We all turned out on a dark and stormy night to listen to Keith Pierce's lecture on vegetable gardening.  We know that he knows his onions, and his parsnips beans and broccoli, and if we cared to ask, his kohl rabi and scorzonera.

He dealt with the positioning of the garden with regard to sunlight and greedy trees and hedges.  He touched on the required alkalinity of the soil for various types of vegetables and the absolute necessity of removing all traces of perennial weeds before planting anything in whatever sized plot.

In days of yore, old time gardeners kept their secrets clasped to their bosoms; their livelihoods depending upon their carrying sheaves of trophies back from local shows to their employers.  Keith has no such inhibitions and is very generous with his personal knowledge derived from a life time of dedication to his hobby.  He knows when and what to plant where and at which time, when to fertilise and mulch and when to crop and enjoy - a thoroughly down to earth dissertation and much appreciated.

Next meeting 14^th April will be on Patio Planting.  The Spring Show is on 29^th March at the Village Hall. 2-4 p.m. 

Our February Meeting got off to a good start with walker Susan Holmes giving an audience of twenty members a most enjoyable talk. In June 1997 Susan and her husband started a walk taking them from St. Bees on the Irish Sea hoping to complete at Robin Hood Bay on the North Sea. This route was devised by A. Wainwright and covers some stunning, and sometimes daunting landscape. Susan showed slides and despite at times rain, mist and low cloud we could see what a wonderful part of our country this is. I believe we all felt we had done the journey too! B and B's were very good and luggage was delivered by a specialist company.

Chairman Madge announced forthcoming events and notices and after tea and a raffle we agreed it had been a very enjoyable meeting.