Carfield Farm Community Garden
March 14th 2008 I would like to welcome every one to this year’s AGM, the sixth since the group’s conception. As is traditional at the AGM (well since I became chair person!), I will not begin this meeting with a history of the group and it’s activities since it’s formation. But if you are seriously in the dark about us, don’t hesitate to quiz one of the committee members (introduce the blighters?) during refreshments. Heck! We may even have some literature for you to take home and cherish! That’s handouts! What’s been going on at Carfield Farm Well, we demanded another ‘quiet year’, but did we get one? April (die she must!) (Simon & Garfunkel!!!) Rents – an ongoing saga! Rents never sorted (they seem as random and as whimsical as, well ever! What’s the score this year?) – Alison to draft a letter in autumn to the Allotment Office about the 50% reduction in all rents for the site On the funding front assorted monies were being chased… Breathing Places – We were contacted again by Breathing Places – querying small details on the funding application – it looked like we may get the grant – fingers crossed – results expected in May 07 (did we get it? Can you stand the tension!) Landfill Tax Credit “Evolve” - We discovered that another local group had been successful with funding bids to this pot of money – on hold for the time, we needed to see if the Breathing Places bid would come through (the tension is palpable!). On site (a typical work morning!) Bottom area by trellis - Stones were dug up during the last work morning and were used to build small dry stonewall at the end of the long wall. Rubbish inside the gate – A local inhabitant collected the bags of rubble to use as base for their patio – recycling in action! The willow hide - was still propped up (our own major oak!), a victim of earlier gales (a taste of things to come?). This is now a secure structure. The hop uprights were becoming an urgent acquisition as the young hop shoots were beginning their long aromatic journey. Ever upwards! New Allotment Group – following on from a meeting at the Allotment Hut on 18 Feb (concerning allotment security) a newly constituted group was formed – Heeley & District Allotment Society (did they stick with this name?). An AGM for the group was held at the hut approx 6 weeks before. Pauline attended both meetings (our agent provocateur!). An alliance could be sought so that the 2 groups would avoid bidding for the same pots of money! Or indeed, joint bidding (as one group!) could give both groups a better chance at cash! Pauline agreed to talk to the new group about the community garden. (Is there anyone here involved with the group, what is their status at the present?). Subs renewal - reminder At this date 25 members failed to renew their subs - £134 had already been collected and banked by Kevin (the man with the purse!). Common Ground Orchard Questionnaire Ziggy said he would do this. Have you done it Ziggy? Have I done it? I’ve just been sent an updated form, so keep reminding me! Heeley Festival – Saturday 16 June 2007, we began collecting books and nourishing gooseberry bushes so as we could entice the punters to our humble trinket burdened trestle tables. Raspberry Day – possible dates were discussed, as July is ‘officially’ festival season in Sheffield. Green Fair 7th July and Sharrow Festival 14th July. Agreed that 14th July be a possibility for Raspberry Day as the following Saturday (21st) is the start of the school summer holidays. Cardboard appeal! (This was to mulch around the flowering fruit bushes). The Jostaberry bushes were in full flower, would we get a bumper crop this year? Funding Breathing places – we were turned down! (What happened there?) More plants (especially climbers!) were needed for the trellis. This was a general appeal A rechargeable strimmer purchase was agreed and indeed bought. Heeley festival. Stall was booked for 16th June
Books, CD’s, soft fruit, young plants, Etc all gratefully accepted for the up and coming sale of the century. Raspberry Day. Date changed to Sunday 15th July (Hurray! Sharrow Festival here I come!) The planning application on Carfield avenue was also opposed by the group, The letter went a something like this… Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/13A, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN 11th May 2007 Dear Sir / Madam Re: Site at r/o 23 Carfield Avenue, Sheffield 8 Planning Inspectorate Reference: APP/J4423/A/07/2041886/WF I am writing to register The Friend’s of Heeley and Meersbrook Allotments continuing objection to this planning objection. The ecological and community impact as described in our initial response to the first planning application remains for this second amended application. We consider none of the reasons for the refusal of the first application to be addressed within the second application and look forward to the planning inspectorate’s conclusion ending the uncertainty and distress created by these applications. Yours sincerely Michael Senkans Chair, Friends of Heeley and Meersbrook Allotments A neighbouring allotment holder suggested