Seeds for Change

seed listSlowly but pretty damn surely, the days are lengthening and after months of darkness, the light is creeping in.  Winter might not be over, but there’s some light at the end of the tunnel and things that were for a time dry and brittle are regaining some semblance of their former suppleness.

At the very least now we can start to dream of the spring to come, which is exactly what we are doing, because we are planning what we are going to plant.  This Saturday (and continuously over Facebook) we gathered together all of the seeds we saved last year which have been drying out over the winter and we made a wish list of the seeds we would like for next year.  Not only that but we made a map of the site to help us build a shared point of communication as to what has been planted when and where and what we are to plant so that we can work more effectively as a team and communicate our plans.

If you would like to contribute, come dream with us and let us know what you would like to see growing on the allotment, add something to the list by commenting on our Facebook post or email mosssidecomallotment@gmail.com with your suggestions.

Moss Side Community Allotment open day – 21st September

Congratulations to everyone who sowed, weeded, dug, baked, cooked, tidied, planned and put up tents for the Open Day at Moss Side Community Allotment on September 21st. We saw dozens of people pass through during the day, from the surrounding streets to as far away as Longsight and Heaton Moor, in the shape of groups coming to see what’s happening here and get advice and inspiration.

Here are just a few pictures of the day, and the allotments people came to see:

“Community Hub” will happen, following successful grant application

From Phil Dodd, who got the news this morning –

GREAT NEWS DIGGERS. Our bid to the “AWARDS FOR ALL” BIG LOTTERY FUND for our COMMUNITY HUB has been APPROVED. This is an exciting project that we will be building ourselves. A community area with kitchen tables and chairs. A place for our community to learn how to grow and cook our produce. A learning and community space. We will also instal a toilet and washing facilities. Does not get better than this.

Open Day!

Tomorrow, Saturday 15th September, is Moss Side Community Allotment’s grand open day. There will be members of the allotment team there to answer questions and show you the amazing strides we’ve made in less than a year. There’ll be refreshments and you’ll be able to sample some of the local, organic produce we’ve grown on the site this summer.
You’ll also be able to find out about future plans, including the chickens which will be coming to live on the allotment in a couple of weeks’ time, the ponds which we’ll be building to attract frogs and newts to keep allotment pests down, the wildflower gardens planned to help attract bees and other beneficial insects, and a proposed herb garden.
Moss Side Community Allotment is about creating a welcoming environment where local residents can work together to get to know one another, reduce our carbon footprint and other environmental impacts, produce cheap, nutritious fresh fruit and vegetables for us and our families, get exercise and fresh air, and generally have fun!
BBC Radio Manchester will be broadcasting live from the open day at 11.45 if you can’t make it down.
The Open Day runs from 10am, and more information on this and other allotment open days around Manchester can be found here.

Moss Side Community Allotment mentioned in The Guardian

Moss Side Community Allotment, along with Cranswick Square Residents Group‘s achievements just over the road, warranted a mention in The Guardian’s regular ‘Let’s Move To…’ column, focusing on Moss Side:

“For fresh, local organic veg, Moss Side Community Allotment is the place to be – an active group of residents who have cleared up several derelict allotments and now have chickens, vegetables, a mini-orchard, fruit bushes and plans for beehives”.

The Full article is here.