What a day! Here and now! Thought of the day! Potato Day! Were they all after the “Princess of
Athona”, the Celtic precursor of the later Hispanic introductions? OR is this myth? Like the Duke of
Dengie – a dark watery spud?
We had 40+ varieties to buy by the tuber (nine organic) collected from Julian`s team for East Anglia`s Potato Day on 14 February. Collected by Jane, Vic and Ron with Growing Together`s truck.
Friday 20 February: Prepare the polytunnel – tables, boxes, labels (from Graham O-R) and the potatoes stored in the sales hut with the gazebos from Leigh Town Council, with help from Vic and Mike. Vic later returned with Carole (from the Leigh market) to prepare the orders.
Saturday 21 February: 8.30.am – gazebo put up at the polytunnel entrance to keep the northerly wind
away from Graham at the door collecting monies; Mike, Gill, Carole, Ray (onion sets, garlic, potato
fertiliser), and Vic as early helpers. Growing Together`s café, raffle, tea and cakes in the Cheryl Centre set up and the potatoes in the oven, urns hot.
Then people starting to arrive – 250 for the day – some from London; two women from Kent wanting to do the same for Sevenoaks, so talk of cascading from East Anglia to South Essex to Kent next year?
Singing – Graham Burnett, local writer of Permaculture/vegan growing – entertaining with Clash,
Chumba`s Marley and “Going Organic So Don`t Panic”, then GT`s own Rob, Allen, Dan with Marley,
their own and more.
Really good atmosphere, weather kindly again -buying, chatting, networking, eating, raffling, laughing, singing.
What a good day!
So thanks to all who make such an event happen and people who come and show that it is a needed
event. Many spuds there be!
We shall be selling what’s left at the next Rochford Farmers Market and at Group Night.
More on Growing Together at www.trustlinks.webs.com
