Hi Everyone,

The Open Gardens afternoon, when as many of us as possible need to be at the community allotment, is next Sunday, June 15th from 1 - 6.

Ian Kriss has kindly volunteered to cover the 1 -2 slot and Jenna has posted to say she is away for the weekend.

Could other people take a moment leave a post so that we all know the overall situation. As things stands, we still need volunteers to come up for an hour between 2 p.m. and 6 pm next Sunday.

Thanks, Maggie

PS Caroline - thanks for your post but Saturday is not the crucial day and 1 - 2 is the one slot that is already spoken for, so it would be great if you could offer and alternative time.  Cheers, Maggie

Hi Maggie,

I can be at the allotment between 1pm and 3pm next Sunday.

I was up there today, and was chatting with Ian, who suggested that we could do some of the cleaning up/rebuilding of the compost area next Sunday? 

Best, Julienne

OPEN GARDENS DAY

Looking good now...

1 - 2 Ian

1 - 3 Julienne

3 - 4 Kate

4 - 5 Maggie

5 - 6 Caroline

I have put myself down for 4 -5 as that was the slot that wasn't covered but I will be there at other times too, on and off.

Jenna has posted to say she is away.

Fausto, Claire, Alex, Fiona - are you around at all to join in? (Apologies if you have already posted. It can be hard to keep track.) It would be nice to have even more people so that there can be some doubling up ... more fun than being there on our own.

I think it's a great idea (thanks, Julienne) to work on the compost box project when we're not busy talking to the people who come around. The only problem is if Ian can only be there from 1 - 2, as (speaking for myself) I don't have the relevant tools or expertise.  Can you post your thoughts Ian? Maybe you can stay longer or maybe you can set the work in motion and leave Julienne with clear instructions as to how to continue?

For those of us who also want to visit other gardens and studios, tickets can be bought from a number of places in Salusbury Road, including the flower shop. No free tickets I'm afraid - probably QPARA needs the ticket sales to cover the costs. The tickets are £6, which seems very reasonable considering what's on offer.  

I've set some questions as part of the children's treasure train and will be at the allotment in the morning to set things up and put up balloons and so on. I'll do a separate post about the children's questions when I've worked out the final details.

Thanks again to all who have responded to the call!  Maggie 

Thanks for sharing this information, Kate. I am working all day Saturday but if anyone else would like to know more, he/she could leave a comment + perhaps a phone number for Kate on the comment board? 

Hi, have you got any hour that has not been covered? pls let me know, I may cover... nilufer

Hi Nilufer! Great that you can come along next Sunday. Would you be able to join Ian and Julienne at about 1.00 o'clock? Then you could get involved with the compost bin building as well as talking to people about the pleasures of the allotment? Maggie

Hi Maggie, I wonder where we can buy the garden show tickets for sunday...I will be there from 1pm if that's needed, no probs...nilufer

Thanks Nilufer. I have written you in to be there from 1.00 p.m. Tickets come from the flower shop in Salusbury Road... Maggie

That would be great, Fiona. There's only me on from 4 -5, so especially helpful if you could be there then. From 5 - 6 it's me and Caroline, if you feel like staying on after 5. 

Sunday Open Gardens QPA - revised schedule

I've had another look at what people have offered and made some changes to what I first said when I replied to Nilufer and Fiona. This is so that nobody is up at the allotment on his/her own. The new times are below and I hope they're OK. Can you all have a look and let me know if for any reason you can't manage the slot you're listed for? Otherwise, we're ready to roll...

1 - 2 Ian 

1 - 3 Julienne

2 - 3 Nilufer

3 - 4 Kate and Fiona

4 - 5  Maggie and Fiona

5 - 6 Maggie and Caroline

PS Does anyone have any idea what's happened to Fausto and Claire? Haven't had any contact for ages and wonder whether anyone is in touch with them other than through the allotment/comment board?

Cheers, Maggie

I am pasting in below the questions relating to our garden that appear in the children's treasure hunt: 

1.             Is the plant next to the yellow stick

            (a) rhubarb, (b) spinach, or (c) broccoli?

2.             Is the plant next to the pink stick

                (a) a runner bean plant, (b) a pea plant or (c) a sweet corn plant?

3.             is the plant next to the green stick

                (a) rosemary (b) lavender or (c) mint?

I am painting sticks as I write (well almost)! I will put them in position on Sunday morning. Can you make sure when you arrive for your stint that you check out the locations of the sticks so that you can direct the little ones towards them as and when...  Cheers, Maggie

Hi Maggie, I have just noticed you put me for 2-3pm..I thought I was arriving at 1pm... from 1-2 is much better for me if you don't mind....sorry to be pain..

