Union Community Allotment

As most students were away over the summer, it became difficult to keep on top of the weeds.

Over the summer months, we did though, manage to grow tomatoes in the greenhouse, parsnips, squash, courgettes and beans which we harvested and gave away to staff and students arriving back in September.

During the welcome weeks on campus, students were recruited to get involved on the allotment and Xennia, Trudy and Mandy have visited the plot to contribute to its maintenance and upkeep.

Students from sports courses also got involved; Robert watson, Seb Johnson, Sam Bird, Sam Parker, Roseanna Jackson, Tim Jackson, Carl Short, Josh Brown & Declan Ennis  did a fantastic job of removing the dead tomato and squash plants, harvesting the parsnips, potatoes and last of the tomatoes and turning over the soil on the whole plot and get it ready for the winter.

Thanks everyone!

On Tueday 5th July, Liam, Lorri, Rachel & Tom headed to the allotment for some practical ‘hands on’

Tom

experience of a Students’ Union volunteering project. Whilst Tom & Lorri have already spent time and energy maintaining the plot along with Matt, Robbie, Sofia & Matt H, it was great that the four of them were able to experience some team working in addition to the opportunity to do some weeding!

Gordon lent us his shears so Tom was able to cut back some of the long grass that has been taking over plot.

Vassil digging up potatoes

It was also our first harvest day as Vassil showed us how to dig up our potatoes which are ready to eat! Apparently, if you boil them with some of the mint we’re growing, it’s delicious! Our radishes are ready too! Tom picked some raspberries and blackcurrants, alas not quite enough for a cheesecake, but success nonetheless!

Vassil & Gordon

The hour soon flew by and just as we had tidied up and began to head back to Uni, the rain started – Perfect Timing!

Weeding by the first row of onions

Visited the plot again to see how it was looking after all the recent rain and spent an hour ’earthing up’ the potato plants, weeding, watering and planting out the tomato plants, generously donated by Allan’s mum! Thanks!

Moira’s kind donation of four broccolli plants are temporarily stored in the greenhouse until we can plant them out and protect them from the strong winds and slugs, using cut off plastic bottles.

If we can spend a few hours a week weeding we should manage to keep on top of the weeds and produce better crops. Here’s hoping!

Potatoes 'Earthed up'

One row weeded - still plenty more to do!

And Potatoes!

Squash Growing!

With the lovely sunshine over Easter and then lots of rain showers we can see lots of shootscoming through on our potatoes, onions and squash and tomatoes BUT…..we also have loads of weeds!

Matt has managed to spend a couple of hours here and there weeding and Emma, Iona & Charis went for a little while on Saturday but there is shed loads to do!

We’ve decided to draw up a rota and ask volunteers to sign up for specific days to get the weeds under control and keep the plot tidy. Many hands make light work and all that!

Lots of Weeds

Matt's Potatoes coming through!

Just thought we should bring the blog up to date with the progress made over the Easter break…

Between us, we managed to plant a whole variety of vegetables and fruit… Tom successfully transplanted Lelia’s blackcurrant bush, albeit the wrong one as he managed to pick the blackcurrant bush that Lelia had intended to keep and had recently pruned - very sorry Lelia!

In addition to blackcurrants we hope to see strawberries appearing later in the year too!

Just before returning home for Easter, Matt planted some herbs; mint, basil and two others – we’ll let you know what they are when we find out!

Our Manure Corner

Tom cleared the area at the front of the plot just in time for a delivery of manure! He also planted raspberry,  peas and another line of potatoes and also kept returning to water the plot. 

Labelled radishes Line!

Sofia, Alice & Charis planted Tomotoes and Jordan, Iona, Charis and Emma weeded, then planted parsnips, radishes, squash and broccoli. The girls made labels to make it obvious to all involved on the allotment what has been planted and where. The next task is to work out what will need thinning and replanting and when to harvest!

It’s all a learning curve for us and we’re grateful to our fellow allotment holders for their advice and encouragement. We do appreciate it! Thanks!

Tuesday began as a dull, damp, cold day but that all changed later , to a gorgeous sunny afternoon. Emma, Jordan, Iona & Charis  were back!

Iona helps Jordan turn over the main plot

Jordan turned over the main plot ready for Iona to rake. Unfortunately the fork handle came off so improvisation took over in the form of tying it on with string. This did the job until Gordon turned up and repaired it – Thanks Gordon!

