Sunday at the plot...

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!

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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