Weeder’s Digest
For many years, Trevor Taylor (the Society’s Honorary President) produced a regular allotment newsletter called Weeder’s Digest, which usually included growing tips, general allotment news and recipes. Here is our equivalent. Members are very welcome to write for it – just email things over to the Secretary.
- 30 Jan: Next Burnside Burn Bin February 11th10:00 to 12:00 weather permitting as always, so please check for a late cancellation if the weather conditions or forecast, … Read more
- 18 Nov: No cars + new trolley
The site has very quickly become wet and the tracks soft. Cars soon cause muddy ruts, spoiling the look of … Read more - 7 Nov: Toilet open, new tearoom, and orchard news
Plots As at 7 Nov 2022 there were 45 people on the waiting lists and 0 plots being prepared for … Read more - Burnside Volunteering Day
The first Volunteering Day of the year at Burnside. It was a bright, cool day – ideal for knocking down … Read more - Early autumn morning at Burnside
Early morning on the site, warm sun streaming, and hardly a soul around. All was good with the world! - Burnside Volunteering Day, July 2021
The first Burnside Volunteering Day of the summer. Lots of tidying and clearing at Burnside – all done by a … Read more - Repairs to Ancaster Way
Repairs have been made to the Ancaster Way gate and the area just inside it has been overhauled. To prevent … Read more - Plot clearance, March 2021
Four half plots have recently been cleared ready for letting. A lot of metal and other debris has been removed … Read more - Slug pellets
Non-organic Blue Pellets The most popular method of slug and snail control used in the garden is slug pellets. The … Read more - The Burnside tea room
History During several volunteering days dating back to about 2015, an overgrown area halfway along the eastern edge of the … Read more - Using water wiselyJohn McGill has been doing some research on how to make the most of an increasingly precious resource – water. … Read more
- Things that go bump in the nightEver wondered what happens on the allotment when no-one is around? Andy K and friends from Burnside captured some really … Read more
- Wildlife at BurnsideEver wondered what happens on your site after lights out? Andy from Burnside did and captured some great over-night images … Read more
- Society PicturesJoan from Burnside and Suzy from Vinery have been taking some piccies around and about, including a special one which … Read more
- The first day of lockdownThe day after coronavirus caused the closure of all pubs, clubs, etc…, it is reassuring to know that life goes … Read more
- Growing saffronBarry South writes: To John Keats, autumn was the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. He wrote the well known … Read more
- Vinery Site Survey, summer 2019Jonathan Shanklin of the Cambridge Natural History Society took a group of interested people round Vinery to do some species … Read more
- A look back at 2019Joan Bullock-Anderson writes: Here’s an update on my 2019 efforts to grow slightly more unusual things on the plot, with … Read more
- The Burnside Orchard, summer 2019The Burnside orchard has been establishing itself for a couple of years, so time for an update.
- Burnside, summer 2019A look around Burnside at the start of summer 2019.
- Plant swap, summer 2019The ever popular plant swap was back again in 2019, with more plants and varieties than ever before.
- Burnside Volunteering Day, April 2019Many Hans make light work, as the German electrician joke goes. There was a lot of standing around, staring at … Read more
- Burnside Orchard, summer 2019Penny has spent a lot of time planning the orchard which, once established, will be available to all Society members … Read more
- Rededication of the Trevor Taylor PavilionThere was a good turnout at Vinery Road on Sunday March 31st and the weather favoured us with warm sunshine … Read more
- Squash soupThis soup recipe is a starting point guide: you could use other types of squash and add other crops such … Read more
- Vinery Burn BinA good time to get rid of all the summer left-overs, before winter set in.
- Quince pasteJoan Bullock-Anderson writes: For anyone unfamiliar with quince, it’s a hard fruit related to the pear. You can’t eat it … Read more
- Burnside Volunteering Day, October 2018Only a month on from the last one, but what a difference in weather. Wrapping up warm and working hard … Read more
- Burnside Flag Week 2018A new event this year, flying flags – homemade and bought, serious and funny – ready for the summer party.
- Burnside Volunteering Day, September 2018There’s always so much to do. Fortunately, there’s always a lot of willing volunteers to get it done. And to … Read more
- Looking back on 2018Joan B-A writes: When I first took on a plot at Burnside in September 2012, it was all I could … Read more
- From weed-full to weed-free in a morningAndy writes: Can you transform a 3mx5m section of overgrown plot into a productive, easily manageable and ultimately weed free … Read more
- Learning to live with weedsJoan B-A writes: Now for the good news! Weeds are plants too. Weeds are only plants where you don’t want … Read more
- Tomato blightBarry South writes: Pink 6 and Blue 13 10, Principe Borghese 0 Is it a football score line or a … Read more
- Tomato and chilli jamJoan B-A writes: Summer 2018 finds me with an early glut of tomatoes, so I’ve put some of them to … Read more
- Vinery Party, Summer 2018Good food and drink, warm weather, allotment holders socialising – who could ask for more?
- Burnside Party, Summer 2018It was another lovely summer’s day for the Burnside Summer Party. Great food and a really inventive quiz by Andy … Read more
- Frilly peas and beansBarry South writes: Ever wondered what causes this? It’s the Pea and Bean Weevil – Sitona lineatus. It’s about 3mm … Read more
- Environmentally friendly slug controlPenny Henderson writes: The recent wet weather has brought out the slugs and snails, which are now well and truly … Read more
- Controlling pestsJohn McGill writes: There are several things that can dampen a plot holder’s enthusiasm – weather, poor soil, etc – … Read more
- Burnside Volunteering Day, March 2018The usual fun, if tiring, day was enjoyed by a number of seasoned and new volunteers. It all helps to … Read more
- Curried parsnip soupAnnie P writes: A flavoursome soup with a kick – serves 6 Ingredients Method
- Burnside Burn BinMore than just burning stuff!
- New to Burnside (once upon a time)Stella, Les and Phil write: Things wouldn’t be the same without our plot now. We started on bonfire night 2016 … Read more
- Harvest 2017What your fellow allotmenteers were growing and harvesting in 2017.
- S’moresAndy K writes: Smore n. A sweet treat. The origin of smores is unclear but the first recorded reference is in … Read more
- Smita’s courgette curryAnyone who was at the Society’s summer BBQ will probably have enjoyed Smita’s aromatic courgette curry. For those of you … Read more
- Burnside Volunteering Day, August 2017Much hard work by a large band of volunteers helping to keep the site in good order. Jobs included maintaing … Read more
- Society BBQ, summer 2017It was a lovely, hot summer’s day for the Society’s summer BBQ at Burnside – made even better by fine … Read more
- Construction of the Burnside ToiletA lot of hard thought and work went into turning the designs for the new composting toilet into a reality.
- Store reopening, April 2017The store had a bit of a makeover for 2017 and some interesting new stock.
- Burnside Volunteering Day, April 2017The usual fun, if tiring, day was enjoyed by a number of seasoned and new volunteers. It all helps to … Read more
- The Grand Opening of the Burnside ToiletMuch to the relief of Burnsiders everywhere, the new composting toilet was opened. A major new resource was a cause … Read more
- Burnside Volunteering Day, March 2017An early spring start to 2017 volunteering days, making good some of the ravages of winter.
- Summer Party 2016Another chance for the two sites to get together, relax, and swap tips and stories.
- Burnside Volunteering Day 2016The 2016 Burnside volunteering day. Clearing, cleaning and tidying – all undertaken by a dedicated group of volunteers.