For our allotment volunteers, 2022 has been bit of a tricky year due to soaring temperatures and drought.
Yet Barry, Andy and Theresa, with the help of corporate volunteers, have been able to reap quite a lot of what they sowed for our clients to use at Launchpad 135 and Readifood, the local food bank.
Launchpad has a plot at Woodley Allotments which is looked after by volunteers and we regularly welcome groups from local business to help out either for a morning or afternoon session, or both! Community groups are also welcome to get involved.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are picked and packed in boxes to take to the food bank and some produce is used to create tasty meals at Launchpad 135, our work and life skills centre, teaching clients some easy and healthy recipes they can then replicate at home.
The rain eventually came in mid-August when a group from software company Barracuda were busy preparing boxes ready to plant carrots. They then moved on to weeding the 14-row potato patch. Most of the potatoes have been harvested, so it’s now time to prepare the ground again.
It was the first ever visit to the Launchpad allotments for Barracuda, and the team of six who came said they were looking forward to a return visit.
In the meantime, they were going back to their offices in central Reading with a competition in mind – to create scarecrows for our plot! We can’t wait to see them.
Barry said he was proud of what had been achieved this year, despite the weather, which included the storms in February.
“We had quite a lot of damage here because of the storms, lucky we got through it,” said Barry, who is always looking for donations to help keep the allotment going.
“We’re looking for a new wheelbarrow, kneelers and are always grateful for compost. We grow everything from seed and do not use any pesticides.”
If you are interested in supporting our work at the allotment, please contact Kirsti Wilson, Head of Marketing and Fundraising, by emailing kirsti.wilson@launchpadreading.org.uk