London Allotments Network
Connecting all allotment communities in Greater London
Apple day
On Saturday 29th September dog walkers and visitors to Blondin Park found themselves caught up in the Ealing Allotment Partnership's celebration of English apples.
Setting up stall right opposite Blondin allotments on a glorious autumn day, 6 members of the committee supported by volunteers, waylaid passers by with all things 'appley'.
We had detailed information on growing and pruning apples, as well as a range of different varieties for people to taste and buy. Six different kinds were donated by local supermarkets : Waitrose, M&S and Sainsbury's augmented by two allotment grown varieties. Between us we managed samples of : Bramley, Delbar, Red Delicious, Cox (Orange Pippin), Red Windsor, Suffolk Pink, Laxton's Superb and Lord Lambourne.
Several sacks of windfalls had been gathered from Ascott allotments and these were turned into fresh apple juice for instant thirst quenching. Young visitors, after soaking themselves with apple bobbing, took a turn on the wheels, crushing the fruit with great enthusiasm. So much so it was hard for the apple cutters to keep up! Parents meanwhile tested their steadiness of hand by attempting to peel an apple in one go.
Less energetic folk browsed the book and bric-a-brac stall and took their time choosing between the many home made apple chutneys and different kinds of home cooked apple cake on offer.
It was the first of many Apple Day events for the Ealing Allotment Partnership, raising £135 towards other home grown events to come in 2008.
