Craigentinny Allotments » Allotment Update

Thanking you for supporting our meetings

John — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:47:42 +0000

Over the last three years we have been delighted by the support we have had from everyone at Craigentinny Allotments. Turning up to the meetings, come rain or shine and helping at our community work days. Thanks too for all the tea and home baking that facilitated the discussions. We feel that it is time to hand over the reigns to someone else, so if you think that you would like to run the meetings, take the minutes or update the website then please let us know. We are sure you will enjoy it as much as we have done.
John and Monica McKinlay

Minutes for 5th March

John — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:31:14 +0000

5th March, 2011
Meeting Minutes
Present: John and Monica, Ernie and Joan, Norma, Rod
Welcome to Alex and Louise Renton (new plot holders) and Barbara Seel (guest from Leith Links).
1. Permission given for FEDAGA committee to meet in our clubhouse for their 7th June meeting.
2. Inverleith shop is now open, Sundays, 2-3.30. Good bargains e.g 2k lime @45p and 1k BF&B @ 55p.
3. Allotment training available – see FEDAGA website. Also on website you can add you e-mail address to be alerted to deals and bargains e.g straw bales and water butts.
4. Bins will resume next week (w/c 7th March).
5. Pond in need of some remedial work and landscaping. Ernie and Joan will organise.
6. Concern was express over the state of the toilet roof. John has been in touch with Ian Woolard who will deal with this. The shed roof may also need maintained.
6. As mentioned at the end of last year, John and Monica will continue to be site reps but will no longer organise or minute the meetings or manage the website. We have always been greatly encouraged by the support given by everyone but feel that after three years we have done our bit. Consequently, we will no longer be doing these jobs but will of course continue to support anyone who takes them forward. To summarise, John will be site rep, Katie is treasurer and anyone else who wants to do any of the other jobs should be in touch.

5th March- First Meeting

John — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:49:45 +0000

We will be having our first meeting of the year in March, first Saturday of the month, at 11 o’clock, in the clubhouse as usual.
All welcome!

August BBQ

John — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:18:07 +0000

We have all enjoyed the site BBQs so much that we have decided to have another on the 15th of August. It is a Sunday this time so hopefully more of you will be able to come along and join in the fun.

John and Monica will set up the BBQs for everyone’s use so all you need to do is bring your own food and drink.
We usually start to get ready about twelve while work on the community plot is going on. This time we have big plans to set up some decking and when that is done we will get the food on! Usually an hour or so is as much as we can cope with so food will be about two o’clock.

If you have a battery operated screw driver please bring it along as that would be a big help with the project, thanks.
Looking forward to seeing you there.

Aminopyralid (herbicide) contamination in manure

Richard — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:25:46 +0000

Unfortunately it appears that several plot holders have had crops affected by what looks to be contamination of manure by herbicide. This can affect both the foliage and crop- particularly of potatoes, tomatoes, beans and peas. The leaves may appear “cupped” or fern like and shrivelled.

Our main manure supplier does not use herbicides but does buy in hay etc from other sources who may have used them (or had an adjoining neighbour use them). The herbicides were banned by the Government but unfortunately are now permitted again.

Current advice is to not use the crops (which may be stunted or deformed in any case). The beds affected may be safe to use again next season, the recommended length of time differs between sources.

You can carry out a simple test by potting up a tomato seedling or young plant in a mixture of compost and well shredded manure. If the foliage becomes affected then your manure should not be used, but left to rot down.

There is a lot of information on the subject on the Internet; type in “manure contamination” or “aminopyralid” as keywords. There is little that can be done unfortunately; it appears to be a widespread problem across the country – the Government should not have allowed the use of these herbicides which are now affecting the food chain.

A real who-dung-it as keen gardeners kick up a stink (Scotsman)
Aminopyralid Herbicide Residue in Manure Killing Crops (Allotment.or.uk)
What to do if you have Aminopyralid Contaminated Manure (Allotment.or.uk)
Aminopyralid (Wikipedia)

If you do a test, as above, please can you let us know of the outcome so that we can establish the extent of the problem.

The Council has been notified.

Incidentally, there is another crop disease called “Leaf curl virus” which affects potatoes and tomatoes, is a virus spread by aphids, and can look fairly similar (leaves curl upwards becoming hard and brittle). You can find illustrations of both problems on the Internet, to compare.

Organic Gardening Course

John — Sat, 01 May 2010 09:01:39 +0000

Are you interested in growing your own fruit and vegetables?
Not sure where to begin?
This 8 week introductory course will give you a grounding in all you need to know to get started growing your own food.

Bridgend Allotments Community Health Project will be running its Introduction to Organic Vegetable Gardening course on Thursday evenings from 6.30 – 8.30pm for eight consecutive weeks beginning on May 13th. There are still a few spaces left on this course, so if you are interested, please get in contact quickly to reserve a place. The course costs £50 or £25 if you are unwaged.

For further information please call:
0131 664 9559 or 07789 650878
or e-mail: robert.ford@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk

Bridgend Allotments Community Health Project Open Day is on Saturday May 22nd from 11am – 4pm

John — Sat, 01 May 2010 08:57:06 +0000

Bridgend Allotments Community Health Project Open Day is on Saturday May 22nd from 11am – 4pm

Come and get to know Scotland’s first organic allotment site
Various fruit, vegetable and ornamental plants for sale or exchange
Bring your own plants and swap them
Refreshments available
Music, crafts and activities for all ages
Entrance FREE — all welcome

We are at -41 Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 4TE (Lothian Buses 21, 24, 33, 38, 49)
For further information please call 0131 664 9559
We look forward to seeing you.

There will be a Seed Swap at this month’s meeting on Saturday, 1st May at 11 o’clock

John — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:51:19 +0000

Bring any spare seeds, seedlings or plants to the swap. Even if you don’t have anything to bring just now come along anyway, there are usually plenty to go around, and you can always donate something another time. This was our first swop.

Photo Competition is open to all plot holders so get snapping!

John — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:59:53 +0000

We are looking for an interesting photo taken anywhere on site. You may have a prize-winning vegetable or flower, a hut or garden implement, an astounding weed, anything infact that makes an interesting picture. It couldn’t be simpler so get those cameras out and have some fun. Photos have to be submitted by 1st August to John and Monica McKinlay and the winner will be announced at the August BBQ.

The tallest sunflower in Craigentinny allotments is this year’s Childrens’ Competition.

John — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:49:05 +0000

We are holding a competition within Craigentinny Allotments for children under the age of fifteen.

The competition this year is to grow the tallest sunflower on site.

If you would like to take part please collect your competition pack from John or Monica McKinlay. The packs will be available from the 1st of May. We will be at the 11 o’clock meeting on the first and the BBQ on the 15th otherwise you might be able to catch us at our plot or drop us an e-mail at findlayalloments@hotmail.co.uk.

Judging will take place on the day of the August BBQ and prizes will be presented then too. Good Luck.