Hi Nilufer, Was hoping you could do 2 - 3 so Julienne wouldn't be on her own for that hour but never mind. Is anyone else available to back up Julienne from 2 - 3?  Cheers Maggie

I think we can be pleased with our contribution to Open Gardens Day on Sunday, don't you. An excellent joint effort...

Next 'Garden Together' June 29th 1 - 3. I won't be there. (Walking part of Cornish Coast Path - lucky me!) 

Can everyone post a comment 'coming' or 'not coming' so that everyone knows?

Cheers, Maggie

Follow-on crops

Fausto's been digging up potatoes, Caroline's radishes are finished...

Follow-on crops are those you plant in space left by those you have harvested. Suitable plants are (1) those that have a relatively short growing season and that you can still plant from seed such as GARDEN PEAS, RADISHES AND SALAD GREENS and (2) those that you can buy as small plants (so that part of their growing is already done) such as SWEETCORN and COURGETTES and KALE AND BROCCOLI for winter harvesting. You can usually get plants from Homebase at a reasonable price. If someone else finds a good source, maybe he/she could post? Happy follow-on planting!  Maggie

Hi, I will be camping in the New forest on that weekend...

Take care

Hi All,

I am on retreat in Scotland from 28th June for a week, so can't come up on 29th....any news, Maggie, whether we can get help from the park with watering the allotment, as the plots can get very dry during the summer?

Julienne

Hi Julienne, Yes I spoke to Richard again at Open Gardens Day and have just had this email from him:

Maggie,

I've seen the emails regarding the watering  of the plots.

I will speak with one of the staff who is currently on light duties. He may be able to assist.

Thank you to Richard... We could really do with this assistance, especially until such time as the new tap is installed.  All best, Maggie

Looks like no-one much around on Sunday, me included. Happy holidays/retreats to all. Maybe see you last Sunday in July...

Best, Maggie

Hi everyone, or at least everyone who's left in London. Sunday week - July 26th - is the last Sunday in July so I'm suggesting a 'garden together' session between 12.00 and 3.00. Can you post to say whether or not you'll be able to come? Look forward to seeing some of you there. Maggie

Hi Maggie,

Can't make July 26th, as I am on a course. But have been visiting the allotment most Sundays after the farmers market to weed, water (when necessary) and harvest the chard and herbs. The whole garden is a lovely, abundant space, with many bees and butterflies visiting!

Looking forward to seeing anyone coming up this Sunday.

Best, Julienne

Hi everyone, I wont be available on those dates. If somebody need space for planting something there is a good gap where my potatoes grew. Feel free to use it...

Hope you are enjoying the summer

hi everyone, i think its the 27th july. i'm not around either - although will be going up there on sat 26th.   Its looking great and i may well plant something fausto if no-one else beats me to it!!

Sorry Caroline, I can't make three. Looks like you'll be up there on your own this time. There may be beans ready to pick - check the trellis by the tennis fence. Have fun and see you soon. Maggie

Richard, 

Simone and i are going to plant the herb beds tomorrow morning from around 11, I plan to deliver the herbs to the yard around 9 tomorrow and then return to plant them, we could also help with the vertical planters, do you have tools there?

Ian.  

Hi Caroline, I'm seeing a patient at 11.00 but could be up there 12.15 and stay until about 1.30. Does that work for you? Anyone else? Maggie

Hi, I was wondering if there were any mini-plots still available in the community garden, and if so, what size (approximately) would a mini-plot be?

Mark

Hi Caroline, What time on Sunday? I could come up for a while in the morning, I think.  Maggie

Hi Mark,

All the plots are allocated but it may be that there's someone who doesn't want to continue next year. We try and have a 'garden together' session the last weekend of each month. The next one will be 27th or 28th September depending on which day is better for more people. Are you free either that Saturday or Sunday and if so would you like to come along and meet us?  Maggie

I will come around 11 tomorrow, Caroline. Is anyone else around?  Maggie

Hi Caroline, 

Neither of us got this before you left - but we saw you'd been up there weeding! Didn't pick up the coffee either but thanks for the thought...

Maggie

Congratulations Caroline! Sorry to say goodbye but an excellent reason... 

Mark, you are next in line for a mini-plot. Can you contact Caroline via the website and arrange a handover time with her? Let me know via the comment board how it goes and I will amend the records. Unfortunately, I can't get down to the plot at the weekends for a few weeks on account of visitors from Oz but I look forward to meeting you at some point...

Maggie

Sorry that I have not been around on Sundays recently, but have been "doing a bit" on Wednesday's hope to make a Sunday soon.

Great news Caroline!! Congrats....

Your beetroots have grown well and soon will be time for a red salad.

I take advantadge to say that I wont be able to make it this sunday either as I am visiting my brother in Watford.

Take care everyone...