The Lost Plot - Chorlton Allotment Project

More Cracking Good Food Sessions at the Lost Plot

2011-07-05T07:29:00.001-07:00

Thanks to generous funding from Southway Housing, we're running three more cooking sessions - two down at The Lost Plot on Saturdays 16 July and 13 August and one at Buckthorn House on 30 July. Times are 4.00 - 6.30pm.

The lovely Sarah will be chef at the two sessions down at the allotment and the other chef will be announced shortly.

These sessions are FREE for residents of the Hough End and Arrowfield Estates, so if you're interested, get your name down early by sending Sarah a text on 07930 898935.

Don't forget, we're meeting every Sunday from 1pm onwards and sometimes weekday evenings too, so if you're interested in joining Chorlton's original community allotment contact Clare (07595 873221) Rachel 07739 409449) or Josh (07789 9122055).

Lost Plot Allotment - Pizza paradise

2011-05-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

That's two weeks on the trot now we've managed to fire up the clay oven and have had tasty snacks to tempt us while the pizza queens get cooking.
Site is looking really good as everything bursts into life.
Particularly pleased with how well the salads are doing the polytunnel. We just need a few more tomatoes to germinate and we're laughing.
Two newbies down this weekend, so if anyone else would like to join us please do.
We meet every Sunday from 1pm down at Southern Allotments. Can't promise pizza every week, but you never know...
More information on The Lost Plot, Chorlton's original community allotment from clare.walker@afsl.org.uk or phone 08595 873221.

BIG GREEN FESTIVAL

2011-04-12T04:25:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to finding new members to share our lovely allotment at the Big Green Festival in Chorlton this Saturday, April 16th.

The Lost Plot have a stall, so don't be shy, come along and say hello. If you've been thinking about having an allotment but don't know where to start or worry it'll be too much to take on, then becoming a member of the Lost Plot could be just the solution you're looking for.

We meet every Sunday at 1pm, we all pitch in together and all the produce we grow is shared.

We've got a pond, some lovely reclaimed sheds, a polytunnel and a great communal area. Our unique selling point might just be our clay oven, built on site with our own hands (and feet, for those of you who remember treading the clay and hay!!) and which will be put to good use baking pizzas at one of our summer events.

Phone Clare 07595 873221 or Rachel 07739409449 or email clare.walker@afsl.org.uk for more info. Look forward to seeing you soon!

Allotmentalists call time - but only for the CIF Fund

2011-04-12T01:19:00.000-07:00

Well it's the end of the line for our Carbon Innovation Fund grant, courtesy of Manchester City Council. It's enabled us to do loads of things over the past year; we've had over 500 people down at the Lost Plot or at our Cooking Sessions with Cracking Good Food; we had three major events on site; we ran 28 workshops and had 38 work sessions (we would've had 39 but snow scuppered one!); we worked with over 24 third sector organisations ranging from Offshoots and Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Kitchen Garden to Women Refugees and Asylum Seekers to Action For Sustainable Living and the Kindling Trust.
We're still hoping to be able to run events and sessions down on site and next Saturday we'll have a presence at Chorlton's Big Green Festival, so come along and say hello. Don't forget, we're always looking for new volunteers. We all work together on the allotment, it's great fun and all the produce is shared. We meet every Sunday from 1pm so if you're interested get in touch clare.walker@afsl.org.uk or 07595 873221.

Cracking Good Food Sessions with The Lost Plot

2011-02-25T07:49:00.001-08:00

First of three sessions started on Tuesday 22 Feb and we had a full house. Our chef Sarah introduced us to the delights of Jamaican Patties and after much chopping, stirring and making of pastry, we all got to taste some delicious snacks.

We were honoured with a visit from our local councillors Bernie and Norman and local MP John Leech.

"Everthing was interesting" said Monique and Harris "like chopping up things and making pastry"

Don't forget we've got another session on Tuesday 8 March. We'll be making stews. Sessions are free to anyone living on the Hough End and Arrowfield estates. If you'd like to take part text Sarah on 07930 898 935 or clare on 07595 873 221 or email clare.walker@afsl.org.uk

Sundays at the Lost Plot

2011-02-16T09:59:00.001-08:00

Sunday 13 Feb

Not a very nice day for an outing to the allotment, but before we got drenched we managed to tidy up, sort out the shed, do some weeding and start turning over the soil in the Polytunnel.

