Autumn is setting in at the allotment and the plots are starting to look a bit emptier as we have been busy harvesting every week.

The raspberries continue to deliver (they must have heard us discussing the reduction of the number of bushes after last years poor show) and there are plenty of tomatoes, chillies, leeks and beans. There have been a few surprises too – such as the cauliflowers hiding under the profusion of borrage and a couple of Kohlrabi nobody remembers planting. But the star of the last two weeks has been Marjories Corn on the Cob – none of us can remember ever tasting anything sweeter. 

So we are already making plenty of notes for next year’s planting decisions. Where we will be holding our planning meetings is up in the air at the moment – somehow meeting at the plot in the snow does not really appeal. But – solutions will be found and we’ll let you know.

One decision we have made already is to get Emiline into her winter quarters before the weather turns and her clothes suffer too much. She has done well this year – presiding over the plot come rain or shine with her mask and surrounded by WI inspired bunting. She’ll get some running repairs and then will be back in all her glory next spring.

More from the allotment next month when we’ll update you on our autumn building projects. Or come and see us at 41A Cricket Pitch View at the Stevens Street Allotments in Market Harborough every Monday between 11am and 2pm if the weather is dry.

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The Annual General Meeting of the Market Harborough WI was held via Zoom on Wednesday night. Due to the restrictions on in-person meetings voting had to be done online – a new experience, but a successful excercise with the help of Doodle Polls. Links were sent to the members ahead of the meeting, so everyone had the opportunity to vote even if they could not attend.

The members unanimously approved the annual report and treasurer’s report. They also agreed to postpone the committee meeting elections (usually held as part of the AGM) to the end of the extended membership year. In March 2021 we are hoping to be able to hold elections and facilitate an in-person handover from outgoing members to the new team.

The rest of the evening was spent with a fun filled quiz by the MHWI’s favourite Quiz Master, James Hunt, who outdid himself with obscure questions and brain teasers on a variety of subjects. And to round things off three prizes were raffled off – winners were drawn from the complete members list.

Congratulations to the winners of the evening and here is to the next six months of fun and learning at the MHWI!

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Wednesday, 23rd September at 7.30pm

Zoom access codes as well as the annual reports and links to the voting site have been sent out to members by email. Please check your junk mail folder or get in touch with us at marketharboroughwi@gmail.com if you have not received yours!

See you all on Wednesday!

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Wednesday, 23rd September at 7.30pm

It’s Quiz Time again! For our September Monthly Meeting we will see the MHWI’s favourite Quizmaster James Hunt return to our Zoom screens with another set of testing questions. A bottle of prosecco is waiting for the winner – so get pen and paper ready to join in!

On the same Zoom call we will also be holding our virtual AGM – look out for an email with the annual reports and details on how to vote, which should be hitting your inboxes in the next few days.

And to round the evening off, there will be a raffle of three surprise gifts – we’ll draw from the member list, so you don’t even have to queue up for a ticket!

Hope to see you all on the 23rd!

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The Book Club had a good meeting on Monday to discuss travel related books the members had enjoyed. These covered a variety of topics and authors including:

As they say: If you can’t travel in person – grab a book and go on a journey…

The chosen book for the October Meeting is ‘Those who are loved’ by Victoria Hislop:

And if you would like to prepare for the months ahead, the following books have been chosen by the club:

November: Redhead by the Side of the Road – Anne Tyler

December: The Cafe – Libby Page

The next meeting will be on 12th October at 2.30pm. Book Club members will be advised of the meeting details by email, so if you would like to join in, please email marketharboroughwi@gmail.com to add your name to the list.

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For all you bookworms out there a gentle reminder that the next Book Club is on

Monday, 7th September

The subject is Travel (in the widest sense of the word) and we will be discussing members’ personal choice of travel related books.

Meeting details are sent to Book Club members by email, so if you would like to join, please email marketharboroughwi@gmail.com to add your name to the list.

Happy Reading!

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August has been a busy month for the Market Harborough WI with some of our special interest clubs getting active again and our first tentative try at a face-to-face monthly event in the form of a socially distanced Picnic in the Park

As the autumn weather is going to make the options for outdoor gatherings more difficult the committee members are starting to think about how we can organise in-person indoor meetings again and will be writing to the members to seek their views.

In the meantime, here is the schedule for September as it stands at the moment:

Wednesday, 2nd September

Walk with Fiona in the Langtons

Thursday, 3rd September

Craft Club

Monday, 7th September 

Book Club

Thursday, 17th September

Committee Meeting

Wednesday, 23rd September 

Monthly Zoom Meeting – AGM and Quiz

Details of the various meetings will be announced in due course on this website and/or via email directly to the members. So save the day(s) and do get in touch via marketharboroughwi@gmail.com if you have any questions or suggestions.

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August is when the fun starts at the allotment and the plot pays back for all that planning, sowing, digging and weeding with a vengeance. We have been harvesting plenty every week both in the greenhouse and outside.

We even managed a glut of cougettes – note to planning committee: may be sow less next year – and the raspberries are having a ‘second wind’ as the autumn varieties are taking off. At the other end of the plot the flower seed harvest is in full swing as well and the various parts of the calendula are laid out for drying.

All of this is bringing home to us how much we have lost touch with the natural seasons due to the year-round availability of fruit and veg in the shops. It is a real pleasure to watch the plants grow and ripen and then enjoy the taste of the fresh produce. And then get creative to try out new recipes to avoid wasting any of it. Have you tried courgette cake? Or kale and beetroot crisps? Or raspberry gin? And then there are the jams and chutney opportunities….!

September is set to bring another bounty of vegetables and of course the squashes and pumpkins will be starting their race in the ‘Best so Far’ competition. So watch this space!

And if you would like to come and have a look and a natter, the allotment is at 41A Cricket Pitch View at the Stevens Street Allotments (off Logan Street) – right at the end of the main drive down. Look out for Emiline, our scarescrow and mascot. As long as the weather is dry(ish) we are there every Monday from 11am.

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