MARVELLOUS ALLOTMENTEERS OF HARTSWOOD

Thumbs up for our British Allotment Society and all those interesting gardeners who grow the most amazing produce (especially in Brentwood Essex).  Here we have young Anton whose parents are excellent gardeners working on their plots at Hartswood Allotment in Brentwood.  We were delighted to be invited to the last social gathering of the year and this is where we met Anton's parents and some of their fellow gardeners a few weeks back. Shame that the rain that afternoon was steady and non-stop, but with wellies and tough weather-gear the gardeners were in autumn festive mood - and what a clever bunch of green-fingered folk they are.  The variety of vegetables and fruit were superb: I loved the  Cucurbitaceae family! gourds (some 960 varieties) and, of course, pumpkins. They can be turned into dozens of fabulous dishes, including jams and pickles (my speciality)

 Oh - and they can cook, too, as there was some delicious  food laid out in their community hut on the site.  I certainly picked up some great tips for our own modest little veg patch at home and home the alotmenteers invite us again to check out all the produce they are hoping for next year.