Tweet
Sorry guys, just gotta have a bit of a rant! Our council have a yearly allotment judging for their best allotment competition, which is usually scheduled for last week and the week before, so 3 weeks ago the allotment site had a tidy up day where lots of folks set to tidying up and lots of folks (us included) made sure their plots were immaculate ready for the judging. All well and good so far.....
.... but Mr D just came in from the plot (I'm off sick n couchbound with a bad back so cant go to the plot at the moment) where he set to harvesting the garlic and some of the overwintering onions, only to be interrupted by the judging committee, who were at the site to do the judging, last in the borough to be judged again! (we were the last ones to be judged last year, same again this year, even tho we were told we would be earlier this year!)
The judges walked onto our first plot, ignoring Lee, decided that they didnt like the fact that the side of the plot (which borders onto the fence and hedge) wasnt easily accessible, walked back off again, and down the next path, stopping where 2 of the broad bean plants were leaning over the path and turned around, went down the next path and looked in dsgust at the raspberry fedge (30' of raspberry canes in an edible hedge between the 2 plots) at the far end and didnt even bother looking at half of the stuff growing in our first plot!
They then looked at our neighbouring plot, plot 2, refusing to brush past the jerusalem fartichokes to reach the back and thus ignoring a quarter of that plot too!
Lee was absolutely livid! He said they had a toffee nosed attitude and that because our crops were doing so well that they were overhanging the paths that they were not happy as it made the plot look 'untidy' to them! It seemed to Lee that the fact that our plot is exremely productive with crops (and thus doesnt have as many flowers as some of the other plots on the allotment) counted against us, as did the fact that being last for judging meant that our garlic and some of our onions (that only 2 weeks ago were looking fab) have now died back ready for harvesting, meaning that the plot doesnt look as full as it would have 2 weeks ago!
Now I'm sure none here will argue with me when I state that the reason we GYO is for the taste of organic homegrown ultra fresh fruit and veg, plus the fun and the pride that comes from growing it all for ourselves, and the exercise, and even the self sufficient aspect and money saving, but I would be remiss if I didnt say that it would be nice if it was something that was also recognised by others in as much as we'd love to receive a commendation at the yearly awards! (I'm not even interested in winning the best allotment comp, or even in getting a highly commended certificate, a humble commendation would do for us both!)
We cant get hold of a copy of the judging criteria to see what they are looking for, but if its a tidy plot with organised beds, crops that are doing exceptionally well, all beds utilised and labelled, evidence of recycling and environmental awareness, then we should be receiving reasonable marks, not having some toffe nosed git turn their nose up at our plot!
Grrrr, rant over! Sorry!
.... but Mr D just came in from the plot (I'm off sick n couchbound with a bad back so cant go to the plot at the moment) where he set to harvesting the garlic and some of the overwintering onions, only to be interrupted by the judging committee, who were at the site to do the judging, last in the borough to be judged again! (we were the last ones to be judged last year, same again this year, even tho we were told we would be earlier this year!)
The judges walked onto our first plot, ignoring Lee, decided that they didnt like the fact that the side of the plot (which borders onto the fence and hedge) wasnt easily accessible, walked back off again, and down the next path, stopping where 2 of the broad bean plants were leaning over the path and turned around, went down the next path and looked in dsgust at the raspberry fedge (30' of raspberry canes in an edible hedge between the 2 plots) at the far end and didnt even bother looking at half of the stuff growing in our first plot!
They then looked at our neighbouring plot, plot 2, refusing to brush past the jerusalem fartichokes to reach the back and thus ignoring a quarter of that plot too!
Lee was absolutely livid! He said they had a toffee nosed attitude and that because our crops were doing so well that they were overhanging the paths that they were not happy as it made the plot look 'untidy' to them! It seemed to Lee that the fact that our plot is exremely productive with crops (and thus doesnt have as many flowers as some of the other plots on the allotment) counted against us, as did the fact that being last for judging meant that our garlic and some of our onions (that only 2 weeks ago were looking fab) have now died back ready for harvesting, meaning that the plot doesnt look as full as it would have 2 weeks ago!
Now I'm sure none here will argue with me when I state that the reason we GYO is for the taste of organic homegrown ultra fresh fruit and veg, plus the fun and the pride that comes from growing it all for ourselves, and the exercise, and even the self sufficient aspect and money saving, but I would be remiss if I didnt say that it would be nice if it was something that was also recognised by others in as much as we'd love to receive a commendation at the yearly awards! (I'm not even interested in winning the best allotment comp, or even in getting a highly commended certificate, a humble commendation would do for us both!)
We cant get hold of a copy of the judging criteria to see what they are looking for, but if its a tidy plot with organised beds, crops that are doing exceptionally well, all beds utilised and labelled, evidence of recycling and environmental awareness, then we should be receiving reasonable marks, not having some toffe nosed git turn their nose up at our plot!
Grrrr, rant over! Sorry!
..jacob
Comment