So much confusion, fellow plotters, when autumn comes around. What to do about October? the Pet Shop Boys ask. How to smile behind a frown? And they didn't even have last week's rain and rats eating their pumpkins to deal with.
On the other hand, they didn't have the sheer delight of the Produce Show in September to keep them going! The Clubhouse scrubbed up very nicely, didn't it? Stuffed with the very best of this year's produce - see pic above. Special thanks to Pamina and Bernard for the window decoration and Rob for the mural. Most of the rest of this newsletter is an unashamed celebration of the show and everything in it - with some great pics to illustrate.
Let's start with the first ever People's Choice Award...the beautiful display by Siobhan and John at plot 193.
Then there's the table of delights from Debs and Duncan plots 25 and 134 which won the top prize .
Special mention to Carol and Ruth, plots 235 and 236 and Paul and Britt, plots 13 and 14 for putting most entries in (13 each pair).
Big and special congratulations to young Nathan, for this winning entry of 'Gary the Gardener'.
Nathan's only three, so easily the youngest participant. Don't know who was the oldest, but I reckon there's at least 70 years between them! The next display is from Jane and Stu - definitely not 70 year olds but they've only had a plot for a year. So great to see rookie plotters producing this..
There's a bit of randomness in the next few exhibits but they're all just beautiful - from the simplicity of this top squash
To the courgette complexity of this from Harvey
Look at the richness of these exhibits from Jim and Ines and then Rex, Sush,and Stuart
And then, there's the standout display of plot produce and stuff made from the produce by Matt. I think this may be our first exposure to cotognata siciliana at Moor Green. I'll never chuck away another quince...
And what about the magnificent produce for brewing display by Sophie.
Finally we should congratulate Oz for this stunner from our own teaching plot!
Many thanks also to barstaff who dealt with the hoards of thirsty customers and the technical breakdown of the card reader. If anyone realises they hadn't been charged for their drinks, we will gratefully accept late payments. And to the mighty pizza boys. And to Ian for donating the 30 jars of honey sold. More jars will be on sale at the Halloween Saturday event. All money is going to Russell Rd Gate fund.
And finally we couldn't do the Produce Show without our resident expert, judge and bewhiskered master of all matters horticultural. OZ!
Halloween 2nd November - Date for your Diary!
Your editor was going to correct the spelling of one word in the poster and then got the joke...
Rent Collection
So far so good - we roll on into mid-October! Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October, then Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September, all from 10.00 in the morning to 1.00 p.m. Please come with your debit card or chequebook and get answers to any questions on your plot, the site, the Council, the weather (we'll just sympathise), forthcoming events etc. Please don't turn up at 3.00 and then badmouth the bar staff because they won't take payments. They're not trained to take payments - but they're volunteers, like the rent collectors, so please be polite and respectful.
Christmas Fayre 14th December
Just a heads up at the moment but you might want to get this in the diary now. There will be craft stalls, gifts, tea and cake, food from Shaun the Streetballer man and a well-stocked bar. Anyone thinking of booking a stall please contact Deborah on madahal.waitinglist@gmail.com for details.
Finally, if you want to get this Newsletter emailed to you every month just scroll to the bottom and filll in the Subscribe to our Newsletter section. That's all for this month felllow plotters. Wrap up warm!
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