Whetstone Stray Allotments Newsletter December 2015
December Newsletter
Thank you to everyone who came to the AGM. The 2015 AGM Minutes are available here.
Thank you to Georg and Gia
Georg stood down, after 8 years on the Committee, and as our Treasurer. Georg worked hard to ensure that our finances were safe and sound, and has left really good systems in place for this to continue.
Gnia Afsaneh, also stood down as Secretary. She has moved on to the BAF Committee, where she will continue to work for the good of our site, and all Barnet allotments.
Our new Treasurer is Claas, and our new Secretary is Dianne. We also have several new Committee Members: Aidan, Julie and Les Coupland.
Apple Day
Thank you to Les Coupland for arranging a fantastic Apple Day with the press he borrowed. At least 40 litres were produced during the day (see recent Events on the website, and our picture gallery).
The cost of the press we used is within the budget agreed at the AGM, so we will go ahead with this, and plan to hold Apple Days in October from 2016.
Thank you to Allison for arranging the donation of a fridge through the Streetlife website.
Community Plot fund raising
A BIG THANK YOU to Everyone who has already donated through seed-money for our Community Plot. Your generosity raised to the challenge of $400. Unfortunately, we weren’t in the first 75 projects to reach the target for $400 match funding, but luckily seed-money has added chances to win grants of between $200-$400 for projects that are still fund raising until December 16th 2015.
If you have not yet had a chance to make a pledge, you can do so for as little as $10 (about £6.00). Please contribute at SeedMoney.org.
Disabled Access Composting Toilets Update
The second toilet should be delivered and installed on Tuesday 1st December.
The key safe is now fixed to the toilet on Field 3, and a key safe will also be fixed to the second toilet. Anyone wanting to use the toilets will need to arrange to meet with a Committee member, to get the key code and a short induction.
All those who have key codes will be responsible for keeping the toilets clean and tidy, and for collecting supplies as needed from the Trading Hut.
Bonfires
There will be a festive pre-Christmas bonfire party on Saturday 12th December from dusk, with soup and mulled wine. Everyone is invited, bring your friends and family.
Anyone wanting to help with setting up, catering or clearing up, please contact Gia via the whetstone email.
Bonfires are now allowed at any time. Piles of dry wood can attract hedgehogs and other hibernating animals, so please rebuild your fire before lighting.
Please be considerate of our neighbours when lighting fires.
Rubbish Collection
The date of the next rubbish collection is: Sunday 6th December.
The rubbish is collected by truck, which will arrive at around mid-day on Sunday. You can put your rubbish out from Saturday 5th December.
Please take your rubbish to the top of each path, where it can be easily collected by the truck as it goes along the main drive. Plot holders at the far end of Field 3, must take their rubbish up to the parking area on the main drive, as the truck cannot get down to the end.
Please try to separate metals and other materials, if possible.
No compostable or burnable materials are allowed. We can have bonfires until the end of this month + you can also bring any burnable materials to the bonfire on 12th December!
This also a good time to tidy up any rubbish you find in your field’s car parking area and boundaries.
If you have any questions, contact Les on : 07957 388 033
Work Parties
With so much going on, there isn’t really time to have a Work Party this month, but anyone free on Sunday 6th to help in advance of the rubbish collection please get in touch with Les: 07957 388033
News from BAF
CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Monday 14 December 2015
Celebrating 50 years of the Barnet Allotment Federation
Come along for a quiz and a bit of fun with a green-fingered theme and a chance to meet other plot holders.
£2 per entrant, in teams of up to four. All money raised will go to the North London Hospice.
Quiz will be 8:00pm – 9:00pm, Rathbone Allotments, Ryalls Court, Oakleigh Road North, London N20 0RY.
Please bring along some food and drink to share.
Merry Christmas, everyone!