Respite from rain for growers

BRILLIANT sunshine greeted the first growing event of the calendar with a good turnout for the annual sale and collection of potato tubers.

Potato Day at John Storer House, Loughborough proved a respite from the wet conditions and people looked with optimism to the new season collecting pre – ordered or buying high – quality Scottish seed potatoes for chitting along with onion sets, Hurst Greenshaft peas and Aguadulce broad beans presented in hand – stitched recycled cloth bags.

Organisers’ environmental sustainability group Transition Loughorough said: “Once again Potato Day was a great community event that everyone seemed to enjoy. Thanks to John Storer House for hosting us”.

“As usual, the tubers were very good quality and certified virus – free. Also included was green manure to fix nitrogen into the soil; especially beneficial after all the rain,” they said.

The Loughborough group once again joined up with Transition Chesterfield to enable more bulk – buying and better prices. Transition towns are networked to look for sustainable solutions to the climate and energy crises. They said the climate crisis can feel overwhelming and intractable; Transition towns attempt to find local answers suited to local people within their demographic using local ideas and projects. Transition Loughborough runs an allotment, apple press, repair cafe and seed swap; all becoming increasingly well attended.

Group volunteer Janet Smith said the year’s Potato Day was popular.

“The event went very well. We were lucky that it wasn’t raining on the day. People seem very appreciative of what we do and we were able to encourage a few more people to start growing their own food,” said Janet.