Half the raspberry patch has been weeded and mulched, the other half can be tackled this weekend along with moving the blackcurrants and sorting the cage out.

We meet from 1pm onwards and new volunteers are always welcome!

We've got an Introduction to Local Growing workshop coming up in conjunction with Hulme Garden Centre so watch this space...

MORE FREE COOKING SESSIONS

2011-02-16T09:47:00.001-08:00

CRACKING GOOD FOOD SESSIONS WITH THE LOST PLOT

Tuesdays 6.30 - 8.30pm
Buckthorn House, Nell Lane Chorlton

22nd February: Patties; 8th March: Stews; 22nd March: Burgers
Veg and non-Veg options

Cooking sessions are Free to residents of the Arrowfield and Hough End estates.

To guarantee a place be sure to book in advance either:

Email | clare@afsl.org.uk
Phone | 07595 873221
Text (Sarah) | 07930 898935
All are welcome, but places are limited

February 2011

2011-02-04T05:38:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to another month down the allotment. Welcome to Kelly who's recently joined us - we're getting very international.

This week we'll be moving black currants, preparing ground in the poly tunnel, mulching and digging over. There's still road clearing to be done and the pond to be sorted, so plenty of jobs for everyone.
Anyone wanting to join us, just come along to the Lost Plot on Sunday from 1pm or give me a call on 07595 873 221. New Volunteers always welcome!

Annual General Meeting

2010-12-31T02:31:00.000-08:00

Annual General Meeting

This year's AGM will take place on Thursday 3 March 2011. We're actively looking for new volunteers to get involved with the Lost Plot, so if you're interested come along to the meeting and find out more. Get in touch with Clare at afsl.clare@gmail.com

2010-11-29T10:36:00.001-08:00

Women Refugee & Asylum Seeker Introduction to Allotment Gardening Course

Despite the freezing weather on Saturday, we managed to complete our 4 week course. Certificates were issued and there were smiles all round!

Due to illness we combined a couple of the sessions and Ann Marie and co will return to The Lost Plot in the Spring to help plant vegetables and take part in any further workshops.

We may be able to offer a similar course to other interested parties, so contact Clare, The Lost Plot's Community Education Coordinator for further information afsl.clare@gmail.com or phone her on 07595 873221.

2010-11-29T10:31:00.000-08:00

5th Birthday Bonfire Bash

Over 100 people turned up to our 5th Birthday celebrations. Thanks to those who came in the afternoon to help clear the road and sort out the brassicas.

The clay oven baked potatoes were a great success and the soup and home-made cakes were well received by all.

Although a few people were expecting rather more from the firework display, we were really pleased with our new fire/social area and everyone enjoyed the sparklers.

The guess the weight of the pumpkin was won by Jay and we're waiting for reports about how the pumpkin recipes went down at home.

BONFIRE BIRTHDAY BASH AT THE LOST PLOT

2010-11-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

To celebrate a successful year of growing and five whole years in the community, we're holding a Bonfire Birthday party on Sunday 7th November from 2pm.

We'd like to welcome friends old and new to our Birthday celebrations. You can take a tour of the plot, meet the volunteers and perhaps get involved in some digging, weeding and general volunteer tasks.

We'll light the bonfire at around 5pm and we'll be offering food prepared in our very own clay oven. There'll also be a hearty range of soups, baked potatoes and seasonal food made from this year’s harvest on offer.

And, to cap it all, we'll be having a few fireworks as soon as the sun has set.

So if you're interested in allotment gardening or just want to see how Chorlton's original community allotment is getting on and would like to join in the celebrations on 7th November please contact Clare Walker on 07595 873221 or clare.walker@afsl.org.uk.

Sunday 27th June : Buds & Buds Summer Event

2010-09-28T05:40:00.000-07:00

Despite the football there was a grand turnout at the Summer Event to celebrate The Year of Biodiversity.

Everyone enjoyed the sweltering heat with lemonade and a vegetarian barbecue executed with the usual Lost Plot style - cooked in a reclaimed sink barbecue for that recycled authenticity! All those who glugged down lemonade used their cups to plant wild flowers for their own gardens to attract those all important bees and butterflies. Meanwhile the kids got to have there face painted with different insects in an array of colours and enjoyed the wildlife pond that's teaming with bugs now it's more established. There were plenty of water boatman, newts and a dragonfly even made a brief visit to check out all the fuss!

