On 20 Jul, 13:52, Anne Welsh Jackson wrote:
It was my understanding, Helene, that allotment holders weren't
allowed to sell their produce for profit.
Does your allotment association,or the Council, (or whoever)
allow this?

Absolutely not. We're not allowed to sell anything because our
individual plots haven't been tested and are not certified organic, or
certified 'free of disease/chemicals' etc. But we have a shop, and
surplus are left in a box. We swap. We're great swappers at our lotty
- we've done a seed swap recently, which also allowed us to swap
plants, and some plants had fruits on them ... I still don't really
understand it, but there you go. The law of the land )

On Jul 20, 7:25 pm, wrote:
On 20 Jul, 13:28, Judith in France
wrote:

I'm afraid I am not too organic, mea culpa although I am trying hard
to be. I wouldn't buy meat, eggs or poultry unless I know where they
come from and they have to be free range. I have been messing around
with soap sprays instead of chemicals but for the potatoes we have to
use a spray as the Colorado beetle is endemic here and without
spraying, twice, we would not get a crop. I hate the spray as it says
do not eat for x days, even I have worked out that is bad - what's an
alternative?

Being organic is not spraying weely neely with chemicals on anything
that's moving. Never. You've said on the allotment thread that you've
sprayed quote 'some awful clinging stuff climbing up some bushes, I
put a tray behind it to protect the foliage and let it have all of one
barrel, hopefully it will die off soon'.

The alternative would be to stop spraying - find out what the
'clinging stuff' is, find out what 'some bushes' is, and then you'll
will understand why some creatures are climbing and eating your crops
and remedy in an organic responsible way. What did the 'awful clinging
stuff' looked like?

As for the colorado beetle - unless you're feeding thousands and
exporting tons of food to europe and the world, you shouldn't use
anything to kill it in your garden. You simply should purchase your
spuds which have been growing organically in some fields which doesn't
use chemicals and leave the spraying of the colorado beetle to large
farmers who understand how to control it, in a safe way. Having said
that, regulations are not entirely maintained everywhere - but I'd
like to think we're getting there. I'm not also entirely against
chemicals - I can't when it comes to our livelihoods. It would be
silly to think we can spray 500 acres with washing up liquid.

But when it comes to our allotments, our gardens, I really don't see
it to be sensible at all.

I agree with much what you say, I have yet to find out who grows
potatoes organically here, the Colorado is a real threat, not just in
this area, Emerys says it is the same in Northern France.

Judith

On 20 Jul, 19:31, Judith in France
wrote:
I agree with much what you say, I have yet to find out who grows
potatoes organically here, the Colorado is a real threat, not just in
this area, Emerys says it is the same in Northern France.

Aarghh... these bugs have developed new defences! It's heart breaking
to see one's plants decimated - but together perhaps we can make a
difference. The link below will give you the choice of hundreds of
growers 'bio' around where you live. You will just have to find which
shops sell them )

http://annuaire.agencebio.org/pageLi...e,370.rwi.html

On Jul 20, 7:36 pm, wrote:
On 20 Jul, 19:31, Judith in France
wrote:

I agree with much what you say, I have yet to find out who grows
potatoes organically here, the Colorado is a real threat, not just in
this area, Emerys says it is the same in Northern France.

Aarghh... these bugs have developed new defences! It's heart breaking
to see one's plants decimated - but together perhaps we can make a
difference. The link below will give you the choice of hundreds of
growers 'bio' around where you live. You will just have to find which
shops sell them )

http://annuaire.agencebio.org/pageLi...,specialite,37...

Thank you, I will take a look.

Judith

wrote:
On 20 Jul, 13:52, Anne Welsh Jackson wrote:
It was my understanding, Helene, that allotment holders weren't
allowed to sell their produce for profit.
Does your allotment association,or the Council, (or whoever)
allow this?

Absolutely not. We're not allowed to sell anything because our
individual plots haven't been tested and are not certified organic, or
certified 'free of disease/chemicals' etc. But we have a shop, and
surplus are left in a box. We swap. We're great swappers at our lotty
- we've done a seed swap recently, which also allowed us to swap
plants, and some plants had fruits on them ... I still don't really
understand it, but there you go. The law of the land )

In truth, I wouldn't charge for anything. As you say, swapping sounds like a
nice idea.
--
Pete C
London UK

On 20/7/08 19:31, in article
, "Judith in
France" wrote:

On Jul 20, 7:25 pm, wrote:
On 20 Jul, 13:28, Judith in France
wrote:

I'm afraid I am not too organic, mea culpa although I am trying hard
to be. I wouldn't buy meat, eggs or poultry unless I know where they
come from and they have to be free range. I have been messing around
with soap sprays instead of chemicals but for the potatoes we have to
use a spray as the Colorado beetle is endemic here and without
spraying, twice, we would not get a crop. I hate the spray as it says
do not eat for x days, even I have worked out that is bad - what's an
alternative?

