Nilufer,

Yes they are looking sad, the cold noghts have got them, I will pull them out this week and compost them.

Is there anything else that is loojking as though it should come out whilst i am there?

Ian. 

That should have been nights not noghts!

Hi Ian, I am planning to take the long chard stalks from my plot..if you (anyone) need some chard seeds please help yourselves..this week I will be removing them...

Nilufer,

I would love some chard seeds, can I help myself on Wednedsay and should I remove the planrts for you?

If so, should I leave some for others with the cafe?

Thank you,

Ian.

sure Ian, pls help yourself and remove the plants. I will be taking some seeds today or tomorrow too...

Good to see some seed collection going on! Mark, have you and Caroline managed to get together to do the handover?

Shall we try to do an autumn tidy-up some time soon? I'm playing tennis 11.00 - 12.00 on Sunday, weather permitting. Would anyone else be around to join in after that - 12.30ish - or otherwise early afternoon?

Cheers, Maggie

Sorry everyone but I am away with family stuff for the next couple of weekends.

However, may be of use?

we have at the QPCS allotment a to do list on the inside of the gardening shed so that anyone who pitches up can see what needs to be done; it is working well. Maybe we could do the same in the shed at QP cafe? 

Sorry that I can't join you all on Sunday, as I am running a course.

Began to clear and tidy up my plot last Sunday - but more to do! Please help yourself to any chard seeds there as well.

Cheers, Julienne

Hi Mark and Caroline,

I will also try to come up at 10.30 on Sunday and say hallo. And I will call by again later, Jenny, although I have now realised I have friends coming pm so won't stay long.  I like your idea, Ian. Maybe something to commence in the spring?

Can everyone confirm whether or not he/she/they wishes to continue to have a plot next year? 

Cheers, Maggie

hi maggie,

yes please i would like to continue with my plot. i also wanted to say please help yourself to seeds - i meant to email when i cleared up the cabbage plant. There are pea seeds and runner beans seeds...

Maggie,

Yes, I would also like to continue with my plot next year.

When would be a good time in the autumn to clear the old plants in the plot and compost the soil? What seeds, if any, are good to plant over the winter for spring harvest?

All the best, Julienne

Maggie,

Yes from me too on keeping my plot by the fence, still battling the Horseradish, but i will get the b****r.

Lots of talk about seeds (great news) have some been harvested and if so where are we storing them. I will be at the allotment tomorrow afternoon before heading off for the weekend and will clear as much as I can and will leave the seeds in the garden shed in marked brown paper bags?

Ian. 

Hello,

I just joined the group and live in queens park.

I would love to help and get my hands dirty. I have a 4 month old baby and not sure if it's fine to bring her along and get involved in the project. :)

Barbara

Hi Barbara, If you keep an eye on the website, you will see when we're having a 'garden together' day. Do come along and meet us. We will be clearing the site up for the winter and then not a lot will happen until the spring. Best wishes, Maggie

Welcome to Mark, who has taken over Caroline's plot. We have two other people waiting for plots. Will the people who haven't replied please indicate if they want to continue next year? 

I suggest a 'garden together' end of season clear-up on November 16th, weather permitting. Can you post whether or not you can make it? Maggie

NILUFER, FAUSTO AND ALEX - can you post right away please if you want to continue with your plot next year? (Thanks to the rest of you for confirming.) I have two people waiting for plots. I need to hear from you so that I know whether or not any of your plots are up for reallocation. Cheers, Maggie

Hi Maggie, yes I would like to carry on with my plot for next year too...thnks..nilufer

Thanks Maggie I will keep an eye :)

Hi Everyonre,

Did you all see the beetroot and chard plants I tied to the cafe fence?

I did not have time to harvest all of them and put them into bags as planned, but left a couple of F2F brown carrier bags in the shed.

Ian. 

Alex and Fausto - a special message for you... This is the third time of my posting to ask if you would like to continue with your plot next year. (You are the only two people with mini-plots not to have replied.)

Can you let me know urgently whether you would like to continue with your plot? If I don't hear within the next 7 days, I think the fairest way to proceed is for me to re-allocate your plots to people on the waiting list. 

We don't have a fixed procedure for this situation, so it would be good to hear from others as to whether they think this is a fair way to proceed or not...

Cheers, Maggie

Hi Maggie,

Sorry for the delay, but I had a bunch of emails to answer.

We will love to keep it next year, for us it is a real gift to have that little plot.

By the way, I was there yesterday and seems that somebody took a early halloween pumpkin from ours. It seems that they did even dig up some corn.

Claire will probably go today for a while...

Take care everybody...

I write down the 16th as a garden day, but these days my agenda comes and goes, so lets see....

Looks like we're all on board again for next year except Alex, who hasn't replied. Barbara, you could have Alex's mini-plot if you like. Can you and can anyone else come along on Sunday November 16th to introduce Barbara and have a pre-winter clear-up. I could do morning or afternoon. Can people let me know what time would suit best - say, either 11.00 or 2.00? Maggie

I will be there on 16th from 11am..hope to see you there..