Tours of the allotment seemed to get some great feedback especially from those people who had attended the spring event and were now seeing all the volunteers hard work pay off.

It was an all round brilliant day, finished off with Sarah's amazing strawberry cream cake. Wow!

May 25th - Nell Lane Wild Food Hunt with Jesper Launder

2010-09-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday 25th May 2010, local herbalist and wild food expert Jesper Launder led a group of volunteers from The Lost Plot Allomtent Project & local residents of Nell Lane estate on a forage around Chortlon Water Park and the River Mersey. The group learned to identify a range of edible foods as well as the odd medicinal herb and then a feast was prepared within the park from all the foods forgaed.

Jesper, a qualified medicinal herbalist and food forager for over five years, was full of enthusiasm and relentless knowledge about the uses of plants. He was keen and patient with the group and his love of his subject encouraged the paticpants to trial leaves, herbs and roots such as the pungent and fiery horseraddish found directly on the River Mersey. There were a few odd stares from passers by when a few particpants took on the challenge to pick a nettle by hand, roll and eat the stinging leaf. It was an invigorating experience, if not a little nerve racking! Overall it seemed to be the children were most excited during the hunt. They were willing to give anything a go.

The feast included assorted tepura -using a light batter to coat rapseed flowers (which taste like brocoli) and cumphrey leaves - and St. Geroges mushrooms which were actually foraged earlier in the day from Chorlton Ees.

Check us out in the online 'Now Then' Magazine

2010-05-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

It's a short and sweetly article about 'Food Waste'...but none the less a good opportunity to get the sustainability message out there folks.

http://nowthenmanchester.blogspot.com/2010/05/food-waste.html

Sunday 17th May: Themed Workday - Community Area & Fruit Cage

2010-05-17T00:10:00.000-07:00

Well we had an amazingly productive day at the plot yesterday. The weather turned out to be really sunny and made for a good day working on several areas of the allotment that needed immediate attention.

The community area is developing slowly into a space that can be used for workshops and events. The ground was levelled, carpeted and then wood chip was put down. This will make a nice surface for the benches that will be made for the area and is a great entrance to the pond area, which is also looking good. Next week we'll be extending the community area so the surrounding paths are also wood chipped.

Digging and Levelling Carpeting Wood Chipping

The pond area taking shape with a new gate and path being laid,

the ground being levelled and seating being made

The walk-in Blackcurrant cage was made from scraps of metal and netting and is really sturdy and looks great. The area was also weeded and is starting to take shape ready for summer.

The fruit cage being worked on by Nick & Josh

The compost heap had some love and attention and was carefully prepared in sandwich fashion to try, once again, to make hot compost. It was also watered to the consistency of a rung out sponge! We'll see if were doing things right when Rachel and I head down to Valerie's Veggies in Hertfordshire next weekend to do a soil fertility course.

So thanks to all the folks who came down on Sunday, especially our two new volunteers, Matt and Jessica, who were amazing. They got stuck in straight away and can't be faulted for their commitment to getting stuff done...it was a back breaking task. We hope they come back.

Workshops @ The Lost Plot

2010-05-11T00:04:00.000-07:00

We are funded by the Manchester Carbon Innovation Fund to work directly with Nell Lane Estate. Primarily workshops are directed at this community group and so a large number of places are reserved. However we always have a small number of places for interested parties who live in the Manchester area so get in touch.

Here are the workshops coming up in the next few months.

May 18th ~ 5:30-8pm ~ Nell Lane Wild Food Hunt with Jesper Launder
Enjoy a relaxed walk and get to know the many wild foods you can eat locally. Taste samples of the delights we find. See poster below.

May 25th ~ 5:30-7pm ~ Grow your Own Group 'An Introduction to Grow your Own'

Join our local Grow your Own Group for the first session in growing at home. This is a simple introduction to growing crops, covering soil type, compost, watering and feeding for example. It will also cover some more advanced aspects of organic gardening such as companion planting. You will be given a starter pack, which you will use in the session to produce a mini allotment. You will be able to take this away with you, along with a bit more confidence and knowledge to do more at home. Those who join the group will be mentored for three months and will be invited for a follow-up discussion session in June and July. See poster below.