Being organic is not spraying weely neely with chemicals on anything
that's moving. Never. You've said on the allotment thread that you've
sprayed quote 'some awful clinging stuff climbing up some bushes, I
put a tray behind it to protect the foliage and let it have all of one
barrel, hopefully it will die off soon'.

The alternative would be to stop spraying - find out what the
'clinging stuff' is, find out what 'some bushes' is, and then you'll
will understand why some creatures are climbing and eating your crops
and remedy in an organic responsible way. What did the 'awful clinging
stuff' looked like?

As for the colorado beetle - unless you're feeding thousands and
exporting tons of food to europe and the world, you shouldn't use
anything to kill it in your garden. You simply should purchase your
spuds which have been growing organically in some fields which doesn't
use chemicals and leave the spraying of the colorado beetle to large
farmers who understand how to control it, in a safe way. Having said
that, regulations are not entirely maintained everywhere - but I'd
like to think we're getting there. I'm not also entirely against
chemicals - I can't when it comes to our livelihoods. It would be
silly to think we can spray 500 acres with washing up liquid.

But when it comes to our allotments, our gardens, I really don't see
it to be sensible at all.

I agree with much what you say, I have yet to find out who grows
potatoes organically here, the Colorado is a real threat, not just in
this area, Emerys says it is the same in Northern France.

Judith

As you may imagine, it's greatly feared in Jersey which is very close to
Northern France!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On 20/7/08 21:02, in article , "Pete C"
wrote:

wrote:
On 20 Jul, 13:52, Anne Welsh Jackson wrote:
It was my understanding, Helene, that allotment holders weren't
allowed to sell their produce for profit.
Does your allotment association,or the Council, (or whoever)
allow this?

Absolutely not. We're not allowed to sell anything because our
individual plots haven't been tested and are not certified organic, or
certified 'free of disease/chemicals' etc. But we have a shop, and
surplus are left in a box. We swap. We're great swappers at our lotty
- we've done a seed swap recently, which also allowed us to swap
plants, and some plants had fruits on them ... I still don't really
understand it, but there you go. The law of the land )

In truth, I wouldn't charge for anything. As you say, swapping sounds like a
nice idea.

I think that an allotmenteer would find it hard to declare him or herself
organic simply because of what 'neighbours' might be using on their
allotments. You can certainly choose not to use forbidden or undesirable
chemicals on your plot and IMO, most sensible people would anyway. But
different councils seem to have different rules so you might be able to sell
your produce or you might not. But if you gave it to your
neighbours/friends in exchange for e.g. a washed car or an hour's baby
sitting or fixing a leaking tap, I would think everyone could be onto a good
thing and be happy with it, too.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On Jul 20, 10:48 pm, Sacha wrote:
On 20/7/08 19:31, in article
, "Judith in



France" wrote:
On Jul 20, 7:25 pm, wrote:
On 20 Jul, 13:28, Judith in France
wrote:

I'm afraid I am not too organic, mea culpa although I am trying hard
to be. I wouldn't buy meat, eggs or poultry unless I know where they
come from and they have to be free range. I have been messing around
with soap sprays instead of chemicals but for the potatoes we have to
use a spray as the Colorado beetle is endemic here and without
spraying, twice, we would not get a crop. I hate the spray as it says
do not eat for x days, even I have worked out that is bad - what's an
alternative?

Being organic is not spraying weely neely with chemicals on anything
that's moving. Never. You've said on the allotment thread that you've
sprayed quote 'some awful clinging stuff climbing up some bushes, I
put a tray behind it to protect the foliage and let it have all of one
barrel, hopefully it will die off soon'.

The alternative would be to stop spraying - find out what the
'clinging stuff' is, find out what 'some bushes' is, and then you'll
will understand why some creatures are climbing and eating your crops
and remedy in an organic responsible way. What did the 'awful clinging
stuff' looked like?

