Glebelands Allotments

The sad news has been received that Agnes  (known to many of us as Aggie) passed away yesterday morning. Many of us will remember her as a very generous lady who gave so much of her time to help NFAS and share her vast experience and knowledge with her fellow gardeners.  Glebelands will miss her greatly and we wish her family and friends our heartfelt sympathy.

2017 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

On September 17th we held our Annual General Meeting, once again in the Model Engineering Club.

The Treasurer reported that we have now achieved our agreed level of Emergency Funds (recommended by BAF) and that the society was generally in a good financial position. For the second year running there will be no increase in the rent. The Treasurer assured everyone that normal business practices governed the way the societies funds were managed and invited anyone with any concerns to read the reports, provided every month along with supporting bank statements, on display in the site office. She did report that once again there is concern about rising water charges and asked that everyone take responsibility for our water consumption.

The Committee’s Report highlighted the need for everyone on site to work together. We are a self-managed site and it is our collective responsibility to make sure that the site runs smoothly, and members must not expect a very small group of people to take on all the challenges that running the site presents.  Special thanks were given to Tom McGovern and Peter Simpson  for their continued efforts to maintain the site. Through their efforts four new 5-pole plots were created on P-Field this year and all plots were quickly allocated.

All plots on P-field are now let and one will become available on E-field after some preliminary clearing has taken place

Members were reminded that there must be no beds kept in sheds and that this directive has come from the Fire Services and the Metropolitan Police. The Committee will be changing the wording in our Rules to include this.

The newly elected Committee were voted in at the meeting. Please see the list below and make every effort to get to know your Committee members –  and remember the Committee works on your behalf to ensure the continuing viability of the site.

Chairperson: Kairi Bregadze

Treasurer: Jane Healy

Membership Secretary: Megan Walsh (P-field) and Roddy Stylianou (E-field)

Committee Members: Derrick Carty, Michael Charamboulous, Lucas Loizou, Graham Street, Androulla Stylianou, Lee Chesters, Miguel Espenica, Peter James, Tom McGovern, John O’Riley.

Following the election of the new Committee lively debates took place covering a number of interesting topics. A number of people mentioned an increase of petty theft of crops and how to deter this.

Concern was raised over the number of barbecues on site, which involved non-members of the society wandering around the site, car-parking spaces being occupied etc. Whilst it was agreed that no-one wanted to deprive people of holding a party on site this should be done within reason and all members are reminded that plots are primarily for growing crops and not holding large social events.

Everyone was reminded that the toilet facilities on site are for the benefit of everyone and should be left in the same condition that you would expect in your own home.

We do now have quite a long Waiting List and all members who do not attend their plots regularly will be asked to either downsize or give up their plots completely.

A few rents are still outstanding and the Treasurer asks that anyone owing fees for 2017/18 pay as soon as possible, otherwise their Lease is in jeopardy.

Finally , a reminder that the water will be turned off, as usual, on the 1st of October.

Hello everyone.  It’s been lovely to see so many people back on site after the winter break.  Please remember, if you have not paid your rent yet, it was due (in full) by 10th May.  If yours is still outstanding you will be receiving reminders shortly.

The Committee would like to remind all parents that whilst children are always welcome, the allotment site is not a playground.  We have received a number of complaints about children running onto plots, crashing into crops and damaging frames built for crops to climb up. Nor is the site a safe place for play. Despite great efforts to clean it up in recent years some hazards, like broken glass or sharp metal objects, may remain –  sometimes hidden in long grass or undergrowth.

Perhaps even more worrying are the recent sightings of syringes.  The police have been informed. Please tell your children not to pick these up if they see any, but to tell you about them so you can report it to a member of the committee.

Site maintenance:  Work has been done recently to repair leaks, strim paths, clear vacant plots and remove rubbish from all parts of the site.  Three large van loads of assorted plastic, carpet, glass, metal and other materials  were taking to the recycling centre.  Following a cull of diseased, overgrown and ‘gifted’ (by the squirrels) trees on P-field we hired a JCB for a day to clear out the stumps and help dig out old carpets and rubble buried just below the surface. Thanks for their help with these activities to Peter Simpson, Tom McGovern, Peter Simpson, Miguel Espenica, Lee Chesters, and Peter James.

All plot plotholders are reminded that you are responsible for taking away your own rubbish, and also that glass and carpet are now prohibited on site. If you wish to put down a barrier to prevent weeds growing then please use a geotextile weed control material like Terram (available in the trading hut).

Terram weed cover fabric

Committee news:  Sadly, Alice Dickens has had to resign as NFAS Chair due to other commitments. The committee would like to record their thanks to Alice for her dedication and support over the past few years. The committee also welcomes Megan Walsh who kindly volunteered (and has been co-opted) to provide admin support while Pamela Marre is away for an extended period.

Tip of the month: Marigolds are a great companion for tomatoes, apparently they repel root-knot nematodes, tomato worm, whitefly and greenfly.  Why not try growing a few pots full of marigolds next to your tomatoes this year, and telling us about your results via our Facebook site ?

Marigolds & Tomatoes