Cobh Community Allotments News Update – 7th October 2012

Cobh Community Allotments have now been up and running for 8 months and despite the weather, everybody has had a great harvest. If you were at the allotment site on Saturday (and there were a good few of you, it’s great to see all the activity) then you may have been wondering what the tractor was doing there.

Well it’s part of the phase where we install a communal polytunnel in the top field, we were ploughing an area in preparation for the tunnel. This means that next year, any allotment holder who wishes to avail of it, will be able to use a section of the tunnel for growing indoor plants such as tomatoes, chilli’s, cucumbers, peppers, etc. We have already purchased and partly assembled the frame for the tunnel. It is 60ft long and 16 ft wide. This is an exciting stage of the community allotments. If you would like to help with the project, please contact a committee member.

Plans are also now under way for a wild bird attraction area in the top field as part of the Biodiversity aspect of the allotments. We are currently discussing it with Birdwatch Cork as to the best way to do this. Again if you would like to get involved in this or any other part of the project, then please contact any committee member (Arjen, Robin, Roger, Jason or Sylvia) or talk to Aislinn at the Family Resource Centre.

This is the time of year when allotments tend to be put on the back burner, however there are lots of things that can done in preparation for next year. Remember the more you do in the next few months then the less you will have to do in a hurry when Spring arrives. If you need any advise on this, then please ask.

As you may have seen, there are two rolls of hay on the site at the moment, this is important for protecting plants from frost in the winter months. If you would like to purchase a roll then please talk to Arjen or Robin. The rolls are €25 each, delivered. We are also currently arranging for a few loads of compost to be delivered to the site, if you would like to order some of this then please contact one of the committee.

Don’t forget, October is the month for tree planting, so if you have an allotment and would like to plant a fruit tree in the communal orchard (top field), it’s time to decide what type of fruit you would like to see grow. Markers have been placed for the correct spacing of the trees. Also please make sure they are well staked to avoid falling over or crooked growing.

There are a few full and half allotments available for the coming growing year. Allotments are €200 per year, or €100 for a half. There is also an easy payment scheme now in place.  For any further details please contact Aislinn at Cobh Family Resource Centre on Mobile: 086 0415168

On Friday 19th October a social night is to be held in Cobh Pirates club house, Newtown. Beginning at 8pm, the night will start with a talk by an Agricultural Scientist on soil types and preparation for the coming growing season, followed at 9pm by a Table Quiz with lots of great prizes. (€5 per person, max 6 per table). All are welcome, so come along and enjoy.