As for the colorado beetle - unless you're feeding thousands and
exporting tons of food to europe and the world, you shouldn't use
anything to kill it in your garden. You simply should purchase your
spuds which have been growing organically in some fields which doesn't
use chemicals and leave the spraying of the colorado beetle to large
farmers who understand how to control it, in a safe way. Having said
that, regulations are not entirely maintained everywhere - but I'd
like to think we're getting there. I'm not also entirely against
chemicals - I can't when it comes to our livelihoods. It would be
silly to think we can spray 500 acres with washing up liquid.

But when it comes to our allotments, our gardens, I really don't see
it to be sensible at all.

I agree with much what you say, I have yet to find out who grows
potatoes organically here, the Colorado is a real threat, not just in
this area, Emerys says it is the same in Northern France.

Judith

As you may imagine, it's greatly feared in Jersey which is very close to
Northern France!
--
Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

There is nothing like digging up potatoes, rubbing off the skins and
eating them within half an hour from soil to stomach. I wish I could
find an organic way to sort this out, I don't want to eat poison. I
took a look at Helene's links, there is only one in the Puy de Dome, I
will telephone them to ask how they keep them disease free.

Judith

On 20/7/08 23:01, in article
, "Judith
in France" wrote:

On Jul 20, 10:48 pm, Sacha wrote:
On 20/7/08 19:31, in article
, "Judith in



France" wrote:
On Jul 20, 7:25 pm, wrote:
On 20 Jul, 13:28, Judith in France
wrote:

I'm afraid I am not too organic, mea culpa although I am trying hard
to be. I wouldn't buy meat, eggs or poultry unless I know where they
come from and they have to be free range. I have been messing around
with soap sprays instead of chemicals but for the potatoes we have to
use a spray as the Colorado beetle is endemic here and without
spraying, twice, we would not get a crop. I hate the spray as it says
do not eat for x days, even I have worked out that is bad - what's an
alternative?

Being organic is not spraying weely neely with chemicals on anything
that's moving. Never. You've said on the allotment thread that you've
sprayed quote 'some awful clinging stuff climbing up some bushes, I
put a tray behind it to protect the foliage and let it have all of one
barrel, hopefully it will die off soon'.

The alternative would be to stop spraying - find out what the
'clinging stuff' is, find out what 'some bushes' is, and then you'll
will understand why some creatures are climbing and eating your crops
and remedy in an organic responsible way. What did the 'awful clinging
stuff' looked like?

As for the colorado beetle - unless you're feeding thousands and
exporting tons of food to europe and the world, you shouldn't use
anything to kill it in your garden. You simply should purchase your
spuds which have been growing organically in some fields which doesn't
use chemicals and leave the spraying of the colorado beetle to large
farmers who understand how to control it, in a safe way. Having said
that, regulations are not entirely maintained everywhere - but I'd
like to think we're getting there. I'm not also entirely against
chemicals - I can't when it comes to our livelihoods. It would be
silly to think we can spray 500 acres with washing up liquid.

But when it comes to our allotments, our gardens, I really don't see
it to be sensible at all.

I agree with much what you say, I have yet to find out who grows
potatoes organically here, the Colorado is a real threat, not just in
this area, Emerys says it is the same in Northern France.

Judith

As you may imagine, it's greatly feared in Jersey which is very close to
Northern France!
--
Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

There is nothing like digging up potatoes, rubbing off the skins and
eating them within half an hour from soil to stomach. I wish I could
find an organic way to sort this out, I don't want to eat poison. I
took a look at Helene's links, there is only one in the Puy de Dome, I
will telephone them to ask how they keep them disease free.

Judith

AIUI, being organic doesn't mean NO bug killers, it means some things are
allowed and some aren't. But it's possible they use companion planting,
perhaps or a permitted plant based deterrent? If you manage to find out, it
would be very interesting to know what it is.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On Jul 20, 11:05 pm, Sacha wrote:
On 20/7/08 23:01, in article
, "Judith



in France" wrote:
On Jul 20, 10:48 pm, Sacha wrote:
On 20/7/08 19:31, in article
, "Judith in

France" wrote:
On Jul 20, 7:25 pm, wrote:
On 20 Jul, 13:28, Judith in France
wrote:

I'm afraid I am not too organic, mea culpa although I am trying hard
to be. I wouldn't buy meat, eggs or poultry unless I know where they
come from and they have to be free range. I have been messing around
with soap sprays instead of chemicals but for the potatoes we have to
use a spray as the Colorado beetle is endemic here and without
spraying, twice, we would not get a crop. I hate the spray as it says
do not eat for x days, even I have worked out that is bad - what's an
alternative?

