8TH LONDON CHARITY POTATO FAIR
Sunday 24 January 2010, 10am – 3pm
Harris Girls Academy,
Homestall Road, London SE22 0NR.
 
The gardener’s year gets off to a flying start with the 8th London Potato Fair, on Sunday 24 January. Around 1000 people from serious potato heads to Sunday afternoon gardeners, will be choosing from the 100 plus potato varieties,  of which some 35* will be organic, swapping seeds and ideas and picking up tips on how to grow the perfect crop.
 
For some, choosing is a science. Form will be studied, notes compared and the mysteries of first and second earlies and mains unravelled. It’s all in the name for others:  Charlotte, Celine and Nicola are always favourites, historians are drawn to British Queen and King Edward, while Home Guard catches the eye of Dad’s Army fans.
 
A lumpy everyday staple it may be, but lumpy and dull, never. Apart from having  exciting names such as Kepplestone Kidney, Shetland Black and Skerry Blue, potatoes come in  round, oval, oblong and  knobbly shapes and in white, black, purple, blue, red, pink, not to forget the magnificent tricoloured Mr Little’s Yetholm  Gipsy.
 
The opportunity to buy individual tubers always appeals says organiser Lindsay Wright. “There’s plenty of scope for the adventurous gardener to experiment with lots of different varieties, although some people just buy the same quantity and variety every year,” he says. 
 
The SEED exchange is another draw -  particularly in these times of waste not want not. “Bring your spare seeds, clearly labelled and swap them for something else,” says Lindsay. “We will have seeds from all over the country, so, you could  find something unusual.”
 
Volunteers from local gardening clubs and organisations including SHOGG, Lambeth Horticultural Society and Roots & Shoots will be on hand to give advice and answer questions.
 
Garden accessories, unusual and heritage seeds, including older varieties of fruit and vegetables, mushroom spawn and plants, pots, tools & paraphernalia will be on sale from specialist suppliers such as Thomas Etty & Pennard Plants.
 
The eighth Charity Potato Fair and Seedy Sunday takes place on Sunday 24 January 2010 from 10.00am — 3.00pm at Harris Girls Academy, Homestall Road, London SE22 0NR.
 
All profits from the fair will go to the Hope and Homes for Children charity, which works in 13 countries in Eastern Europe and Africa. The work varies from country to country, from closing orphanages in Romania to supporting AIDS orphans in Africa. More details on www.hopeandhomes.org .
 
Entrance is £2.00; free for under 16s. Gardeners, with or without seeds to swap and non-gardeners are all very welcome. Teas and refreshments. For further information visit www.potatofair.org  or call Lindsay Wright on 07762 323 812.
 
*subject to delivery

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