2nd October 2012
Dog Owners
There are now a number of dog owners using the plots and I have received a fair few complaints in recent months regarding, dog fowling, dogs running over and digging in plots and a couple of incidents of aggressive dog behaviour.
If you are bringing a dog to MCA could you please make sure that it is kept under strict control at all times, if a dog is particularly excitable this may mean keeping it on a lead and tying it up.
Many allotment sites don’t allow dogs at all, but we would rather not go down that route if possible.
Regards
Craig
Craig Somerville
National Trust
11th March 2012
TOOL SHED
It has been noted that the tools are not being cleaned and are not being secured safely in their proper rack. This is a Health and Safety issue as many young children use the site and the tools need to be bolted securely onto the rack to prevent falling on top of any child or adult for that matter.
Instructions for tools:
1. When finished using your tools use the hose to wash of excess soil.
2. Place tool in the box out side the shed containing sand and oil this will prevent rusting.
3. Place on the correct rack and bolt over to prevent it falling off.
Thank you all for your cooperation on this matter. If you are unsure come along to one of the work days and someone can instruct you. If any one has a reason why they cannot put the tool up onto the rack let Keith know and MCA will accommodate.
Fresh Manure
Fresh Manure has been deposited in one of the compost bays can Gardners please ensure that they do not use this fresh manure as it will be of no benefit until it has broken down in 6 months mabye longer for best results.
Reasons:
E. Coli and other bacteria
Back in 2006, there was a national outbreak of E. coli eventually resulting in 205 illnesses and three deaths. This outbreak was quickly traced to bags of "ready to eat" fresh spinach produced by a grower in California.
If you may recall, the contamination was caused by a group of wild boars that had raced first through a beef feedlot and eventually ended up in the spinach patch. Samples taken from the cow patties found at the feed lot tested positive for the same strain of E. coli.
If ever there was a single good reason not to use fresh manure in the vegetable garden this would certainly be it. Fresh manure contains bacteria and other not-so-nice organisms, which can contaminate your vegetable patch. These organisms can not be washed away which means that eating those garden vegetables raw can pose a serious health risk.
Contributes to weedy gardens
Fresh manure contains seeds and unless the livestock has been fed non germinating grains and hay, your garden has the potential to quickly become overrun with weeds.
While there's some debate whether cow manure tends to be less weedy than horse manure due to a cow's highly efficient digestive system, the biggest difference amounts to whether or not the animal is allowed to graze. Fresh manure coming from free range cattle and horses seems to be much weedier than those from feedlot or stabled animals and should be properly composted before using.
Can burn plants
Having been raised on a farm, even as a kid I could see that fresh manure will burn plants. Fresh manure contains soluble nitrogen compounds and ammonia which will burn plants and interfere with seed germination.
It stinks
Fresh manure is pungent in a not so nice way. For those of us who live in the cities, bringing fresh animal manure into our back yards will result in a flurry of complaints to City Hall for both the smell and the flies. In most city limits, spreading fresh manure on your property is against city ordinance which is another good reason to only use fully composted manure.
Even though there are plenty of gardeners who "swear" they never had any problem with fresh manure, the best and certainly the safest policy is to only use manure that has been composted and aged for at least 6 months. By using fresh, you risk exposing yourself and your family to pathogens that can cause disease.(http://voices.yahoo.com/why-shouldnt-fresh-animal-manure-vegetable-1945224.html)
Fidelma Maher