June TBD ~ Building Benches from Sustainable Materials
Discussion around sustainable materials and sourcing local materials then a practical workshop in making some benches for our, soon to be, new and improved community social area. Take those practical skills home and make your own. Keep an eye out for more information on this event coming up.

June 27th ~ 1-5pm ~ Summer Party to Celebrate the Year of Biodiversity
Come along to the plot and join us for our summer party. We will be making use of the Cob Oven to cook some food and there will be a few workshops thrown in. Generally this is a good time to celebrate the summer and the abundance of food growing at the allotment...we hope! Keep an eye out for more information on this event coming up.

Hello All from The Community Engagement Coordinator

2010-05-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody...I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Beth, the Community Engagement Coordinator for The Lost Plot. Just to let you know a bit about what I do...

I work and volunteer with The Lost Plot in Chorlton. I am employed to engage with the local estate and people in the Chorlton and surrounding areas. I want to encourage people to grow their own, help empower them to apply for their own allotments and gain knowledge and confidance to have a postive impact on their environement. The Lost Plot will be running workshops, work experience days, 'grow your own' mentoring schemes and community events over the next year so please come and get involved.

As a volunteer on Sundays from 1-5pm I am able to take a hands on approach to growing and improving the allotment space so it is it's own self-sustaining ecosystem. At the moment I am working on improving biodiveristy by encouring the growth of flowers and wildlife encouraging plants. I am developing an edible pond and medicinal and edible herb areas. I am always looking to improve our soil and will be undertaking some training in May so I can then work with the local community to build a better compost system. I am also doing an introductory course in herbal medicine.

I am really passionate about focussing my efforts on encouraging people to find opportunities to rediscover the relationships between local food & medicine production, social community and spirt and believe these to be fundamental in transforming societies so they are resilient, self-sufficient and sustainable. Since the age of 10 I have on/off worked on a farm. I have recently spent 3 months WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) and have lived off-grid and learnt about woodland and land management and organic farming.

I also work for Young People's Support Foundation 2 1/2 days a week. The Young People’s Support Foundation (YPSF) is a Manchester based charity working with young people aged between 16 – 25 who need support with their personal growth and development towards adulthood and independent living. Primarily we support young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and those who are socially isolated and are at risk. Funded by Target Wellbeing, I work on projects that improve physical and mental wellbeing as well as encouraging healthy eating through cooking projects. I have also worked as a Youth Worker, Family Support Worker and Arst Development Worker and try to bring my skills from these jobs into my work at The Lost Plot.

Please keep an eye out for information about what's on at The Lost Plot. Coming soon.
In the mean time you can contact me in person (see below) or on the usual email.

Beth Morgan
Community Coordinator for The Lost Plot
c/o Action for Sustainable Living
Web http://www.afsl.org.uk | Tel 0161 227 0377 | 07771202702
Email beth.morgan@afsl.org.uk

Roots and Shoots Spring Festival

2010-04-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Lost Plot are having a Roots and Shoots party on Sunday 11th April from 1pm onwards to celebrate Spring and the start of a new growing season.

Come along and join in some seed planting, do a bit of digging or just relax in the sunshine.

Beth Morgan, The Lost Plot's newly appointed Community Engagement Coordinator said:

"It'll be a great family day. We'll provide refreshments, you can plant up a cut-and-come-again salad window box and there'll be a windmill-making workshop for younger children. It's a great chance to share what we're doing down on the allotment and hopefully encourage people either to come along and volunteer themselves or think about growing some of their own food at home."

"We're just starting to plan what should be going where on the site, so if you come down to the party you can be in at the start of this year's planting."

Beth will be working one day a week for The Lost Plot, thanks to a grant from Manchester City Council's Carbon Innovation Fund.

"It'll be working with local people to find out what they'd like to do in terms of growing their own food; we'll be organising free workshops on planting, soil improvement, composting, health eating etc. and I'd really like to hear from anyone who'd like a bit of help and advice on getting started."

