Life on the Plots
There is always work to do on an allotment site and this does not just mean work on the plots themselves. Throughout the year communal areas and equipment are looked after by plotholders and ‘work parties’ are arranged for activities such as clearing up plots for re-letting, painting and repairing fences, and upgrading paths. Area Partnership and Lottery funding has been given to replace storm damaged boundary fencing, to provide a pergola adjoining our member’s hut and to provide raised beds for our ‘less mobile’ members. While contractors have been needed for these projects, the help of volunteers is immeasurable and there is always coffee, home baking and lots of chat on these occasions too. The replacement of the fence at the main entrance to our site is scheduled for 2015.
Plotholders also arrange social events for the wider allotment community. These include monthly Saturday coffee mornings during the growing season where plotholders can share seeds and plants as well as growing tips and ideas. In early June there is an outdoor event ‘the midsummer social’ for plotholders, family and friends with food and wine supplied by the plotholders.
Towards the end of the growing season, we hold an ‘Open Day’ for the local community when plotholders get together to sell vegetables, jams and baking, fruit and flowers and to provide soup, coffee and a tombola for all who attend. This sale of produce continues to be popular but recently we have improved publicity and extended the range of attractions to appeal to a wider audience who are interested in learning what allotments have to offer. We therefore value the participation of the children from the two local primary schools who work their own plots. They are encouraged to take part in our activities on Open Day where they can sell produce to help buy seeds for the following year. Together with the increasing number of new members bringing their children to the plots, they help to confirm the message that growing flowers, fruit and vegetables is an enjoyable family activity. All these activities require communication and a regular newsletter is distributed to members and former members to keep everyone informed of events on the plots.
Our Annual General Meeting is held at the beginning of December when we deal as quickly as possible with the important business items before reminiscing on the year’s events over coffee and mince pies
We have very little evidence from the minutes and cashbook about the communal activities of plotholders in the early days of the Association, but we are currently speaking to members of the Association to help us find out more (listen to the audios in the history section). This will provide valuable insights into the social history of Merrylee Allotments. Watch this space to see what else we can find out!
March 2015