Documentation
This page holds up to date documentation which members can reference at any time.
Membership Constitution
Plot Rules
Allotment Incinerator
Membership Constitution
Plot Rules
Allotment Incinerator
Allotment Incinerator
- Always approach the incinerator with caution as it may be HOT
To start a fire in an incinerator you would be well to have the following
- NEWSPAPER – to help establish the fire
- MATCHES – to help start the fire
- DRY TWIGS – to help the fire to ‘take’
- HEAT RESISTANT GLOVES – let’s be careful out here…gloves are in the main shed and must be returned after use. (they belong to all of us)
Before and After
- Always make a visual inspection of the adjacent area to ensure there are no other combustible items (no overhanging trees or branches)
- Always make sure water is freely available (in 45 gallon drums) and buckets / watering cans are available to douse or extinguish the fire.
- Make sure you have the time to manage the incinerator
- Stay with the incinerator for the first period of burn to ensure the fire is ‘controlled’
- Douse the fire before you leave to ensure there are no violent flames. (the fire will continue to ‘burn’ through its own heat).
- Place lightly scrunched-up paper in the bottom of the incinerator
- Layer some small dry twigs over the top of the paper
- Roll up a length of newspaper and light it and push it through one of the air holes at the base of the incinerator.
- Let the fire take hold and the initial plume of smoke to die down.
- TAKE YOUR TIME – add the garden waste gradually and with care so that the fire is not smothered.
- If the incinerator has a vented lid, replace it.
- Keep topping up the incinerator – do not overfill it since it may smother the flames.
- If burning wood – CUT/BREAK THE WOOD INTO manageable lengths that will fit INSIDE the incinerator. DO NOT REST long pieces of wood such that they ‘overhang’ the sides of the incinerator.
- It is recommended to keep the ash (in a sealed container to keep it dry) for use on the allotment all year round.
- WOOD ASH contains potassium which is a vital nutrient for crops.
- Add ash to the compost heap – but don’t overdo it since it may harm the bacteria and worm work. Sprinkle from time to time…
- Maybe add a bit more if you put fruit waste (which is acidic) into your composter.
- If the soil is at a pH value higher than 7.5 DO NOT ADD ash
- If you are growing acid loving blueberries DO NOT ADD ash
- Sprinkling ash on the top of soil deters slugs
- Root vegetables like potash (potassium) but don’t overdo it.
Replenishing the water tanks
The burn at the rear of the allotment is accessed via a padlocked gate. You need a key for the padlock (the same key as used for the front gate). You need wellies in case you need to wade into the burn.
Left Hand Communal Shed
Take pump and hose and pop into a wheelbarrow. Unlock fuel safe and take a fuel tank (green – which is unleaded) and a small transfer bottle. Also take the empty lemonade bottle. Take all five (and a key!) to the duck pond ready to move down to the burn.
You will pass a water tap on the way to the burn – fill the lemonade bottle with water.
There are two O ring seals attached to the pump. Insert one into each of the hoses to create an air tight seal. REMEMBER TO BE CAREFUL TAKING THE HOSES OFF LATER – do not lose the seals.
The small hose (from the shed) is for drawing water out of the burn and is attached to the bottom inlet. The long hose – which has been fed through the fence down to the burn – is for the top outlet. Take care to a) remember to put the O ring in each connector and b) do not cross-thread when tightening.
The other end of the shorter hose is then TOTALLY SUBMERGED in the burn. There must be no air in the system.
Once the two hoses are connected and the intake is submerged in the burn use the lemonade bottle to prime the pump. Pour the water into the very top of the pump (black screwcap) until it overflows. The black screw cap is then screwed back on the pump tightly (not too tight though) DO NOT CROSS THREAD. Fill the petrol tank.
Start the pump…it will vibrate on the ground.
When the engine is warm and the choke is closed increase the speed to max (minus a little bit).
Make sure the pump does not move too far when vibrating…a few stones will help
The fuel cap must not be too tight – air is needed in the fuel tank. But the vibration of the pump may cause the cap to completely come off…trial and error with tightness of cap or get a stick to wedge against the cap to prevent motion.