Anyone wanting to attend the Roots and Shoots party should email thelostplot@afsl.org.uk.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY! Community Engagement Coordinator

2010-02-04T03:51:00.000-08:00

The Lost Plot are proud to announce that we have just received funding from Manchester City Council's Carbon Innovation Fund!!!! The project will last for a year and help build community engagement at the Lost Plot. We are recruiting a Community Engagement Coordinator to work 8 hours a week for 12 months on this project. Here is the info:

Community Engagement Coordinator at The Lost Plot Community Allotment Project

Salary: £24,000 pro rata Hours: 8 hours per week (£400 per month). Location: The Lost Plot, Chorlton, Manchester, Contract: Temporary for 12 months

The Lost Plot is a constituted community-run 'grow your own' project which allows members of the local community to produce their own organic fruit and veg. The Lost Plot has been developed around permacultural principles and its aim is to engage an increasing number of local people in issues around food growing and sustainable food choices through regular workdays, events and training workshops.

The Lost Plot has just received funding from Manchester City Council’s Carbon Innovation Fund (CIF), the post holder will be supporting and building on current coordination work by the Lost Plot committee members whilst achieving the key outcomes set out in the CIF award agreement. The post holder will be working directly with community groups and co-ordinating activities and partnerships with The Lost Plot.

Experience of working within communities and food growing would be an advantage. The post holder will be expected to work some evenings and weekends. The post holder is expected to work from home.

For further information and to apply email: info@thelostplot.co.uk or ring 0161 227 0377 ,

Application deadline: Weds 24^th February 12pm

Interview date: Sunday 28^th February

Sunday at the plot...

2009-11-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday down at the plot was a beautiful day, the weatherman timed the sunshine perfectly.. I may even have got a bit of a tan! The main aim of the day was to plant peas and beans which was acheived. Let's hope these are more succesful than our previous crops, which haven't been great. We also managed to remove a dead wasps nest from our compost heap, thus reclaiming the pile which I for one have been too scared to near for months. In addition we shored up some old paths and created somenew ones and prepared one edge for a new bed.

The main task next week will be to create one or maybe even two new beds in the area currently covered by plastic sheeting. Anyone who has dug and edged a new bed will tell you that that it is a job for which it is definitely a case of the more the merrier. So if you fancy lending a hand come down on Sunday, we'll be there from 1pm. If you want to know more or just want to get in on the day, please call Helen on 07900648666.

Bonfire Night Success!

2009-11-09T23:08:00.000-08:00

As dusk descended at the Lost Plot on Sunday we were tired. We had moved the social circle so as not to burn a hole in our new poly tunnel, laid some straw to soak up the mud bath created by a lively water butt and set up the clay oven and some barbeques in preparation for our Birthday Bonfire Bonanza.

All we needed now were some guests.

It was a nervous half an hour but the guests did soon materialize. I'm afraid i'm useless with names but you all know who you are and i hope you all had a good time. You all certainly seemed to enjoy the two types of home made soups, the baked potatoes, the burgers and sausages (both meat and veggie) and everybody looked quite content by the fire.

Then came the fireworks. A big thanks must be extended to Josh for organising the display and a big apology should be extended by me for volleying a small firework into the sweetcorn and managing to set up the worlds only stationary catherine wheel! But dysfunctional fireworks apart the display went well, especially well for an excitable young lad named Callum who seemed to be having the time of his life assisting with the firework lighting.

After the fireworks the crowd slowly decreased until we were reduced to a few die hards gathered around the fire, periodically reeling backwards as Cyrus spiced up the fire with a bit of white spirit. As we patted out the small fires raging on our eyebrows, we agreed it had been a successful evening and it seems a good time had been had by all.

Of course none of this would have been possible without Sarah and Ginny the organisational masterminds! Also worthy of special mention is Rachel's sweetcorn chowder; more next week please.If you missed it, or you had such a good time you can hardly wait to return, we will be planting out winter cauliflowers, beans and peas this Sunday from 1pm, so feel free to join us. The contact for this week will be Nick (that's me) on 07521551322 so just give me a call if you would like to pop down.

