THOUGHTS from our PRESIDENT

We continue to see many improvements at our Council Sites. These projects are now too many to list individually and a lot of you will have seen the evidence for yourselves. An important one, the composting toilet at Ferry Road, has been a success and is now the model for a rolling programme at other sites, the next being Warriston, Inverleith and Saughton. See more at "Waterless Waste".

Good progress has been made in the detailed planning for the replacement site for Hawkhill at Bridgend Farm. See more at "Craigmillar Castle Park".

The second bid for Landfill Tax Funding for compost/leaf mould bins at Saughton has failed. The good news is that the Council have agreed to fund this project. If successful this will be the model for a rolling programme at other sites.

The possibility of developing a Council run private site in the north east of the city has fallen through. Because of the high cost of developing the site, the Council wanted a long lease. The land owner wanted a short lease and there was an impasse. Much regret for the Council and the Federation.

The Federation and Council Officials have had numerous meetings for some years now and we are pleased at the increasing progress being made in updating Council sites.

But we do have a major disappointment in that we have yet to see the first real steps in implementing "Cultivating Communities", Edinburgh's Allotment Strategy. There are reasons for this delay which we understand and accept, but we are concerned with the slow start.

George Sutherland

PROJECTS

The Council have generously increased our Capital Expenditure for the next two years so we are looking to all Sites to give us their "Wish List" for improvements. We want to see this money spent in the best way possible so as to benefit all Council sites. One site has already submitted their prioritised list and we urge all of you to do the same. If we don't know what things you would like then we can't action them. Some things to consider are toilets, fencing, paths, compost bins and implements. So get together with your site representative, decide what you want and send the list in to the FEDAGA Secretary.

George Sutherland

TRADING

In August the Federation's Seed Catalogues will be distributed to Associations and in September details of Seed Potatoes, Onion Sets and Shallots will be published. All of these will be on offer at attractive prices and your Site Funds will benefit from the commission based on order levels. Why not join in, get yourself a good deal and help your Site Funds?

Tony Stanton

WATER OF LEITH FLOOD PREVENTION SCHEME

The first set of plans produced for this scheme showed a high flood barrier which cut the Saughton site in two, leaving the plots on one side as a "flood plain" to store water and relieve flooding further downstream.

The Saughton Mains Allotments' Association made representation to Arup, the designers of the scheme, pointing out that the volume of water which would be stored in the plots was insignificant and that there was an existing flood dyke which followed the bank of the river outside the site and clear of the plots.

Arup have responded with a revised set of plans showing the new flood barrier following the line of the old one, You can well imagine that there were a lot of relieved plot holders!

George Sutherland

WATERLESS WASTE

A waterless waste has been created at Ferry Road Allotments! Our composting toilet has been installed and is up and running, if that is a suitable phrase to use. A neat and attractive "wee hoosie" has been welcomed by all. In a random poll of plot holders 100% were delighted with our new addition and 25% have already used it.

The building's appearance is an added bonus, and comes equipped with composting material. Already some plot holders have planted tubs of daffodils at the door and contributed "fittings" such as toilet roll holder, towels, brooms and brushes.

It is clearly a facility that all are happy to see supplied.

Jack Sutherland

CRAIGMILLAR CASTLE PARK

The Council and FEDAGA have had productive meetings with the landscape architect for the development of this site. Bridgend Farm is on the right and about a third of a mile south of the Cameron Toll roundabout on Old Dalkeith Road. T he site itself, which slopes to the west, has been part of the farm, then a rose nursery and more recently pasture.

Once converted to 39 plots it will be just a bit different from other sites. The layout is conventional with four plots in a block and paths or roadway round the block. Many of the facilities, more normally located on individual plots, will be communal. Existing buildings on the site will be converted to provide storage for site equipment, individual storage for plot holders, a communal meeting space and toilets. There will also be a large polytunnel and communal compost/leaf mould bins. This gives more space for cultivation since there will be no sheds, greenhouses or toolboxes to take up space.

With Social Inclusion in mind, there will be parking spaces for disabled badge holders as well as other parking space for both cycles and cars. Close to the parking area will be raised beds with easy wheelchair access. An outside area will have seating and a barbecue.

The planning team are hoping that the site will be up and running in time for the 2004 growing season and see this development as a valuable addition to our present allotment estate which incorporates some of the recommendations of the Allotment Strategy.

George Sutherland

SPRING GARDENS

This private allotment site has been used for over 60 years. A Planning Application has been made to develop the site for Town Houses and Flats. With 450 people on the waiting list for an allotment, the City cannot afford to lose any plots, least of all this beautiful south facing site looking onto Holyrood Park. FEDAGA has formally objected to the application and has asked to be represented when it comes before the Planning Committee, probably within the next two months. There is a great deal of support for the site's retention within the local community. This may well be the first real opportunity for the Council's Allotment Strategy to be tested, with its commitment to "retaining, at a minimum, the existing number and area of both public and privately owned allotments".

Sam Murray

SHOWING POTATOES

In the last Newsletter I explained that I do not grow potatoes in any special way. Enthusiasts grow in pure peat - no stones or grit to cause blemishes. My crop takes its chance with both.

Harvesting is different, lift very carefully and make a pile from each shaw. Make your best efforts to remove all tubers from the ground. The white skinned ones are easy but varieties like Edgecote Purple and Congo, with their dark skins, are difficult. Even a small tuber will grow the following year and help to keep up soil pests like the serious one, potato root eelworm. I always miss a few so, when they show themselves in the spring, I dig down to remove all growth.

Now remove all tubers that are clearly not of "show quality". A friend told me "Take the water to the potatoes and not the potatoes to the water", so that is what I do with a bucket. Possible show tubers (between about 3 and 4 inches long) are washed and again any with blemishes or other imperfections are laid aside. What's left are show possibles so take them home carefully.

At home each tuber is gently sponged in clean water. Careful sponging can remove minor blemishes and reveal the clear skin. Failures go to the kitchen. I like to end with about 20 tubers for each class of five. Once dry, all the tubers are laid on the table for the final selection. The aim is to have 5 identical and well shaped potatoes without blemishes or broken skin, but keep a few extra possibles just in case of accident. Then wrap each tuber in paper kitchen towel and lay aside in a cool and slightly damp place where they can sweat until show time.

Why not have a go? I grow only about 10 tubers of each variety (but quite a lot of varieties) so if you grow a whole bag of one kind you should have a lot more to chose from and a good chance of a prize winning final selection.

George Sutherland