Page 50 - Simply Veg Issue 1 2016

Northern Editor’s Report
I would rst of all like to thank everyone who responded to my plea for more reports to go in the Northern Newsletter as you
will see we have had a wonderful response for this bumper edition of The Northern Newsletter, so a big thank you. As I have said many times before this is our shop window and we need to let members know what is going on around the branch.
I have just returned from Medwyn’s
Master Vegetable Seminar at Llanberis in Wales and you will see my report on the weekend elsewhere in this magazine. We had another great weekend the Northern Branch were well represented, about twelve of us attended. I can thoroughly recommend this weekend the talks are excellent but it is also great to meet up with everyone in such a relaxed setting. A few weeks ago David Metcalf and I travelled north to Stanley to attend the Northern Horticultural Society’s one day seminar and this is another excellent
day out. The subjects covered were, controlling the wee beasties which frustrate our attempts to grow quality veg, growing celery, Chrysanthemums and nally growing under lights. The whole day costs £15 and includes a buffet lunch, as I say it is an excellent day out and highly recommended. Still on the theme of education this weekend 14th November 2015 the Scottish Branch will be putting on their annual one day seminar and again this is a superb event and this year will be covering, shallots, potatoes, pot leeks and there is a review of the shows as well as opportunities to ask the experts questions.
We have a wealth of experience within the NVS and I think it is very important to share this knowledge at events like these, I know that by the time you read this article the events will be long gone but they are annual events and take place around the same time every year. So we need to say a big thank you to all the hard working teams who
organise these events, please keep up the good work!
I have personally not had too good a
year on the show bench, I had to abandon growing around June, due to family health problems, but we have seen some wonderful vegetables around all the shows. The Northern Branch Championships were very well attended with some very high quality vegetables on show and the results will
be published in this Northern News Letter.
I spent a couple of days stewarding at Harrogate answering questions from the public. I can really recommend this, the public are so fascinated about how we grow Carrots and Parsnips so long or how we grow onions to perfection etc. It is a great opportunity to promote the NVS also and
we picked up a handful of new members over the three days so a very worthwhile opportunity.
Michael Osborn FNVS (Northern Editor)
East Yorkshire District Association Report
Our main event, since the last newsletter – which I sent too late
for publication- has been our D.A. Annual Show. This was held at the end of September and had double the entrants of the previous year’s show. What was particularly gratifying was the increase in entries from members who come to the monthly meetings, support local shows, but would not class themselves as serious show contenders at D.A. or National level. The vegetables were judged by two of our members –Paul Neve and Ian Hairsine – both national judges. (see Pic 1)
Yvonne Stone was a most ef cient show manager, ably assisted by Susan Rowe treasurer, and Keith Abel, Chairman. (See Pic 2).
One name that dominated the trophy winners was Trevor Legg from Roxby – a small hamlet near Saltburn – by – Sea. Trevor won eight trophies including the best exhibit in show. This trophy for the NVS silver medal, was achieved with a dish of three stump rooted carrots. (see Pic 3)
Monthly Meetings
The venue for our monthly meetings has changed once again! The Catholic Club in Beverley, where we have met for the last two years, has been sold and will be converted into apartments. Fortunately, with the help of the Catholic Club, we have established a new base at The Conservative Club – still in Beverley. The club has made us extremely welcome, providing us with a large meeting room on the ground
oor, a bar serving both alcohol, coffee and other hot beverages, allows us to provide our own buffet, and free use of their ampli cation equipment.
The number attending each meeting is usually around the 40 mark. This is due to an excellent programme and good advertising to all gardening associations in the East Riding.
In September we welcomed Adrian Reed from North Yorkshire, who spoke about “Pests and diseases that affect vegetables” This meeting – the rst at our new venue – proved extremely popular with members. Adrian is a knowledgeable, down to earth speaker, who dealt with many members’ problems.
In October we were entertained by Martin Fish. Members who attended the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Northern Branch will remember him as one of the speakers at that event. Martin is a regular contributor to “Garden News”, and gardening expert on Radio York and Radio Nottingham. His talk was both entertaining and informative, and after the interval answered members’ queries.
In November we welcome the nal speaker for the year. This will be Mike Kinness, from Doncaster, who will inform us on “All year round growing, and tips to keep your soil in good condition”.
Congratulations
Congratulations must go to two of our members Susan Rowe and Peter Medley, who have both been awarded the Fellowship of the
Pic 1
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Pic 2
Pic 4
National Vegetable Society. (See Pic 4)
Both are members of our D.A. committee, (Susan as treasurer)
and work extremely hard to help ensure it stays the success it has become.
Their awards were presented by David Allison – National chairman – at the Harrogate Show in September. (See Pic 5)
Our District Association is in a healthy position. When you consider that we cover a wide, mostly rural area, we have a good attendance each month, a decent venue for meetings, an interesting programme for 2016, and a hard working committee. A few years ago we were seeing falling membership
and lack of interest. What did we do? Didn’t moan and do nothing! Thought of how to make improvements and carried them out!
We look forward with con dence to another good year!
50 simplyvegetables
Pic 5