Birthday Bonfire Bonanza – Sunday 8th November, 6pm onwards

2009-10-27T13:18:00.000-07:00

The Lost Plot celebrates its 4th birthday in November and with the approach of Guy Fawkes Night we have decided to combine our celebrations and have a Birthday Bonfire Bonanza! We’ll be having a warm, cosy bonfire, a BBQ (both meat and veggie) and November celebrations wouldn’t be complete without a few fireworks! As with every Sunday, we will be at the plot from 1pm building, digging and generally getting our hands dirty so if you’d like to join us in the daytime, feel free to come on down. We’re always on the lookout for new volunteers and our bonfire celebrations provide a great opportunity to meet the team, share your knowledge and learn more about growing your own organic fruit and veg.

The atmosphere will be friendly and relaxed, so feel free to bring sparklers, drink, food to cook on the BBQ and don’t forget to wrap up warm! Music (both live and recorded) welcome. The BBQ and bonfire will be start at around 6pm, followed by fireworks at 7.30pm. For more information or to find out who to contact on the night, please email allotment@afsl.org.uk.

Polytunnel Planning - Sunday 25th October, 1pm onwards

2009-10-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

Now the plot's polytunnel structure is complete we want to start planning and planting to make the most of the 'extended seasons' and the many other benefits our new polytunnel will provide. If you know a bit about polytunnel growing, would like to learn from others or would generally like to get involved in the plot’s activities feel free to head down to the Lost Plot this Sunday. The main focus for the day is planning what to grow in the polytunnel and when, but if you prefer digging, weeding or even making old bits and bobs into new more useful bits and bobs then there is always something to be getting on with. For directions and to find out who to contact to gain access to the plot on the day, please email allotment@afsl.org.uk.

BUMPER CELEBRATIONS at CHORLTON ALLOTMENT - 20th September, 1pm onwards

2009-09-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

As part of British Food Fortnight (19 September – 4 October), volunteers at Chorlton’s Lost Plot community allotment (Southern Allotments, off Nell Lane, Chorlton) are having a Harvest Celebration on Sunday 20 September from 1pm onwards.

Anyone interested in joining this community allotment or just finding out a bit more about growing fruit and vegetables is welcome to come down and have a look at the plot and meet other volunteers at the BBQ celebration.

New recruit Ginny McDonald said:

“I’ve only been coming down for a few weeks, but I’m really glad I made the effort to join the Lost Plot team. It’s been great to take home the freshest of spinach, tomatoes and potatoes that a few minutes earlier had been in the ground. The taste difference is amazing.

Everyone is very friendly and there are no ‘experts’. We’re all just learning what to plant when and where. I’d really encourage anyone with an interest in eating more healthily, getting a bit of exercise and just enjoying being out in the fresh air to come down and give it a try”.

For further information either about being involved with the allotment or coming down to the BBQ contact Helen Starr -Keddle at allotment@afsl,org.uk

Polytunnel Workshop – Sunday 13th September 1pm onwards

2009-09-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

This Sunday everyone will get the opportunity to get their hands dirty and make the finishing touches to the recently erected polytunnel. We’re really excited about this new addition to the plot which will extend the seasons and hopefully provide something to harvest all year round! We’re hoping to grow a variety of goodies including aubergines, peppers, cucumbers and chilli and maybe even a grapevine if we’re feeling adventurous! If you’d like to join in or find out more please email alloment@afsl.org.uk

Watch this space for info on our harvest celebrations / BBQ which will take place on 20th September!

A Year at the Lost Plot (Sept 2008 to Aug 2009)

2009-08-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

We've not updated the blog for a while, but for those of you who want to know what we've been up to, here is a summary of the past year down at the Lost Plot:

Jun-Aug 2009
- 100 Orange Rockcorp volunteers earned themselves a ticket to a rock
concert by volunteering with AfSL at the Lost Plot. During the four
hours shift in early July the young people got stuck in to:
- clearing the Southern Allotment Society community plot for future
use by other local groups
- building and painting new composts and raised beds for the lost plot
- painting our sheds
- perparing the beds for the polytunnel to go up
- weeding and clearing of new beds

Mar-May 2009
- As well as regular weekly workdays, activities and sessions for 15
members of the local community included an afternoon's workshop on
Organic Soil delivered by Martrin Oldham, chair of Association of
Manchester Allotment Societies.
- A new partnership with AfSL and the Field Studies Council also saw a
number of sessions delivered in partnership with Chorlton High
School's eco-team, where 15 young people came down and got their hands
dirty with sessions that taught them about gardening design,
composting and weeding - plus using recycled paints they had gathered
at school through a 'paint amnesty' to start a mural on the old
fencing at the plot.