Completely drain all tanks in November or after first frost– announce this to the committee so they can advise all plot holders.
Completely fill in early spring. There are three tanks at the foot of the allotment which are replenished using the taps.
* If the oil needs topping up please use the correct oil <detailed here>
Putting the pump away
The pump runs for about 40 minutes on one tank of petrol. Revisit from time to time and replenish the petrol tank as necessary.
Obviously caution is required when replenishing the petrol tank. The pump casing will be hot and any fuel (and fumes) could ignite. Personally I make sure the pump is not running when I refill or top up the tank.
When the water tanks are full (or when you are bored and need to be off) then the following (somewhat obvious) steps should be taken.
The burn at the rear of the allotment is accessed via a padlocked gate. You need a key for the padlock (the same key as used for the front gate). You need wellies in case you need to wade into the burn.
Left Hand Communal Shed
- Red Honda Pump – on shelf under window.
- Pump hose – hung on shed wall to the right as you walk in.
- Key to fuel safe – on nail hook below window sill.
Take pump and hose and pop into a wheelbarrow. Unlock fuel safe and take a fuel tank (green – which is unleaded) and a small transfer bottle. Also take the empty lemonade bottle. Take all five (and a key!) to the duck pond ready to move down to the burn.
You will pass a water tap on the way to the burn – fill the lemonade bottle with water.
There are two O ring seals attached to the pump. Insert one into each of the hoses to create an air tight seal. REMEMBER TO BE CAREFUL TAKING THE HOSES OFF LATER – do not lose the seals.
The small hose (from the shed) is for drawing water out of the burn and is attached to the bottom inlet. The long hose – which has been fed through the fence down to the burn – is for the top outlet. Take care to a) remember to put the O ring in each connector and b) do not cross-thread when tightening.
The other end of the shorter hose is then TOTALLY SUBMERGED in the burn. There must be no air in the system.
Once the two hoses are connected and the intake is submerged in the burn use the lemonade bottle to prime the pump. Pour the water into the very top of the pump (black screwcap) until it overflows. The black screw cap is then screwed back on the pump tightly (not too tight though) DO NOT CROSS THREAD. Fill the petrol tank.
- There is a red On/Off switch…turn it to the on position.
- There is a choke – if the weather is warm leave it closed (down) – if cold open it (up) until the running engine is warm.
- There is a speed control – set it to slow.
- There is a primer bulb (below the choke) that needs 4/5 pushes to get fuel to the combustion chamber.
Start the pump…it will vibrate on the ground.
When the engine is warm and the choke is closed increase the speed to max (minus a little bit).
Make sure the pump does not move too far when vibrating…a few stones will help
The fuel cap must not be too tight – air is needed in the fuel tank. But the vibration of the pump may cause the cap to completely come off…trial and error with tightness of cap or get a stick to wedge against the cap to prevent motion.
Completely drain all tanks in November or after first frost– announce this to the committee so they can advise all plot holders.
Completely fill in early spring. There are three tanks at the foot of the allotment which are replenished using the taps.
* If the oil needs topping up please use the correct oil <detailed here>
Putting the pump away
The pump runs for about 40 minutes on one tank of petrol. Revisit from time to time and replenish the petrol tank as necessary.
Obviously caution is required when replenishing the petrol tank. The pump casing will be hot and any fuel (and fumes) could ignite. Personally I make sure the pump is not running when I refill or top up the tank.
When the water tanks are full (or when you are bored and need to be off) then the following (somewhat obvious) steps should be taken.
- CAREFULLY disconnect the lower hose and retrieve the O RING, placing it on the wire attached to the pump.
- Retrieve the lower hose from the burn, it will drain of water through gravity J
- Stand on higher ground and push your finger into the inlet aperture and open the non-return valve. Water will gush out thus emptying the upper hose.
- Once all water has drained from the upper hose CAREFULLY disconnect it and retrieve the O RING, putting it with the first.
- Take the pump and the smaller hose back to the wheelbarrow with any containers and fuel tanks.
- Feed the longer hose back up the steps and into the pond area
- Close and LOCK the boundary gate.
- Close and latch the pond gate.
- Return everything in the wheelbarrow to where you found it.
