Meopham and District
Allotment Association

12th August Solar Eclipse Update

The Association’s solar eclipse observation event is going ahead as planned with ISO standard eclipse glasses being provided for free to all those who have booked by noon on 10th August.

The Committee is most grateful to Anne and Michael Ide for allowing us to observe the eclipse from their plot, 12A, and surrounding walkways.

Maximum eclipse is at 19:13:38 BST and the maximum obscuration of the Sun will be 92.4%. First Contact (when the Moon starts to cross the solar disk) is at 18:17 BST and Last Contact will be at 20:06

Southdown Shaw is outside the path of totality, so the special glasses must be worn at all times when looking at the Sun. (We welcome the use of kitchen colanders as a solar image projection experiment!)

Attendees should plan to arrive at plot 11A at any time between 18:00 and 19:00 to collect their glasses and locate a good observation point.

A commentary on the event will be available and questions, especially from young observers and Lindy, are encouraged. Please visit the MDAA Home Page for any ‘breaking news’ on the event.

The EGM: next steps

Many thanks to all those who attended the EGM and voted unanimously (with one abstention) in empowering the Committee to halt the wilful destruction of our allotment gardening futures by Meopham Parish Council.

Water usage

Members will be aware of local restrictions on the use of hosepipes in domestic settings. Our water supplier is Everflow and, at the the moment, no formal constraints are placed on water use by MDAA members. Naturally, we expect members to continue using water responsibly, perhaps using our 'Soil Moisture Forecast' tool.

A Guide is available below.

What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse is a natural event where the Moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth, blocking the Sun's light and casting a shadow on our home planet. Full alignments are rare for any particular location. The next nearly-total one, observable from Meopham, is in 2081.

Plot of the Month: Outstanding Summer Harvest at Plot 17C

A masterclass in companion planting! This month we celebrate the work of Ian and Rita Cook on 17C. By positioning marigolds alongside their tomatoes and utilizing classic organic crop rotation, they have managed to fend off aphids entirely while producing an enviable yield of broad beans and prize-winning courgettes.