There I were beavering away in the sunshine, kids hunting for big lush ripe strawbs, me trying to succeed against nature at its best...namely bloomin' slugs and pesky pigeons! - my poor pea's are simply no more than skeletal ladders - when our site manager approached and kindly asked if he could enter my plot into the Stevenage Gardens and Allotments Association (hereby SG&AA) Best Kept Allotment Competition.
Pleased but surprised, I was disappointed to learn that he couldn't enter it in for the Novice section (!) Apparently, if I'd got the plot three months later (Oct) it would be ok.
During July, August & September of last year there was nothing that could be sow'd or reaped on Plot 15. Oh, unless you count the towering weeds and eight-foot parsnip foliage. So I do not understand why, when this is my first year i.e. the first year Plot 15 is due to produce edibles that were sow'd/planted by me, nurtured by me and soon to be picked by me!, I will not be classed as a Novice.
I appreciate there have to be guidelines...but honestly, the site agents know when Plot's are taken on, wouldn't it be possible to judge Novice's as within the first Growing/Harvesting Season?
I have pleaded my case by email (inc. photo's!) to the SG&AA Secretary for discussion in the next Committee meeting (which I believe to be tomorrow) so I will just have to keep me fingers crossed and see what transpires.
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