A squash (or two) in the shed

Fanwell Tandi’s squash collection

The last of the autumn crops have been harvested by tenants – maize (which takes a long time to mature!), winter squashes and some other bits and pieces have been picked.
The most a-maizing (!) sight was seeing the potting shed full of Fanwell’s winter squashes, all shapes and sizes, from butternut to Turk’s Head Turban.
This is a crucial storage space for tenants living in small flats, as with such a bumper harvest, they don’t have room for all their produce at home.
One of the interesting bits of information was how Fanwell’s maize had cross-pollinated with a neighbour’s sweetcorn. The stronger strain of maize had the effect of transforming the sweetcorn cobs into ‘mini maize’, complete with the slightly more starchy taste and texture of maize.
Compared with last year, 2013 has been a great season for the tenants who have grown a wide range of produce, which has benefited greatly from the long and sunny growing season.
As the year draws to a close, the group has celebrated its successes with an award meal, courtesy of Taff Housing. It’s a chance for all the regulars, old and new faces, on the site to sit down and reflect on what has been achieved.
They’ve benefited from new facilities – a 1,000-litre rainwater water catchment tank, a new compost toilet, more raised beds for new participants and grant money to buy a polytunnel and purchase the rented steel tool container.
Thanks are due to all the Taff staff involved, allotment holders (Sam and Ivor particularly) and a special thanks to contractors Willis Construction and Cowlin Construction for their help on the site.
Another big thank you is due to the team at Landcraft for doing an excellent job installing the new compost toilet, which the tenants really appreciate.