WAGS NEWS
January 2007
It is with great sadness that we have to let you know that Bill Stickley died on 27th November.
Bill had been a member of WAGS for more than 30 years, and throughout that time was a very active worker for the Society, having served the offices of Chairman and Assistant Store Manager. He was always keen to help anyone, cheerful and full of good advice. He also had a wicked sense of humour and always kept his fellow-workers in the WAGS store on their toes!
We would like to send our deepest sympathy and all our love to Ivy and Joyce and their family, and our hope that they will be comforted, as we will, by the many wonderful memories we all have of Bill.
Bill will leave a gap in the life of WAGS which will be impossible to fill.
Peter Atkins
President
Chairman's Piece
Although the 2006 Show has long since passed and a number of thankyou’s was said in the last newsletter, I feel it is not too late to say a few more. My piece for the October newsletter was submitted before Show day, hence my late thankyou’s.
Firstly, I would like to say a very sincere thank you to our show secretary, Bernard Novell and his assistant Ginny Walton. They both work extremely hard during the months leading up to the show and without their hard work this very enjoyable event would not take place. Work for the 2007 show has already started, so thank you very much Bernard and Ginny.
Many thanks also to Barbara Caistor for her superb catering, her hard work enabled us to have a most enjoyable lunch. Thank you very much Barbara.
May the 2007 show be as successful as 2006.
Joyce Stickley
Trips & Catering
Trips
We have no organisers, so no trips planned as yet. See below for more information.
Hands up all those who have been on one of the trips in the past year!
Now, we need one or two of you enthusiasts to organise the trips for next year; and beyond hopefully.
It goes without saying that if you want to enjoy more trips then we need willing volunteers to take on the task otherwise there will be no trips.
If you would like more information about organising the trips please contact Iris Novell on 01491 872388 or approach any committee member.
Catering
Once again I am looking for helpers; this time at the WAGS AGM in February. If you feel you can help in any way before, during or after please let me know.
Barbara Caister
Shop Talk
The electricity supply to the store has been upgraded and two thermostat controlled heaters installed. As a result, both the store and the storage area at the back will be much warmer than in the past to the benefit of the members and the staff.
The first Dobies order was sent out in late November. All items ordered, including seeds, will be sent out to individual members.
Weather permitting, the seed potatoes and onion sets will be delivered to the store in late January. If anybody can spare a couple of hours helping to re-pack these, please telephone me on 01491 835995.
Members are reminded that the store will be closed from the 9th December 2006 until the 6th January 2007. During this time, I am hoping to tidy up the store. Again, if anybody can spare a few hours to help, telephone me on the above number.
We will have three varieties of onion sets and two of shallots. The onion sets will be on sale at 30p per ¼ kilogramme and the shallots at £1.10 per kilogramme.
| ONION SETS |
|---|
| Stuttgarter |
| Sturon |
| Piroska | SHALLOTS |
| Golden Gourmet |
| Red Sun |
We will have several varieties of seed potatoes, as follows:-
| FIRST EARLIES | |
|---|---|
| Arran Pilot | £1.80 per 3 Kgs |
| Home Guard | £1.80 per 3 Kgs |
| Epicure | £1.80 per 3 Kgs |
| Foremost | £1.80 per 3 Kgs |
| Pentland Javelin | £1.65 per 3 Kgs |
| Rocket | £1.80 per 3 Kgs | Swift | £1.80 per 3 Kgs |
| SECOND EARLIES | |
| Estima | £1.80 per 3 Kgs |
| Wilja | £1.80 per 3 Kgs | MAIN CROP |
| Cara | £1.80 per 3 Kgs |
| Desiree | £1.65 per 3 Kgs |
| King Edward | £1.65 per 3 Kgs |
| Majestic | £1.80 per 3 Kgs |
| Maris Piper | £1.65 per 3 Kgs |
| Pentland Crown | £1.80 per 3 Kgs | SALAD POTATOES |
| Charlotte | £1.50 per 2 Kgs |
| Jersey Royals | £1.50 per 2 Kgs |
| Pink Fir Apple | £1.60 per 2 Kgs |
All the flower and vegetable seeds will be subject to a 35% discount. All other items will receive a 10% discount. All orders will now receive a 20% discount on seeds and 10% discount on all other items. All plants will be delivered to individual addresses some time in the spring. All other items will be in the store early in the new year.
Gareth Roberts
The Last Word
Don’t forget; if you want to enjoy more trips to fantastic places we need some organisers.
Tim King
Membership
The membership Secretary wishes to remind you all that the newsletter are published on the last Saturday in April, July, October and January. If you do not receive yours within the first two weeks would you please ask for them in the store, especially if you do not live in Wallingford. Delivery members please make a special note as we rely on you for delivery as soon as possible..
Gardeners Question Time
We have been given details of a Gardeners Question Time to take place on Friday 12th May 2006 at Crowmarsh Village hall. £5 to include wine & nibbles.
AGM
WAGS AGM 2007, Centre 70,
Friday 9th February 2006,
8:00 pm Prompt
Agenda
- Apologies
- President’s opening remarks
- Minutes of previous AGM
- Chairman’s report
- Treasurer’s report
- Trading Store report
-
- Membership fee 2007
- Band concert
- Autumn show
- Election of Committee Members
- Any other business - to be notified to the secretary in writing at least 14 days before the AGM.
To be followed by Cheese and Wine @ £3.00 per head.
Sheds
Sheds come in all shapes and sizes and are many things to many people. Now is the time to turn your attention to the humble shed. Have a good clear out, carry out repairs, even give it a lick of paint on the inside to brighten it up as well as giving it a good coat of preservative on the outside.
That bright sunny day that we are going to get in January will be ideal for sorting through all the accumulated clutter. Be honest, do you really need that broken spade? Or the containers of old chemicals? These can be taken to Oakley Wood Recycling Depot for disposal. Certain garden chemicals have been withdrawn from use. It is now illegal to use these chemicals and they should be disposed of at the recycling depot. For a list of chemicals that have been withdrawn since 2002, visit the RHS website at: www.rhs.org.uk/learning/publications/pubs/garden0503/pesticides2.asp. It is also a good idea to ensure that the correct label is on the container. Those plastic bottles you have recycled to hold the tomato feed from WAGS store should be clearly labelled.
With the tools out of the shed, now is the time to give them a thorough clean before putting them back on the storage rack. The storage rack can be simple nails or one of the many varieties of tool rack available in the garden centres or by mail order.
Check your hoses for leaks and cut out any bad bits. Use hose connectors to make up useable lengths but be mindful of the hosepipe bans.
If you have any bagged compost that is more than two years old spread it on the borders so it does some good, as the ingredients tend to go off with the passage of time.
All those left over seeds which are part of your own seed bank will need to be tested for germination or thrown out. Sow a known quantity of seeds onto some damp kitchen roll in a saucer and place in an airing cupboard or propagator. You will be able to tell what proportion are any good in the rest of the packet.
Having sorted through all the clutter, there will be items that you will want to keep such as pots, canes, labels and the usual tools.
Organise the floor space so that you have a walk-in area that never gets use for storage. It makes the shed safer to use. Then turn your attention to the walls. Make sure shelving is properly fixed and deep enough for the items you are going to store. A variety of baskets and containers are available from DIY stores and garden centres to enable you to have a place for everything and everything in its place. Arrange the layout so that your pots are close to the potting bench that you now have space for underneath the window.
So much for the shed tidy, now you can start on the greenhouse; but that is just another sunny day and will probably have to wait until February for the next one.