Our lovely new shed now has a name – Shed Quarters. After several years of a tarpaulin ‘dome’ to shelter under whilst weighing our weekly crop shares, we progressed to a very dilapidated lean-to shed which required renovation and expansion to create our Palace. This has provided a not-entirely-weatherproof space for our veg, refills, local produce and SUMA goods for the past 6 or 7 years.
Our new space provides a considerable up-grade. After 10 years we have somewhere comfortable for people to meet, talk, make and create. With help from the Lottery, Shed Quarters provides a base for our events, workshops and field sales. We are currently kitting it out with donated shelving and furniture. The official opening with fanfare (literally) and our first workshop (Lantern Making) took place at our Open Day, 8th October.
For several years, until the pandemic, we had been developing a programme of social events and workshops for our members, their friends and local community groups – spoon carving, Growers Question Time, Family Games Night, Compost Matters… you get the idea. Though covid brought a halt, our events had become ‘part of what we do’ and we decided not only to ‘pick up where we had left off’ but also to see if we could expand our reach and our programme. Here we are back in action and in our very own venue.
In June, before Shed Quarters arrived, we squeezed Kath Hodgson with her printing press into The Palace where members and visitors produced some great Nature Prints. The Lantern Workshop will ensure we are ready for Halloween or Bonfire Night, whilst our annual Apple Pressing produced gallons (or should that be litres) of Juice. In 2021, 75 litres were squished this year (2022) a whopping 975 kg of apples produced between 270 and 300 litres of juice! An impressive production line involving many volunteers.
Our partnership with Northumbrian Pantry led to a trial Chutney Workshop – this one on their premises using some of our crops. One happy participant reported “Just back from the Chutney Workshop which was excellent! Alice and David were super hosts, the workshop was informal but instructive and the lunch was delicious.”
Next up in November we have our Kale ee – part of our 10th birthday celebrations and in December the ever popular Wreath Making Session. Look out for details on the website and social media or sign up for our quarterly NewsLetter Veg Matters.
There are lots of ideas for Shed Quarters in the pipeline and we are keen to know what you, your community group, allotment society, would be interested in – photography, evening bird chorus, propagating, hedge laying, ??? email us your ideas – admin@golocalfood.org.uk
And many thanks to The Lottery, Awards for All programme.