That would be great, I will be there. Can you please let me know exactly where to find you. xx

Hello there,

Sunday the 16th at 11 sounds good to me. Barbara, the plot is behind the cafe area, in between the tennis courts and the golf pitches. Ask staff if confused....

Great! Looks like there's a good few of us for Sunday 16th at 11.00.  Prob the last 'garden together' this year. I will bring some mulled wine. If anyone would like to bring a mince pie or such then feel free. Hope some of the rest of you can get along as well ... It would be good to see you before the long winter lull...  Maggie

I am able to come, as well, at 11am on the 16th, so looking forward to gardening with you all again.....Julienne

Looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday at around 11.00 for our end of year clear-up (and another episode in the ongoing campaign against horse-radish!). Weather forecast looks good! Cheers, Maggie

We had a great time, super excited to start working on the plot. Thank you for the warm welcoming :)

Barbara&Alice

Maggie and Everyone,

I am sorry that I could not join you all yesterday for our final tidy up before the winter sets in. I had double booked myself (it was my grand daughters birthday, I was informed by my partner Becky at 08.00 yesterday) whilst you were all "digging" I was at a sing along screening of Frozen and am a bit hoarse this morning !

I will continue to pop over there on Wednesday afternoons and will tidy up any leaf fall ect, I am also going to mulch my bed with straw, does anyone  else want thier bed mulching?

see you all soon,

Ian. 

It was really good to gather as a gardening community yesterday, and to turn over the soil in my section, and clear it, so thoroughly! Thanks for your mulled wine, Maggie.

Thanks for the offer, Ian - if you could mulch my patch as well,  that would be kind of you - does it help the soil, and is it OK to plant after the mulching, or to leave it over the winter?

All best, Julienne

Julienne,

Mulches need to go down before we get any frost, good soil improvers are leaf mould, compost, farmyard manure and sharp sand; all of which can be dug in now and over wintered. A thick layer of straw can be applied like a Duvet to retain heat in the ground and wrapped around plants to protect them from frost (Hessian sacking is also great for this job).

Which bed is yours?

Ian. 

.  and fine tree bark or str.     

Thanks, Ian.

I think it is number 7. Maybe others might like their beds mulched as well?

All best, Julienne

Thanks for your posts and the mulching offer Ian. Am in a supervision group tomorrow afternoon, otherwise would have come down and shown you which plot is Julienne's. I could come down and meet you Wed afternoon next week if you plan to be there.  Maggie

Masandou Fukuoka the natural Japanese farmer

Watch this video for natural farming without the needs in modern technology...

Hi Everyone! Copy of an email from me to Richard Gentry, Park Manager, so you can all see what's going on. I'll let you know what he replies.

Can you note Big Dig day on March 13th from 10.00 - 3.00 and put it in your diary? Important that we are all there if at all possible. 

Not feeling much like gardening weather now but the growing season's not too far away. If you want to grow tomatoes, it's time to start the seeds in small pots in a light place indoors in about two weeks time.

Email below...   All best, Maggie

Dear Richard,

Hi Maggie,

Thanks for sharing that email.  I would like to mentioned that there are 2 different dates for the Big Dig day, 13th and 21st, so which one is the right one? I guess it would be the 21st as it is on a saturday.

Looking forward to come together again and support our land to grow again.  

Take care everyone

Maggie thanks for your email,

Unfortunately me and Alice are away from the 9th till the 18th, so not sure if we around.

Let me know if you decide to do it on the 21st as I will be back by then, not sure if I have classes that weekend, will find out soon.

We went to the park to clean the plot a little bit and noticed that there was a different lock for the shed :(

We will go back soon and ask one of the guys to open it up for us so we can tidy up.

Looking forward to see you all

Barbaraxx

i can do the morning of the 21st but not the afternoon, see you then!

Hi All,

Great that so many of you can make it on March 21st for the Big Dig. Time is now 10.00 to 1.00 and Richard has confirmed that the café will provide complementary refreshments. You can see the website area here

http://www.bigdig.org.uk/london/ Enter the post code NW6 7DU

Barbara, it looks like you can make it since it is after your return and Fausto I hope that it's OK for you too now that the date is clarified. Do ask any keen gardening friends along too for the one-off day. I have some spare pieces of patio board that I will get down to the allotment so that we can sort out and improve the paths.

Meanwhile, I am in email contact with Richard about the shed key situation. Until it is resolved, just ask a park-keeper. I'm hoping to get a better solution though...

Here is Richard's reply to my earlier email:

1)     I’m currently waiting for a tap to be repaired outside the café toilets, this would give you access to a hose connection when necessary.  I’m not sure of a timescale though as this has now been outstanding for a number of months.

2)     I will speak with staff with regard to the clipped conifer tree and seek their opinions, there is logic in what you say.

3)     Yes, I can find funding for teas / coffees, etc.

4)     Thank you for your continued support with the garden, it looks so much better following the hard work the volunteers have put in to keeping it well maintained.

Finally, I'm planting my tomato and pepper and aubergine seeds this weekend. Have been putting it off because it has been SO cold but now it the time...  Happy planting and see you soon.   Maggie