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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The weather seems to be holding up, so here is a gentle reminder of our planned Picnic in Welland Park. If it stays dry, we will be meeting near the Cafe in Welland Park between 5pm and 7pm and hope that you can join us there.  If you have not signed up yet, there are still some places left – just email marketharboroughwi@gmail.com and we’ll add you name to the list for the roll call. So sign up and come any time – even if it is just for a short time to say hello.

Keep an eye on your emails and/or our social media streams for last minute changes in case the weather does change it’s mind!

What to Bring

Since we can’t share utensils etc. yet, everyone should bring their own food and drink and something to sit on – be that a chair, a cushion or a blanket. We also recommend that you bring a mask and some hand sanitiser.

Things to Remember

– If you are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms please don’t attend and let us know that you are not coming

– Social distancing rules apply – keep 2 meters apart and don’t share food/drink/utensils.

– If the weather is hot (hopefully!) please remember to bring plenty of water, a sun hat and sunscreen. Insect repellent/anti-allergens may be useful too

– The public toilets may not be available…

Hope to see you all there!

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With the restrictions for group meetings being eased, the Walking Club has got its boots on again and is organising a walk as our next MHWI social event:

Wednesday, 2nd September 2020

Meet at 6pm

Weather permitting we will meet at Tur Langton for a circular walk which will be about 3 1/4 miles and take around 1.5 hours. This is an opportunity to get out, meet fellow members in person after all this time and enjoy some of the fabulous countryside in the area.

If you would like to join in, please email us at marketharboroughwi@gmail.com so we know how many of you to expect.

Participants should wear appropriate footwear and clothing and remember to bring a bottle of water. We’ll keep an eye on the weather and will confirm if it goes ahead on the day before the walk, so check on this website or our other social media streams for updates.

So come on – get your boots on and join us!

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Just a reminder that tomorrow, 10th August 2020, is our next Virtual Book Club Meeting, which will be held via Zoom and together with the Leicester Ladies WI.

Our August book is

Zoom access details have been distributed via email – please get in touch with marketharboroughwi@gmail.com if you would like to join and need the codes.

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow

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July has been a great month at the allotment as all that digging and sowing and planting is starting to bear fruit. Literally in the case of the raspberry bushes from which we have so far harvested more than 3 Kilos of delicious berries. Elsewhere on the plot the tomatoes are ripening, courgettes and aubergines are looking promising as do the cucumbers, squashes, onions, potatoes and sweetcorn. The only department that is lagging behind this year are the runner beans which for some reason are trying to impersonate their bush cousins…

The abandoned wilderness that used to be our neighbour behind the green house has seen a  dramatic change in the less than 12 months that we have been working on it. Here are some ‘before and after’ photos by way of illustration:

While the original plot is now a proper production garden, the upper part is more about flowers and a nice place to sit, rest and admire. True to our ‘make do, mend, recycle and up-cycle’ approach, the structures are made from recycled or reclaimed materials, the plants have been grown from seed and the garden furniture set as well as the arch have been donated.

As someone once said: If you are trying to climb Mount Everest it is a good idea to look back down the mountain from time to time to see how far you have come. The view from the bench at the top of the plot is definitely worth enjoying – why not come round sometime and try it? As long as it is dry weather we are there every Monday.

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It seems that the easing of the lock-down measures has also opened up the diary and we are now getting very busy at the Market Harborough WI!

The Book Club is joining forces with the Leicester Ladies WI. They found that their book choices seemed to magically align and decided to hold their virtual book club meetings together come August.

By observing social distancing and group number rules the Walking Club had their first outing since lock-down with a walk to Lubenham finishing off with a well deserved tea and scone in the garden of the farm shop.

To make up for all those cancelled monthly meetings the committee organised a Bingo Night via Zoom. After distributing cards via email, 20 Members had their dobbers at the ready and their eyes down for a fun evening. We played for an hour and even discovered some new Bingo calls. Thank you to Caroline, our caller, and to the six winners of the prizes, which will be dropped on their door steps this week.

We are now looking forward to a busy August too:

Monday, 3rd August

Virtual Book Club Quiz

Thursday, 6th August

Virtual Craft Club

Monday, 10th August

Virtual Book Club with the Leicester Ladies WI

Thursday, 13th August

Committee Meeting

Wednesday, 26th August

Monthly Meeting via Zoom

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)!

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Today is the last day for joining the list for our Bingo Night on 22nd July! 

This will be held on Zoom, offering lots of fun and banter and Prizes for every game!

Personal Bingo Cards will be distributed by email. These can then be printed out or used on any screen (such as a phone). To participate, please sign up free of charge email marketharboroughwi@gmail.com with the email address you would like us to send your Bingo Card to.  (If you don’t have a printer let us know and we’ll pop one round to you in (socially distanced) person.)

Bingo Night will start at 7.30pm – eyes down at 7.45pm sharp.

So dust off your dabbers and join us!

Our next Virtual Book Club Meeting will be on Monday, 20th June 2020 but please take note that it will be held just this once at the slightly different time of 4.00pm.

Zoom access details will be send to existing club members the day before – any MHWI member who would like to join can obtain the link and password by emailing marketharboroughwi@gmail.com.

As a reminder: this month’s book choice is “Half a World Away” by Mike Gayle

Looking forward, we are planning to hold some joint Book Club Meetings with the Leicester Ladies WI. As they have their regular monthly meetings on the third Monday of the month we are looking to hold the joint Virtual Book Club Meetings on the second Monday of every month starting in August. So the August Virtual Book Club Meeting will be on

Monday, 10th August at the regular time of 7.30pm

The book selected for August is ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens

The Zoom invitation for the joint meeting will go out towards the end of next week.

Until then

Happy Reading!

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