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We won't waste water, will we?

18/4/2015

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This is a dry spring (so you've noticed?). We've got used to wet weather over the past couple of years, but it's not normal for this part of the UK and we often have long spells of dry weather.

It's tempting to reach for the hose. But about 95% of water hosed onto our allotments is totally wasted and, so far from not even doing any good, does actual harm.

This wouldn't matter if water was free. The fact that we don't pay for it by the gallon doesn't mean it doesn't cost us. THE BILL FOR THE WATER FOR THE ALLOTMENTS IS MORE THAN ALL THE MONEY WE PAY IN RENT. You noticed your rent went up this year. Want to know why? Wasted water is a huge part of the answer.
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No 'lovely weather for ducks' jokes this spring! It's back to normal with dry sunny weather for Kent.
So how is 95% of the water wasted? Because it never reaches the roots. Spraying water from a hose wets only the very surface, and in dry weather that just evaporates straight off. You might as well pour it down the drain for all the good it does.

But surely it can't do any harm? Wetting the surface of the soil creates a caked 'pan'. Seedlings find it hard to push through this and you will see poor germination. Wetting the surface draws the roots of established plants up to the top, rather than encouraging them to go deep and seek the water still in the lower levels of soil. Shallow roots don't anchor the plant well, they are less efficient at extracting valuable minerals (which you have washed out of the top of the soil) and they are vulnrable to drying out of you relax the watering regime for a moment. Too much water on the soil damages the structure, making it harder to cultivate and less hospitable to roots.

If we carry on wasting water the way we are, the council will inevitably be forced to bring in measures to restrict its use. This will affect everyone, but those who are currently using far more water than they need will of course feel it most.
Experienced gardeners like Tony Fagg, our longtime Show Secretary, do hardly any watering - only newly planted cabbages and suchlike. They know that the plants will root deep to find the water down there. If we get a real drought, put the water on in cans - without a sprinkler!!! Two cans full poured straight on the roots of a row of plants will deliver real water where it is needed, soaking in to the lower levels and lasting the plants for ages. To check this for yourself, try filling a 7 litre can from your hose. See how long it takes? See how little water your hose is actually delivering when you spray it around? Hmmmmmm.

For clever tips on making the most of water and saving yourself a lot of unnecessary work, go to our advice page USING WATER WISELY
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Dangerous greenhouses

10/2/2014

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DANGEROUS GREENHOUSES. If you have a glass greenhouse and haven't been to your allotment to check it out since the bad weather, please do pay a visit and make sure it is safe and that there is no broken glass near paths or lying in the grass. The latter is especially important as in this mild weather the grass is still growing and shards lying in the grass will soon become a hidden menace.

Glass from greenhouses cannot be put in your green bin. It should be taken to the household recycling site where it goes in the "soil and hardcore" bin.
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STORM DAMAGE

4/1/2014

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CHECK YOUR PLOT FOR STORM DAMAGE WITHOUT DELAY

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Was this your shed? On William Road site.

If you haven't already bitten the bullet and checked your plot for storm damage, then gird up your loins and go down this weekend. Although other areas of Kent have had it a lot worse, there has been damage to sheds, greenhouses and polytunnels. You may not be able to repair anything just yet, but you can move tools etc to safety.

Please send  reports of damaged fences, trees down or any other damage to the council infrastructure to Eileen Law at eileen.law@ashford.gov.uk and follow them up with a phonecall to 01233 330476 in office hours - an email may get overlooked.

If you haven't already let us know your email address, and are happy to have it held on the Committee's database (it won't go anywhere else, we assure you!) then please do send it to ashfordallotments@yahoo.co.uk without delay. Having your address on the database will mean you can be notified of anything which you need to know promptly, without relying on the council, who have made allotments their lowest priority.

We have been notified of two damaged sheds on William Road site, and do not have contact details for the owners. Dave and Cheryl's shed has lost its roof - if you know them please tell them - and a shed made of twin-wall brown polycarbonate, of the kind sold inexpensively by DIY stores, has so completely dismantled itself and blown away that we are not sure even where it came from - possibly John's plot? - on the larger side of William Road site.

Flooding on William Road site was so bad on Christmas Eve that council officials issued sandbags to protect 8 houses on William Road itself which were at risk. If you are affected by this problem it is being dealt with by Helen Wilson at helen.wilson@ashford.gov.uk , or phone in on 01233 330476. The ward councillor for the area is Jeremy Adby at jeremy.adby@btinternet.com, and he is aware of the problem. By all means contact him, as he should know how many people are affected.
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