Being organic is not spraying weely neely with chemicals on anything
that's moving. Never. You've said on the allotment thread that you've
sprayed quote 'some awful clinging stuff climbing up some bushes, I
put a tray behind it to protect the foliage and let it have all of one
barrel, hopefully it will die off soon'.

The alternative would be to stop spraying - find out what the
'clinging stuff' is, find out what 'some bushes' is, and then you'll
will understand why some creatures are climbing and eating your crops
and remedy in an organic responsible way. What did the 'awful clinging
stuff' looked like?

As for the colorado beetle - unless you're feeding thousands and
exporting tons of food to europe and the world, you shouldn't use
anything to kill it in your garden. You simply should purchase your
spuds which have been growing organically in some fields which doesn't
use chemicals and leave the spraying of the colorado beetle to large
farmers who understand how to control it, in a safe way. Having said
that, regulations are not entirely maintained everywhere - but I'd
like to think we're getting there. I'm not also entirely against
chemicals - I can't when it comes to our livelihoods. It would be
silly to think we can spray 500 acres with washing up liquid.

But when it comes to our allotments, our gardens, I really don't see
it to be sensible at all.

I agree with much what you say, I have yet to find out who grows
potatoes organically here, the Colorado is a real threat, not just in
this area, Emerys says it is the same in Northern France.

Judith

As you may imagine, it's greatly feared in Jersey which is very close to
Northern France!
--
Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

There is nothing like digging up potatoes, rubbing off the skins and
eating them within half an hour from soil to stomach. I wish I could
find an organic way to sort this out, I don't want to eat poison. I
took a look at Helene's links, there is only one in the Puy de Dome, I
will telephone them to ask how they keep them disease free.

Judith

AIUI, being organic doesn't mean NO bug killers, it means some things are
allowed and some aren't. But it's possible they use companion planting,
perhaps or a permitted plant based deterrent? If you manage to find out, it
would be very interesting to know what it is.

--
Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

When I find out I will post on it.

Judith

Mmmm.........of the 5 sites I've applied for, 3 have closed waiting lists,
one is shut on health and safety grounds (?), and the fifth is a deligated
site. Chairperson is sending me an application form, and I will be 5th on
the waiting list. Not holding my breath!
--
Pete C
London UK

On Jul 21, 5:18 pm, "Pete C" wrote:
Mmmm.........of the 5 sites I've applied for, 3 have closed waiting lists,
one is shut on health and safety grounds (?), and the fifth is a deligated
site. Chairperson is sending me an application form, and I will be 5th on
the waiting list. Not holding my breath!
--
Pete C
London UK

5th is not bad Pete, it could only be a few months as people move on,
or die or just give up. At the University there was a waiting list
for lotties, there was quite a good turnover as students moved onh
every 3 to 6 years or so.

Judith

Pete C wrote:
Mmmm.........of the 5 sites I've applied for, 3 have closed waiting
lists, one is shut on health and safety grounds (?), and the fifth is
a deligated site. Chairperson is sending me an application form, and
I will be 5th on the waiting list. Not holding my breath!

Council staff screwed up! 3 sites with short lists, not closed. Applications
in the post
--
Pete C
London UK

On Jul 22, 8:59 pm, "Pete C" wrote:
Pete C wrote:
Mmmm.........of the 5 sites I've applied for, 3 have closed waiting
lists, one is shut on health and safety grounds (?), and the fifth is
a deligated site. Chairperson is sending me an application form, and
I will be 5th on the waiting list. Not holding my breath!

Council staff screwed up! 3 sites with short lists, not closed. Applications
in the post
--
Pete C
London UK

Brilliant Pete, I look forward to hearing about your winter veggies.

Judith

"Pete C" wrote in message
...
Pete C wrote:
Mmmm.........of the 5 sites I've applied for, 3 have closed waiting
lists, one is shut on health and safety grounds (?), and the fifth is
a deligated site. Chairperson is sending me an application form, and
I will be 5th on the waiting list. Not holding my breath!

Council staff screwed up! 3 sites with short lists, not closed.
Applications in the post
--
Pete C
London UK

Hope you don't have to wait too long Pete, in the meantime you
could have a ride up the M1 a few miles and practice on mine. )

Wally