors depart, now to kill a few hours before the exhibit hall reopens. The aroma of the chip vans wafts through the air, the rain has given way to a lovely summer’s day.
After lunch the exhibition hall reopens. The public and competitors flock in. The former to look in awe at
the various produce on display and the latter to see the results. Of course not everyone can win, but then winning is not the nature of the game, taking part is the most important. You can also blame the Judge. How many times has one heard – Ah sure he must be blind in one eye or they must have thrown darts to select that one!
Welsh Branch
Branch News
Just like the rest of the country we are still in lockdown and as a branch we haven’t been able to meet since early March 2020. Looking forward, it seems that it will be difficult to meet up indoors close together for some time.
Back in the spring I was able to secure the Grandstand at the Royal Welsh Showground, but a lockdown
in several county boroughs scuppered that. Therefore, we are not ruling out the chance of holding a meeting in
an open air venue like this if things open up in two or three months’ time. Now that oldies like me have had the vaccine I hope we at the Welsh Branch can hold a meeting in late spring. We have no chance of holding an online meeting with a substantial number of our committee without computers.
In many ways this year is proving to be more difficult than last spring. I’m the secretary of a gardening club. Last year we had all our supplies into our store shed before the Covid virus kicked off.
This year because of social distancing I have had to unload every lorry on my own. It seems that there have been shortages of some varieties of seed potatoes especially show varieties despite paying for them two months in advance.
One of our members will have to weigh up the seed potatoes without help and appointments for safe collection like “click & collect” will have to be made for collection.
Of course, we are still unsure if things will open up enough to hold flower shows. At least we are getting on with growing our own vegetables and feeding our families.
Ivor Mace
64 Simply Vegetables