www.wwallotments.org.uk
Newsletter - December 2011
Xmas Drinks
The last social event of the year will be on Sunday 18th December a t 11am. This is the annual Xmas
get-together in the Trading Shed. All plot holders are invited to join
us in raising a glass to herald in the festive season. Come along and
meet o ther allo tmen t members in a friendly and cosy atmosphere. All
drinks are provided but we would appreciate dona tions of food for the
buffet. We also have a Christmas raffle (the proceeds of which go to
St Christopher’s Ho spice) and would be grateful for contribu tions
which can be left at the Trading Shed before the 18th or brought with you on the day. Hopefully
you will not have to struggle through deep snow to get to us, as we all had to do last year! We are
looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible on the 18th December.
Garden Visit
As the visit to Grea t Dixter and Merriment’s gardens was so successful this year we are hoping to
arrange another coach outing in 2012. It has been suggested tha t we try to visit Beth Cha tto’s
garden and possibly the RHS garden a t Hy de Hall in the same day. They are bo th in Essex. I will
investigate the feasibility of the outing and if I decide to go ahead with it the details will be in the
Spring news letter.
Marian
Notes from the Trading Shed
We now have in stock a selection of seeds fro m Country Value &
Johnsons, also in stock Grease bands for fruit trees. A reminder tha t
we still have a few garlic bulbs in stock plus pota to stocks are dwindling
fast. So, why not call in on Sunday check out our seed selec tion and at
the same time pick up a Dobies seed catalogue. Dobies’ seed orders will be delivered by the 1 st week
in February.
Those of you who ordered hazel /ash pea & bean sticks - these should be in stock by the time this
News Letter is circulated.
Help! - Is there any plot holder who has a van and is willing to collect from our suppliers in Keston or
Swanley, maybe 3 times a year? Fuel costs will be paid. Please contact Jeff Hurst - or in the Trading
Shed. Thank you.
Jeff
Topical Tips from Vic
It is the time of year when we should be getting our plo ts into shape
for next year, as many of you have done already. If you are a new plot
holder you have a lot of fun and hard work ahead of you! I took over
my plot in December 2001 only to find tha t buried beneath the earth
were glass, house bricks, ma ts, asbesto s, bo ttles and netting. If you
can clear your plot now you will be up and running by the Spring - I did
this and achieved 4th place in Cliff Uden Cup.
Below is a chart which our new plot holders might find useful for Sowing and Planting
Grow under Cloche, Cold
Frame or Fleece
January
February
March
Cabbage (Summer/Autu mn)
Brussel Sprouts
Carrots
Cauliflower
(Summer/Autu mn)
Celery
Leek
Lettuce
Beans – Dwarf French
Marrow/Courgette
Toma to - outdoor
Plant Out
March/April
April/May
April
May/June
May
April
May
May/June
June
OR
Sow Outside
May/July
May/June
March/July
May/June
March/April
March/August
May/July
GROWING POTATOES If you are one of the new plot holders growing spuds is good for clearing
the ground. If possible try to manure your si te in late au tumn but if you were unable to do so you can
add a fertilizer when planting (Growmore, Fish or Blood and Bone) available from the Trading Shed.
Make sure tha t you leave a small amount of earth between the tuber and fertilizer.
20 Tubers will cover
Planting distance apart
Distance between rows
Plant from
Harvest if ready
First Earlies
20 ft.
12”
24”
End Feb to May
10 weeks
Second Earlies
25ft
15”
30”
March to la te
May
13 weeks
Early M aincrop
30ft
18”
30”
March to la te
May
15 weeks
M aincrop
30ft
18”
30”
March to la te
May
20 weeks
Check with Jeff Hurst in the Trading Shed for availability – and all at a good price!
From the Secretary’s desk
AGM
54 members a tten ded the AGM on the 17 th November; the following was
agreed:
- Our new Chairperson is Marian Sanderson and our new lettings officer is
Ken Salter.
- A dissolution clause has been added to our "Constitu tion and Rules", a copy
of which is now on our new website (www.wwallotmen ts.org.uk)
- Claire Ralph's proposal on the Council Levy was unanimously agreed.
We enjoyed a very nice talk by Brian Sells on St Christopher's Hospice where he thanked us on their
behalf for all the funds we have donated to them over the years. We were presen ted with a framed
certificate tha t is on display in the tra ding shed.
Plot ren ts 2012
Plot ren ts for 2012 will be the same as 2011 with no increase. You should have received your tenancy
renewal form, if not please contact Tony Ault.
Matthew
Site Happening s
We must, once again, thank Brian Rochester and Alan Green for the running
repairs tha t they have done over the last 12 months. The Monday Working
Party continues to do a grea t job in helping to maintain the site. This
includes hedge trimming, weeding and filling in pot-holes in the roads remember the speed limit is 5mph. It would be grea tly appreciated if a few
more people would volunteer to do a couple of hours on a Monday; if you can
help please contac t Brian in the Trading Shed on a Sunday, thank you.
The su rrounding verges, car parks and paths have been maintained by Brian and the team of grass
cutters. Please help them by cu tting your edges and making sure tha t produce and brambles are kept
clear of the pa ths.
Vic
Shredding Shed - for those who
don’t know this is behind the Trading Shed. This is for the
disposal of raspberry canes and things of a similar type - no t weeds, sun flower plants and
blackberries tha t have been left there recen tly. Sorry, bu t we will have to close the shed during the
week if unsuitable shredding items are left there again. Please do not pu t rubbish on the bonfire site
- this is only for the use of working parties.
Vic and I had our annual bonfire on Friday 4th November (yes we
checked for hedgehogs first!) and despite bad wea ther on the p revious
few days it went very well and Vic and I went home smelling of sweet
success and smoke . . . . .
Brian
NB from Editor:
Boys and their bonfires!!!!
Seasonal Recipe - Ratatouille
2 onions, sliced
4 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 aubergines, thickly sliced
2 courgettes, thickly sliced
2 red or yellow peppers, seeded and quartered
4 plum tomatoes, sliced
2-3 sprigs thyme
1 handful basil leaves
Sweat 2 sliced onions in 4 tbsp of olive oil until they are soft, add 4 sliced garlic cloves and cook
until soft. Remove to a deep roasting tin or baking dish. Fry each of the other vegetables
separately, adding more oil as necessary, until each is pale gold. Remove as each one is ready
and add to the tin or dish, followed by 4 thickly sliced plum tomatoes, seasoning with salt, black
pepper and thyme. Bake at 180C/gas mark 4 for about 40 minutes until soft and tender. Stir
gently with a handful of torn basil leaves and serve.
The trick
One reason ratatouille may have lost favour is because it is too often cooked like a stew, with all
the ingredients lumped in together. It takes longer to cook them separately, but the individual
attention allows each ingredient to keep its own character. You end up with layers of flavour
rather than a casserole. Like quiche, this is better served warm than hot.
The Newsletter is compiled by the Social & News Group:
Jeff Hurst (plo t J6)
Marian Sanderson (plot B13)
Vic Forsdick (plot G3)
Vivien Roach (plot C10)
If you have any queries, contributions, advice/tips on allotmen t gardening, letters to the Editor!
which you would like included in the nex t Newsletter, please email us. Please ensure you show
WWAAin the Subjec t Box on your email otherwise it might get sen t to the junk box! Thank you.