ROEHAMPTON GARDEN SOCIETY
FOUNDED 1873
MONTHLY BULLETIN
September 2010
www.roehamptonallotments.co.uk
AUTUMN SHOW
Saturday 4 September at 3.0 pm
St Margaret’s Church Hall, Putney Park Lane
Show Schedule and Entry Form attached to this Bulletin.
Entries by form can be made at the Store (Site 2) on Thursday 2 September, between 7.0 pm & 8.0 pm on the morning of the Show or between 10.30 am and 11.30 am at St Margaret’s Church Hall.
All exhibits are to be staged between 9.30 am and 12 noon on the day of the Show.
Wherever possible give the name of the variety with each exhibit and list all ingredients used in the cookery section. Please read instructions in the Show Schedule carefully.
All exhibits should be removed between 5.00 pm and 5.15 pm.
Volunteers are needed to help:
1. at the hall about 6.00 pm on Friday evening to set up tables etc.;
2. on the day with contributions of cakes, biscuits etc. for the refreshments stall;
3. donate prizes for the Lucky Dip;
4. give plants, seedlings, jams and chutney for the Plant Stall
Do come along and have an enjoyable afternoon.
Summer Show 2010
Chairman’s Report
Autumn is slowly marching towards us……is it really a year since I quoted John Keats’s wonderful poem to the season?
The summer has been a glorious one, marred only by 2 episodes of vandalism on Site 3 (Dover House Road). In order to ensure the immediate security of the Site, the Huntingfield Road gates were locked for a short period (they were re-opened on 31 July). Many thanks, on behalf of the Committee, for the forbearance shown by the majority of plotholders affected. We are working with the police and local Community Support Team to prevent recurrences and ask plotholders on both Sites to help us by ensuring that the security gates are locked at all times (see David Rossiter’s piece on security later in the Bulletin).
The plot inspections were held in early July and the inspection team was delighted with the standard of plots: well done to you all. Also in July, we held a Plotholders Party in wonderful sunshine on Independence Day. It was lovely to meet fellow Society members and I hope that you enjoyed meeting members of the Committee.
The allotments have also been popular amongst local artists this summer. Following on from the successful use for inspiration of Site 3 and the consequent exhibition and sale of artwork at the Summer Show, Site 2 was the focus in the latter part of the summer; it is planned to exhibit the completed works at the Autumn Show and it is hoped that some will be available to purchase.
In line with our drive to be as ‘green’ as possible, the Society has applied for and been awarded a grant towards the purchase of a shredder by Wandsworth’s Eco-Fund. Once purchased, this will be stored in the Store on Site 2 (for the sake of safety and security) and usage will be monitored. More details will be supplied on the website and in the next Bulletin.
As last year, we are holding an Allotment Gardeners’ Question Time on Sunday, 19 September at 12 noon in the Store on Site 2. This autumn it will be themed around ‘putting the plot to bed’. Questions can be posted via the website or in the Store any Sunday between 10-12: please join us for wine, nibbles and much knowledge-sharing.
Finally, the Autumn Show is imminent. The Schedule and Entry Form are attached to this Bulletin and can be downloaded from the newly revamped website. Please try and enter at least one thing – don’t forget the Novice classes if you have never shown before – and if you really can’t find anything, then support us by visiting the Show for tea, homemade cakes, lucky dip, produce stall, auction and much more.
P.S. The website is worth a visit if you have not accessed it before. It is also the best way of contacting the Committee – just follow the link. Tom Hancock would be grateful for any ideas you may have for content – again, just follow the email link.
Shirley Gillbe
Allotment Gardeners’ Question Time on Sunday, 19 September at 12 noon in the Store on Site 2.
Wine & nibbles
Summer Show 2010
This year’s Summer Show was a great success and saw a large number of very high quality entries. The rose display was particularly impressive. This was probably due to a slightly late blooming season which meant more roses were still flourishing at the time of the Show.
We were very glad to see some new exhibitors, although we remain very indebted to the same people who contribute to the shows every year without fail. So I will take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has never done so to contribute at least one entry to the Autumn Show on 4 September and make the display even more spectacular.
The Show Sub-Committee is always looking for ways to add some variety to the shows whilst retaining the element of tradition which is so important. So for the first time in June we replaced the raffle with a lucky dip and retained the auction of produce which had proved very popular in previous shows. We continue to look for any novel ideas, so please do let us have any suggestions. A very successful initiative in June was the exhibition of paintings which had been done by artists using the allotment sites as inspiration. This added an excellent new dimension and we intend to repeat this idea in the Autumn Show.
We were delighted that Justine Greening found the time to visit the Show in her very busy schedule. She is a great supporter of our Society and a keen gardener and we are hoping that she will become one of our new exhibitors in the Autumn.
So I will end by thanking all the people who gave so much of their time and energy to making the Show such a success and to all the exhibitors without whom there wouldn’t be a show. Mariangela Renfrew
New Products at the Store
We have added two exciting new products at the store:
Environmesh
Stop those flies boring into your carrots and cabbages by covering your crops with enviromesh. It is a sheet of tight tough, durable nylon meshing which allows sunlight and water to pass through but keeps out all flying insects and protects against damage by birds, cats and foxes.. We are now selling a handy sized piece (2m x5m) for the special price of £10. It will last at least 5 years
Windbreak and greenhouse shading Net
This netting made of knitted polyethelene protects against sun, frost and wind and is ideal for greenhouse shading in the summer. The netting is 1.2 metres wide and can be cut to length at £3 per metre.
