2021 Annual Report
Just as in 2020, our Annual General Meeting cannot be held as we would normally do. As a compromise, here is the annual report usually presented at the meeting in May.
Welcome to the 2021 ‘Virtual’ AGM of the Inverleith Allotments Association
We have 181 plot holders here on 128 official full plots. Six new plotholders joined the site during 2021, however the waiting list for our site is around 900 where people have added it as one of their choices. The last plotholder arriving had waited well over ten years.
I’d like to note the time and effort everyone on the site committee gave during the year. I look forward to face-to-face meetings again soon.
Sadly Andrew Reid, who was active on the committee as our Treasurer and Trading organiser for many years, passed away, we certainly miss him. Thanks go to Penny Richardson and Stewart Henderson who have agreed take over these roles. We also welcome Anna Caro and Sandy Kinghorn who join us.
Covid has really stopped our usual social events as you’d expect. What it has done is to improve the site dramatically as we’ve all had more time and inclination to be on our plots. So many people have commented on the value of their plot to their mental health during these challenging times.
FEDAGA Report
I chair the monthly Management Meeting which provide a forum for individual sites to discuss the current situation on sites in the city. We continue to hold meetings over ‘Zoom’.
Site representatives discuss such diverse subjects as water on sites, waste bins, trading seeds, potatoes and onions and creating the Newsletter. They also negotiate what the limited funds available for maintenance on allotments in the city will be spent on.
The Allotment Show is again unable to be held this year but will be replaced with a virtual show along the same lines as the National Vegetable Society. Watch out for announcements in the newsletter.
I hope you all enjoy the FEDAGA newsletter which is now sent to all paid-up members. This should help keep all members informed with what’s going on in the city. Please join when you get your rental bill in February. Membership costs £2.50 and £1 of that is passed back to our site.
I also attend the Allotment Strategy Committee with the Council. We haven’t been able to meet very often but the last one included Councillor George Gordon who chairs ‘Edible Edinburgh’, a group focussing on better food in Edinburgh.
The SASA potato scheme has also not been able to take place this year.
I continue as the FEDAGA president and remain focussed on helping our members; the current plotholders. This could be from cheap seeds, advice on having a plot, help with problems, visits and keeping the show as an annual celebration and get-together.
We have 181 plot holders here on 128 official full plots. Six new plotholders joined the site during 2021, however the waiting list for our site is around 900 where people have added it as one of their choices. The last plotholder arriving had waited well over ten years.
I’d like to note the time and effort everyone on the site committee gave during the year. I look forward to face-to-face meetings again soon.
Sadly Andrew Reid, who was active on the committee as our Treasurer and Trading organiser for many years, passed away, we certainly miss him. Thanks go to Penny Richardson and Stewart Henderson who have agreed take over these roles. We also welcome Anna Caro and Sandy Kinghorn who join us.
Covid has really stopped our usual social events as you’d expect. What it has done is to improve the site dramatically as we’ve all had more time and inclination to be on our plots. So many people have commented on the value of their plot to their mental health during these challenging times.
- No Flower Show was able to be held, similarly the ‘Tattie Boiling’ had to be cancelled.
- We also hoped to make the apple pressing an annual event but that went the same way.
- The only events we have managed to arrange have been a few ‘Chipper Sundays’ where our new machine ‘Jaws’ is available to turn tree cuttings into wood chip for paths.
- A DIY water extension is being progressed in the SW corner of the site that we hope can be copied in other parts of the site where water taps are distant. More in future newsletters.
- Some of our paths have become dangerous due to drop offs into the plot below. We want to build a prototype handrail which, when costed, can be installed by the Council to make the site safer. Midmar site has the same problem.
- Our Communal Compost bins continue to be well used. I’m pleased that Sandy is keen to make these as efficient as possible so we can make more compost, faster. Two of the bins should be ready for emptying soon.
- After nine years our rabbits are gone and it is good to see less fencing around the place. It certainly looks a lot better.
- Bulk purchases of compost proved popular and our orders with Kings Seeds and for FEDAGA potatoes, onions and leeks was much greater than usual. We expect a healthy commission back very soon.
- We were pleased to have a third bench donated for our communal area, let’s hope we can gather and use it soon.
FEDAGA Report
I chair the monthly Management Meeting which provide a forum for individual sites to discuss the current situation on sites in the city. We continue to hold meetings over ‘Zoom’.
Site representatives discuss such diverse subjects as water on sites, waste bins, trading seeds, potatoes and onions and creating the Newsletter. They also negotiate what the limited funds available for maintenance on allotments in the city will be spent on.
The Allotment Show is again unable to be held this year but will be replaced with a virtual show along the same lines as the National Vegetable Society. Watch out for announcements in the newsletter.
I hope you all enjoy the FEDAGA newsletter which is now sent to all paid-up members. This should help keep all members informed with what’s going on in the city. Please join when you get your rental bill in February. Membership costs £2.50 and £1 of that is passed back to our site.
I also attend the Allotment Strategy Committee with the Council. We haven’t been able to meet very often but the last one included Councillor George Gordon who chairs ‘Edible Edinburgh’, a group focussing on better food in Edinburgh.
The SASA potato scheme has also not been able to take place this year.
I continue as the FEDAGA president and remain focussed on helping our members; the current plotholders. This could be from cheap seeds, advice on having a plot, help with problems, visits and keeping the show as an annual celebration and get-together.
Stuart McKenzie