Dec-Feb 2009
- The Lost Plot project becomes a lead partner in Manchester City
Council's Food Futures projects - Manchester Allotments Promoting
Sustainability (MAPS). This aims to create a city-wide educational
resource to promote sustainability through allotments around
Manchester and increase community involvement + engage with different
demographics regarding food growing.
- We purchased a mobile classroom/bell tent to use as a resource for
workshops, training and education. This resource will be used by the
Lost Plot and to hire out to organisations or individuals interested
in promoting sustainability and food growing. Our inaugural workshop
was 'An Introduction to Permaculture' run by local permaculturist
Julia Frankel and attended by 20 local community members all
interested in developing new ways of implementing natural and organic
growing systems in their own gardens and allotments.

Sept-Nov 2008
- Weekly work sessions for Lost Plot volunteers saw us expanding our
site by 30% as we opened up new beds for the coming spring's planting
season. This involved digging out weeds and laying temporary paths, as
well as removing lots of the junk that had gathered there.
- Enrichment Workshops for young refugees and asylum seekers. A group
of 16-19 year olds attended the plot once per week as part of their
enrichment programme at City College. During their three month
involvement they got their hands dirty with the following activities:
- Herb Spiral maintenance and Mint harvesting
- Digging paths & bed edging
- Managing the compost
- Winter planting - garlic, onion & broad beans
- Pond maintenance
- Cob oven cookery

WORKSHOP - AN INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC FOOD GROWING

2009-03-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday April 19th

The Lost Plot, Chorlton's Organic Community Allotment Project
Southern Allotments, off Wintermans rd, Nell Lane Estate, Chorlton

1:30 - 4:30pm

The course will be delivered by Martin Oldham, Secretary of the Southern Allotment Society and Chairman of AMAS who has a wealth of experience in growing on Manchester soil!

The workshop outline:

1 Intro
2 Basics Soil, Plant growth, Feeding
3 Look round Martin's plot
4 Cultivation techniques In the ground, in beds, in containers
5 Plants Sowing, Transplanting, Growing, Picking.

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

Spaces are limited so please confirm by email or phone to:

Helen Starr-Keddle
allotment@afsl.org.uk
0161 227 0377

Cob Oven build

2008-10-07T03:04:00.001-07:00

Workshops

2008-10-07T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone

The workshop 'Introduction to Organic Gardening + Harvest Festival' will not be happening on the 12 October any more. If you intended on coming down, then please do anyway as we will be constructing a new shed and finishing off the cob oven on Sunday and need lots of hands on deck!

I'll put up a new date for the workshop when we have it.

Helen

WORKSHOPS

2008-09-09T04:29:00.000-07:00

Chorlton’s Community Allotment is looking for more volunteers – people who’d like to spend a few hours every week, helping to cultivate The Lost Plot, just off Nell Lane in Chorlton.

In order to give people a taste of what it’s like on the allotment, coordinators Helen and Josh have organised a series of workshops:

Sunday 21 September
COB OVEN BUILDING WORKSHOP PART 2

Sunday 12 October
INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC GARDENING + HARVEST FESTIVAL

Sunday 9November
INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE

Each workshop starts at 10am and they’re free. All welcome, whether interested in joining the Lost Plot or whether you’d like to take the skills back to your own allotment project.

Contact Helen or Josh on 0161 227 0377 or email helen.starr-keddle@afsl.org.uk in you are interested in attending

Summer 2008 down the plot

2008-09-09T04:23:00.000-07:00

Summer 08 has been a bit of a wet year, which has spelled disaster for a few of our crops!

Everything seemed to sprout later than usual and the lack of sun in August has meant a few things are still to ripen!

We had a few allotment socials at the beginning of the summer and now have some exciting things lined up for the winter!

Manchester Permaculture Network - Autumn Equinox Event

2007-09-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

Monday September 24th, from 6.30pm at the Chorlton Allotment Project hosted by the Allotmentalists

The Chorlton Allotment Project is a community-run 'grow your own' scheme, which encourages members of the local community to produce their own organic fruit and veg. Based just off Nell Lane (near Southern Cemetery, Chorlton). The plot has been developed following permaculture principles and was designed during an Introduction to Permaculture course in the winter of 2005.