I have already bought both these new products and put them to use on my plot. Alan Rake
Security of Gates to Allotment Sites
Notices have been in place at the gates for some time requesting all to ensure they are not left unlocked. This is a rule of the Society, which, on joining we agree to, and is basic security. Otherwise, as we now know it leaves the Sites, Plot-holders and our neighbours insecure and vulnerable to vandalism, damage and theft.
When Plot-holders raised concerns that the Huntingfield Road gates on Site 3 were being left unlocked, the Committee agreed to random monitoring for a month, This was carried out from 3 July to 16 July when, because of vandalism and theft, they were locked permanently.
Although they were not checked ever day, during the monitoring period, the inner security gate was left open 10 times, and one weekend both gates were left open on two occasions.
Now that all the gates are back in operation can we ensure that no gates on either Site are left unlocked. David Rossiter
Footnote:
Unfortunately, there have been some serious vandalism and trespass on Site 3. Wandsworth Council have agreed to erect temporary fencing across the presumed access point in the Doverhouse Road. The Community Support Team have also been informed and are keen to know if there are any further incidents. If you see anything suspicious please contact them as follows:
Address
West Putney Community Support Team
Police Office, 325 Tildesley Road, SW15 3BB
Telephone
0208 7212760
07747 757590
Email
WestPutney.snt@met.police.uk
Vote of Thanks
Plot 68 on Site 3 has been transformed over the last year. When Jack Morris took it over there was much dumped rubble, water tanks and bits of machinery at the back of the plot. This has all been removed and taken to the dump (thanks to Carole). The plot has been dug over and an amazingly neat and productive allotment has resulted. Jack is assisted by his friend Bob, who no loner has an allotment but has turned his hand to building structures!
So far Bob has built a screen to the toilet, a sitting area, features to deter the birds and is now refurbishing the greenhouse.
Congratulations to the three of them for their hard work and for giving other such pleasure.
Found
Nina, Plot 125A Site 3 has found a small Wilkinson Sword Edge Spade hidden on her plot.
If you are missing such a spade please contact her on 07775 911283
October Edition:
Interview with one of our oldest plot-holders with memories of times gone by.
Also update on Jill and Clifford’s bee-keeping exploits!
September Recipes
I was delighted to have this recipe emailed to me for the September Bulletin.
David Rossiter says “Fresh homemade tomato soup, nothing like it. Ideal when tomatoes are in season and plentiful. If prepared with vegetable stock it will be suitable for vegetarians”
Tomato soup with basil
3 lb ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 large potato, peeled and grated
Fresh basil leaves
2 – 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 tablespoon tomato purée
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of olive oil
a knob of butter
1. peel the tomatoes (place tomatoes in to a bowl and pour boiling water over, leave a few seconds, the peel should come off easily)
2. sweat the chopped onion in the heated olive oil until soft
3. add the chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, crushed garlic, salt and pepper some of the basil leaves and stir
4. pour the stock over it and let it simmer for 30 – 40 minutes
5. grate a potato into the soup and let it simmer another 10 -15 minutes
6. blend it until smooth, if no pips are required push through a sieve
7. let some butter melt in the soup
8. decorate with basil leaves & serve with crusty bread. Delicious. Bon Appétit. David Rossiter
Another recipe!
I make no apology for including a second recipe. As this chutney (with thanks to Delia Smith from her Summer Collection) uses runner beans, the moment would be lost if I left it until next month. I discovered the recipe last year when I was beginning to despair at the quantity of runner beans I was picking, eating and freezing. It stores very well and makes a nice change.
Spiced Pickled Runner Beans
900 g (2 lb) runner beans (weighed after trimming and slicing)
700 gm (1½ lb) onions, chopped
850 ml malt vinegar (1½ pints)
40 g (1½ oz) cornflour
1 heaped tablespoon mustard powder
1 rounded tablespoon turmeric
225 g (8 oz) soft brown sugar
450 g (1 lb) demerara sugar
6 x 450 g (1 lb) sterilized jam jars
First put all of the chopped onions into a preserving pan with 275 g (10 fl oz) of the vinegar. Bring to simmering point and simmer gently for about 20 minutes or until onions are soft.
Meanwhile cook the sliced beans in boiling salted water for 5 minutes, then strain them in a colander and add to the onions.
Now in a small basin mix the cornflour, mustard and turmeric with a little of the remaining vinegar to a smooth paste. Add this to the onions. Pour in the rest of the vinegar, stir well and simmer for 10 minutes.
Then add the sugar and stir until they dissolve then simmer for 15 minutes.
Pot the pickle in warm sterilized jars and seal and label when cold. Keep for at least a month before eating.
REMINDER: The Store is open each Sunday morning between 10.00 a.m. and noon.
DATES FOR 2010 DIARY
RGS Autumn Show: 4 September
Allotment Gardener’s Question Time: 19 September at 12.00 noon at the Store
2010 AGM: 25 November at 7.30 pm
Comments, questions to Chair & Committee via the website: www.roehamptonallotments.co.uk
Comments and copy for the next bulletin, by 25 September please, to Pat Dark (tel. 8789 7568) 19 Westhorpe Road, SW15 1QH. Or by email to patdark13@yahoo.co.uk
Next bulletin available from store on Sunday 3 October.