Gordon fixed the fork! Thank you!

Having fixed the fork, Gordon showed Charis how to plant onion sets and then leaves her to get on with it. She loved it!

Charis planting onion setsSpacing out the onions

Two lines of Onions! Looking good now!

Iona washing the windows

We started to work inside the greenhouse again, clearing out the weeds and washing the windows

Emma weeding and Gordon advising

Rhubarb about ready!

Some rhubarb on the plot, looking about ripe, ready for rhubarb crumble or with creme brulee perhaps!!? YUM!

End of the day!

Inside the Greenhouse

It was very satisfying to see the progress we had made. And as if that wasn’t enough, we were even more surprised and grateful for the fresh leeks from Gordon’s plot – home made leek soup for tea! Delicious!

It’s Monday morning, the first day of the Easter holidays, Emma is on annual leave and is itching to get over to the allotment to do some weeding and planting… BUT it’s raining! Checked the weather forecast for the day and the good news was, that it should get better during the afternoon. Fantastic!

At 3pm Emma, Iona & Charis (her daughters) set off for B&Q to buy some compost ready for planting. We headed up to Cork Road. There was plenty to do! The main plot needed turning over, the fruit patch needed raking and the greenhouse needed completely emptying of the dead chrysanthemums hanging from string and the beds desparately needed weeding as they were overrrun with chickweed. It all had to be taken out and it was not going to be a quick task! But we got stuck in.

Matt arrived to plant beans over by the fencing. Soon after he got started Vassil appeared and began to share his expertise. What would we do without all the local knowledge and tips!?

After a couple of hours it was time to head for home but we hadn’t done any where near what we had hoped to. So we decided there was only one thing for it – we’ll come back the next day!

On Friday, 1st April, We sent Tom on a shopping spree in Lancaster to get the allotment kitted out with a poly tunnel and all this summer’s allotment ‘must haves’. We now have the following; 

Equipment 

1. ‘The Jmax 3000 Stainless steel rake!’
2. The ’3 metre tunnel cloche- Polythene cover 4000 !’, “ideal for winter & early spring vegetables“. This bad boy retains humidity and warmth while protecting against frost and pests! Perfect for our organic surroundings.
3. A 5 pack of the ‘Mega grow 7000 seed tray inserts ’  24 cells of homely growth, perfect for all types of seeds and cuttings. Regular gardener Iona Turnip, 2011, says “You’d think the seeds had been hit with dynamite the way the shoots will be jumping out of the soil!”
4. 3 pack of the ‘T-10 2000 seeds trays  University gardener magazines 2009-2010 ‘best tray winner’. These are an absolute must have this season and are an all time favourite for young gardeners due to their wide and chubby feel.

Fruit and Vegetables

1. We now have loads of seeds- Tomatos, 3 Strawberry Ostara, Peppers, Cabbage, Squash, Broccoli, Parsnip, Leek, Carrot, Peas, Swede and, get your carving knifes ready because we have PUMPKIN SEEDS!
2. Get out your chewing gum ready because we also have garlic and onions waiting to be planted.
3. MASH! JACKET! BOILED OR ROASTED, You decide! Everyone will be fighting over our ‘second early maris peer’s. (Plant March-May harvest early june/july for early new potatoes or sept/oct for maincrop big uns.) So we’ll be looking for you to help us over the next week or two help get them nice and snug under the soil.
4. We also have Maris Piper Seed potatoes, forget the supermarket get them fresh and organic in Jun/Jul for new potatoes and sept/oct for big monsters!) We are looking to get these in after easter so come along when you back and get your hands dirty.

Matt prepping for runner beans

Another day down on the allotment! Matt prepares a patch for runner beans, which have been donated by Vassil - Thanks very much Vassil-  and Sofia digs over the ground allocated to fruit.

Sofia prepping the fruit patch

Local residents and fellow allotment holders, Lelia and Roy have donated a blackcurrant bush from their plot to plant here. Thanks very much Lelia & Roy! We just need to make sure Tom digs up the right one to re-plant here!!

Fruit Patch finished

End of Day 4 Ready for Planting

Local resident, Gordon brought some onions to our Community IT Session on Wednesday 23rd March, to donate to us for our allomtnet plot! We can’t wait to get them planted!! It was a lovely surprise and we’re very grateful - Thanks Gordon!