Bring food to share, beverages, seeds and plants to swap, fire wood, musical instruments, poetry etc. Also bring practical clothing for gardening and sitting around the camp fire on a cool temperate evening. Also if anybody has some small / old tools that they would like to donate to the project ..., since they have had stuff stolen over the summer. We will try and provide temporary shelter in the event of rainy weather. However if we do not get this together we will probably head off early to The Bar in Chorlton.

Directions: Click here for a Googlemap to Nell Lane Allotment. Turn of Nell Lane onto Arrowfield Rd (by the Cemetery), then turn right onto Wintermans Rd, and follow it round the corner. The main gate into the allotment is up on your right, but you can see the permaculture plot on the other side of the fence as you walk up the road. The gate will probably be locked so shout over the fence on the way up, and someone'll let you in.

Scedhule:5.30 onwards - arrive, practical gardening7.00 - Food to share, networking, 'Round table' to discuss MPN network issues, make announcements etc

After: camp fire, beer and wine and stuff(If you have any doubt about the weather or whether or not the event is taking place, than call me on 07974 658745. Also I have a couple of bags of firewood to take down if someone can give me a lift. Cheers ... Rob) * For more information on permaculture in Manchester, and general links visit ManchesterPermaculture.Net . We look forward to seeing you there ...

More Clay Oven Build!

2007-09-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Amy's fallen prey to the film makers!
Time out!
The budding herb spiral..
Blooming lovely..
Josh collecting drainpipes for the water collection system..

Lia's sorting out the wood pile..

A fine collection of tomatoes!

The beginnings of a beautiful pond..lets just hope the frogs like it as well!
Deep in the amazonian greenhouse..the lesser spotted film crew prepare to capture their unsuspecting prey on a DVD charting the work of the lost plot..
and you can now see them grinning after the shoot..

Tending..

Aaah.. Look at that lovely greenhouse!

Clay Oven Building Workshop Part 1

2007-07-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

We braved the rain to lay the foundations for our new project: a cob clay oven. The Clay oven will fulfill our dreams of being able to cook and eat the fruits of our labours straight from the ground.

Fully inspired by a trip to Julias backgarden and a quick crash course in clay oven building we got a team of helpers down on sunday to start work.

Unfortunately the weather conditions meant that we could only lay the foundations, but we will return with another workshop to finish the top!

Scenes From An Allotment

2007-02-23T00:41:00.000-08:00

The greenhouse has been finished, the soil is turned, and there are things in pots. We're ready for 2007.

Pictures courtesy of the talented Gill Moore.

Slowly But Surely...

2007-02-12T03:01:00.000-08:00

Little-by-little, the greenhouse is nearing completion and we now have a doorframe courtesy of renaissance man and woodwork master, Matt:

A Labour of Love

2007-02-05T05:19:00.000-08:00

It's been some time coming, but our greenhouse is finally nearing completion. Made completely from reclaimed materials, it's the brainchild of site designer Helen and group organiser Josh.

When finished, the greenhouse will be home to seedlings throughout the germination period and plants (such as tomatos and peppers) that need to be cultivated in a warmer, moister environment.

The bare bones:

Greenhouse guru, Helen:

Josh "The Hammer" Steiner:

Proud parents, Helen, Andy and Matthew:

The long walk home, after a hard day's work:

Winter Life

2007-01-29T03:03:00.000-08:00

It's late January and there are a few signs of life down at the plot:

Curly parsley, unperturbed by the cold

Slug and frost-resistant spinach

Garlic shoots

And flowering pak choi

Welcome!

2007-01-22T03:01:00.000-08:00

The Chorlton Allotment Project is a community-run 'grow your own' scheme, which encourages members of the local community to produce their own organic fruit and veg.

Based just off Nell Lane (near Southern Cemetary, Chorlton), we meet every Sunday from one in the afternoon onwards. Attendance is free, and all visitors to the plot get to take home produce for their own kitchen table.

We have five or so regular attendees who tend to the plot, but we're eager to get more people involved.

If you would like to know more about the project, please email info@allotmentalist.co.uk or info@afsl.org.uk.

January 2007