Whetstone Stray Allotments Newsletter September 2016
September Newsletter
71st Annual Show on Sunday 4th September 2016
The Show is next Sunday! It’s getting close to the deadline for entries! Don’t miss out on your chance to win a prize!
We know it ‘s not been the best year, what with the weather (slugs!), but everyone who loves their plot will have at least one fruit, vegetable or flower that they can enter, to add to the display.
You can also enter pot plants, pickles, jam, cake, biscuits, scones, vegetable flans, dried vegetables, homemade beer or wine, a photo on the allotment, or a painting of fruit or veg.
There are loads of fun categories for the children in your family (they can enter even if they are not regular visitors to your plot), and there will also be children’s activities on the day.
The forms you need are on our website: https://whetstoneallotments.co.uk
There are also forms outside the Trading Hut (for those people who don’t have email).
Entry deadline for all entries 8pm Thursday 01 September 2016.
Donations of cake and raffle prizes gratefully received on the day.
August Working Party
Many thanks to Elspeth, Raphael, Crispin, Brigid and Les, who prepared the area next to the Trading Hut, ready for the Annual Show. We removed 6 large builders bags of arisings from pruning on the day.
As there were not many in the Work Party, we were not able to work on the verges of the road through the site. Don’t wait for a Working Party to trim back the verges – we can all do this by using our secateurs to cut back the vegetation on the sides of the road. If we all did this regularly, we would quickly and easily have it under control.
Bee Talk
One of our Bee keepers, Nighat, has kindly offered to give a talk on bees on 18th September, in the afternoon in the Trading Hut. Topics will include what we can all do as plot holders to encourage and help bees. More details will be sent by email nearer the time.
Bonfires
Bonfires are allowed on the first Wednesday of the month, after 4pm. The first Wednesday of September is: 7th September.
Please be considerate to your plot neighbours and the local residents – we recently had a complaint from Ridgeview Road, about a large, smokey fire. Keep your fire small, and feed it, rather than building a large pile and setting fire to it.
Shed to give away
Ros Jones, who lives in Barnet, has a shed to give away. Please get in touch if you are interested, and we will pass your details on to her.
Tips for September
Watch out for blight on tomatoes, and bag and remove any that are affected by blight, so that it does not spread to your neighbours.
Winter lettuces, orientals and rocket can all still be sown now, but you may need to protect these crops as they go into winter.