that a petition for a closer water pipe would be a spiffing idea. Rachel volunteered to put one together. (How did that go Rachel?) Heeley festival, what happened? Good sunny fun all round, at least that’s what I remember! (start saving your trashy murder mystery gore-fest novellas for this years festival) We were still bitter about Breathing Places – turned down for this funding. The detail in the letter finished by saying, “hope your organisation will feel equipped to decide to reapply in the future” – unlikely! As we never found out which of their criteria we failed on! (If anyone wants to draft a letter to the BBC explaining our frustrations, please do so!) We may have some problems meeting funding criteria because the allotment site is no longer ‘open from dawn to dusk’ – since the arson attacks all allotment holders are encouraged to lock gates as they enter and leave. Access to the community garden is becoming difficult! (We will discuss this issue later!) Stop press! strimmer purchased ! – Preparation for Raspberry Day set into motion (more weeding, path definition and propping up of canes the priority) In the Orchard, one of the apple trees needed staking – too many apples on it! (Pure criminal abundance!). The ‘other allotment group’ – Heeley & District Allotment Society - Unfortunately they scheduled their monthly meetings for the first Sunday of the month – the clash was mentioned and they said they’d see what they could do. (Do we still have links with them?) . Allotment Security meeting – 11 June 2007 – Pauline went to this meeting – they talked about ‘the fence’, disused allotments and setting up a ‘rapid response team’ of volunteers willing to help people who have had their allotments vandalised/burnt out – main point made was that all vandalism/theft etc should be reported Raspberry Day – Sunday 15 July 11-2 This was how it was organised, as stated in the monthly meeting minutes! Set up at 10.15am – direction signs will need putting up from both allotment gates – stuff to bring: Pauline – display boards, direction signs, punnets, folding chairs, water carrier, firstaid kit Rachel – tables, gazebo, paper cups, books Kevin – float All – not sure who has got the squash for drinks & some biscuits – cakes if you have time to bake Stuff to do: Pauline – put up posters on allotment gates and in the poster boards – send publicity email to papers and Radio Sheffield – need signs to ask people not to lock the allotment gates whilst event is still on Water Petition – Rachel drafted a petition for all allotment holders at the end of the site lane to sign, asking for a tap nearer our allotments – all signed the petition. What was the outcome if any, Rachel? Left over books from Heeley Festival – Pauline passed them on to a work colleague fundraising for Manor Lodge – Lindsey took some for the Northern General patients’ library. (Lets hope their reading tastes are as good as the good folk of Heeley. Top selling books on the day? Slash / gore detective novels! Raspberry day! What happened? (I remember the giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea) and I think it rained!) Funding – It was agreed that we all need to be looking at different funding streams, that we spread the load!. Apple Day – date to be set –Common Ground Apple Day was Sunday October 21st - We try not to clash with the Walled Garden (Meersbrook Park mob!). August – no meeting, just watering and weeding… September The Heeley and District Allotment society held a BBQ on the site of the Community Garden as a thank you to Shirley and Harry who used to run the shop. It was a good opportunity for people to see the site who hadn’t been there before and also good to make links between that group and us. The Allotment Soc will continue to have monthly meetings on the first Sunday morning in the month, the same as our work morning!!!!. Funding Information was brought in, about the Gleadless Valley Community Chest, which gives grants of up to £500. We also talked to the organiser for Green City Action whose project for giving offenders work in the ‘great outdoors’ might be interested in working on our site, particularly the raspberry beds. All providing we could get the Community Chest to pay for some materials. An application form for O2, which also gives out small grants, was also considered. O2 form and Community chest forms were completed using costings from the aborted Breathing Places application. Also considered, the Landfill Tax Credit scheme This did not seem to be suitable for us at the time. (Unless we can make anything of the “Coral Fungus” as the Enriching Nature Fund run by Sita must have a species or habitat as its focus, tell me more!) 200 native bluebell bulbs were ordered, as agreed at the last meeting. They were planted in October. (Let’s hope they are native, hey Alison, Hey?). We were also sent a map of the allotment site with numbered allotments. (Is this just for the community plot? Can we see it?) Apple Day, Sunday 21 October 2007, 11am - 2pm approx (Date set!) “To bring: conkers, ready strung, for conker competition. Apples, apples, apples….Etc” Banked from Heeley