Site buried in snow again!

Break in at the site

It is with great regret that I have to announce that we had our first (and hopefully last!) break in at the allotment site last Saturday night. The padlock on the container was broken, a rotovator tampered with, the fencing cut and sheds broken into. However there does not seem to have been anything stolen and everything has now been repaired, so we have got off relatively lightly. Anyone with any information should please contact the police asap on 0845 8505505, quoting the Crime Reference Number FB3723583/10.

EGAA on the news..

Look out for some images and interviews from East Garston Allotments coming up soon on ITV. Despite the driving rain they managed to record some limited footage at the site, to be shown during the next few weeks on the local news program "Meridian Tonight". It's part of a feature on communities working together to achieve things and will also include footage of local hero Sarah Ward at Buckingham Palace.

Polecat ferret at the site

Great news - a polecat ferret seems to have moved into the site - our best weapon yet in the war against rats and mice!

Jenny's flowers

Despite selling so many bunches at the produce show (raising lots of money for village groups), Jenny's flowers continue to look amazing and brighten up the whole site! Definitely worth a photo on the blog before winter sets in and they are gone...

Produce show report

The first ever EGAA produce show and stall, held at the village fete, was a huge success - lots of superb entries, plenty of people coming down to see them and sunny skies all day. Check below for some photos of the day, many thanks to photographer Sam Frost for these.

Sincere thanks are also due to our judges Jane and Robert Fearnley-Whittingstall, as well all the EGAA members who helped out in any way - in particular Martyn Wright, Martin Digweed and Vanessa Lee who did the bulk of the work. Vanessa then also went on to win 'best in show' for an immaculate collection of vegetables - thanks again to Franchi Seeds for supplying the first prize. Finally, Pat Murphy certainly deserves a mention for his amazing impromptu appearance as auctioneer - raising additional funds for the Association and other village groups. Exact figures are still to be calculated but altogether we certainly raised over £300.

Following such a great day we certainly plan to make this an annual event and look forward to an even bigger and better show in our second year.

Woodchip path laid

Many thanks to the volunteers from West Berkshire Council for taking a day out from office life to come and lay the woodchippings on our central path - it looks great and we'll be even more grateful once the winter rains set in...

Prize from Franchi, Seeds of Italy

Many thanks to seed company Franchi for donating a gift box of gourmet Italian seeds as grand prize for our produce show this Sunday. We'll ask our judge Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall to choose one exceptional entry to receive the prize - all other winners will have to be content with a single packet of seeds! It's a great prize and well worth having so get those last minute entries in now - closing date for entries is this Thursday 9th September; entry forms are available in the shop.

Franchi will also be supplying a seed rack for the day with 10 varieties from their award winning range for sale. All profits will go to the Association and other village community groups so please take the chance to stock up on some Italian favourites, some of which are suitable for planting immediately. Franchi are a family owned business, in the same family for seven generations and loved by many of Europe's top chefs.

EGAA Produce show - Sunday 12th September!

The 1st Annual East Garston Allotment Association Produce Show
Sunday 12th Septmber 2010 at The East Garston Village Fete

Calling all keen gardeners! (and cooks, and children too!)

Since we took over the land for our allotments in January this year, this is our first Produce Show. The show is open to all so we would like to invite all keen gardeners and their families to join in the fun and enter as many classes as possible!

As well as vegetables, there are lots of classes for flowers, baking, jam making.. and lots of things for children to enter too.

Our judges for the day are none other than Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall, Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medalist and writer, and her husband Robert, acknowledged by Jane as the real vegetable expert! They are happy to give some honest feedback on your efforts and to answer your questions, so if you want an expert's opinion, enter now!

Entry forms can be collected from East Garston Community Shop.

Nice things to eat...

Tarmac on the lane, food on the table..

I'm delighted to say that we now have tarmac planings laid all the way up the access lane - this is already making vehicle access so much easier and come winter will be worth it's weight in gold. Many thanks for a fantastic job to Trevor and Steve Cripps, Dave Kelly and Richard Talmage.

Meanwhile up at the site we are already experiencing our first gluts - it's amazing how every plot is churning out delicious food crops already. Martyn Wright has once again excelled himself by taking a great set of photos of the whole site - check below for the highlights. Should you wish to view all of the 52 pics he took you can download them by clicking here - highly recommended!