I
think we all know what happened next... one minute (it seems) we were
planting trees at a distance, then we were having an email committee
meeting (we hadn't heard of Zoom yet!) - and having to close, for a few
weeks, we thought...
Dig In, looking so well-weeded in late March. But empty, no volunteers!
Karen taking a break from planting potatoes as fast as she could. That may be why she ate all the biscuits...
It
was one of the best years for spring veg in the polytunnel, but no vols
to eat all the veg! So Karen chopped and bagged and made stir-fry mixes for
the local food project in Stapleford.
Karen also got sowing big time! Alex had had a brilliant idea - we could run a Virtual Veg Show for local families. So Karen made up loads of seed packs, sowed seeds and wrote info sheets.
Waiting outside the top entrance of the allotments in early May, with trays of seed packs and plants.
And here's one of the families who came to get seed packs and plants.
We had lots of great entries to the Spring Virtual Veg Show. Here's Karen delivering prizes - at a distance!
As
well as Karen, there was the 'Skeleton Crew' of keyholder volunteers who
came in singly to help keep things under control. Here's lawnmower and
secretary Debbie.
Community Orchard creator and treasurer Alex. Helen, Kath and David were other Skeleton Crew stalwarts.
And Gary from Pulp Friction, in the fruit cage!
By July things were growing well in the polytunnel......and outside. But we were keen to get our volunteers back - safely. And they were keen to come back too!
The
Dig In Covid-19 sub-committee of Karen, Debbie, Kath and David got
advice from Nottingham Growing Network and Social Farms and Gardens. We
wrote a Risk Assessment and planned new ways of working. David made a
super 'Tippy Tap' for hand washing, crafted lovely loo roll holders, and a nifty hanger for sanitiser outside the compost loo.
And Karen ordered a whole lot of sanitiser, gloves, paper towels and trugs! We were ready to open again.