Festival £159.75! Good work everyone! October Apple Day, Sunday 21st October 2007, what happened? (I only caught the tail-end of it due to fungi related work) Ha! Here we go! From the FHMA website… “…the sun was shinning and we spent nearly four hours pressing apples non-stop! Loads of people joined us on site and enjoyed the cakes, juice & music – we just have to wait for the cider to be ready for our AGM…” Good day – made £56.56 (includes subs collected & £20 donation from hire of the apple press to the Shire Brook Road Harvest Supper). Hire of the Apple Press – the press went out again to the Grow Sheffield Seedy Saturday event. Agreed that it was appropriate not to charge them for this as they donated large quantities of fruit to us for Apple Day! Due to a general lack of funds & an increase in the popularity of Apple Day it was agreed that from next year any individuals wishing to use the apple press should be asked to make a donation of at least £5 as a hire charge – community groups wishing to hire the press would be looked at on an individual basis. Heeley & District Allotment Society Their first newsletter appeared… “On 8 & 9 December they are having events on the allotment site – on 8th garland making and on the 9th BBQ & selling garlands and bric-a-brac – they aim to raise funds to repair the wooden hut floor so it can be used for meetings and as a community space.” (from FHMA minutes 13.11.07) Allotment security – Walkie talkie system to be set in place(?). It was proposed that the large security fence would run down the side of the allotments behind the houses on Carfield Road – understandably the residents were not happy – not good to look out at and will give some allotment holders access problems. Common Ground Apple Source Book - £16.99 – agreed to buy a copy of this book for the ‘library’ Bark chippings for the orchard – Veolia were contacted about buying green waste from green bin collection – they don’t sell it but suggested we contact Green Estate (community enterprise). Pauline emailed them and phoned them several times but has had no response – (I may be able to help here, as they are linked to my pay masters, the Sheffield Wildlife Trust. Chair). We had a discussion about whether bark chippings are the best solution for the orchard – pros and cons. Pros: · makes the space easier to use and suppresses all the perennial weeds Cons: – · doesn’t look as attractive as grass and wild flowers. Agreed it may be better to get one more load of chippings and then let it revert to grass / flowers, “when the bad weeds have gone”. Plants - Pauline had some foxgloves to plant out on site and Alison offered some sweet woodruff for spring. Tools – 5 more forks needed – though not from BTCV as these have proved to be shonky! (Discuss this word!) B & Q a possible option! AGM – suggested date – Friday 7 March 2008 (this was obviously changed, or you would be sitting on your own in a darkened institute, twiddling your thumbs!) (Let the allotment sleep, in the deep mid-winter, Etc) January Discussion re future of the site - Basically now the allotment gates are locked most of the time, it’s not a Community garden and it’s not being used as much as it was. (See AOB later in the evening) Bid for funding from O2 was turned down (Did we get a response to this decision?) The application to the Gleadless Valley Community Chest had not been approved, though more information was asked for. Black “weed block” liner for raspberry beds – This was to be bought before next work morning and would be put down where we have cleared in January. Paget’s looked like the best value. Tools - New forks still needed. We decided to see what money was left over after paying the rent. Book purchased! - Common Ground Apple Source book. Now bought and with the other books at Rachel’s house (aka ‘the library’). Bark chippings – Veolia contacted who in turn put us on to Green Estate (a Community Enterprise). They didn’t do bark chippings but did do compost at £15 a bag (how big is a bag?) or £35 per trailer. It was suggested that tree surgeons might be a better bet. Insurance - We decided to move the insurance from BTCV to Towergate, the latter being a lot cheaper, with adequate cover. The advantages of being part of BTCV are not worth the extra money at this time. Towergate’s £99 includes public liability for volunteers and members of the public, but does not cover tools. Agreed not to bother about insuring tools at the moment. Work morning and more raspberry bed maintenance. It was decided to purchase edging boards, stobs and nails for the beds, before the end of March. Arnold Lavers chosen for their convenience. Nearly £200 worth of timber now slumbering in Pauline & Pete’s ace cellar awaiting liberation and their final resting place (the raspberry beds!). Many thanks to everyone who’ve turned out over the years, You know who you are!
CARFIELD FARM COMMUNITY GARDEN
The Friends of Heeley & Meersbrook Allotments
Annual General Meeting & Social
Chairperson’s Report
May
June, “Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink!”
Funding
July
November
December month of rest
February
March