The Potato Cup

The Potato Cup has arrived in the office this week and is sat on the credenza beside Debbie's desk. Debbie has already made it very clear to the team that she will be profoundly disappointed if we fail to win the Thurrock Potato Growing Challenge and so every day we are making a point of spending some quality time with our chitts to ensure their emotional well-being.

It's been a great week for the Thurrock Learning Shop - we had the official opening on Monday and celebrated with many of the team involved in the establishment of the facility. Incredible to believe that since we opened in mid-December we have welcomed 1300 local people through the door. As well as offering an information and guidance service we have hosted events including a carbon foot-printing workshop, a Well-Being Day and the Thurrock Network Group. Best of all, the plumbers setting-up the system next door in the new Enterprise Centre fixed our radiators this morning.

Maris Peer

Another step closer towards the Good Life today as Sharon from The Waste Team delivered the recycled sacks for the Potato Growing Challenge. I picked-up the seed potatoes and delivered them to the fellow teams competing for the Potato Growing Challenge cup. We'll be growing Maris Peers and, according to food-writer Sarah Jane Evans...

"the aromas of the cooked potato are of freshly cut grass, a meadow freshness with a hint of citrus, finishing with notes of sweet butter."

....which truly will be a feat in istelf having experienced the unique and robust smell of the chicken manure that we will be growing them in here at the TLS.

The Thurrock Potato Growing Challenge

It's on! The first of the teams competing in the Thurrock Potato Growing Challenge have signed up and a vigorous competitive spirit is set to descend over Thurrock in the coming months. Sponsored by The Waste Team at Thurrock Council and Knowledge Thurrock Innovation Associates (KTIA) the competition will span the growing season with prizes being awarded for Best Yield and the Esther Rantzen Award for the potato that most resembles a celebrity. The organisations taking part thus far are Ikea, Thurrock Re-Use Project (TRUP), Park Inn Thurrock, Rio Aggregates, The Waste Team from Thurrock Council and KTIA, a Thurrock Council business support initiative.

Much talk has been made of the use of various fertilizers; The Waste Team championing the use of their home-grown Worm Tea; Ikea planning to get their plants hooked on caffeine from the used coffee grinds from their canteen; traditionalists TRUP favouring a family recipe. At Team KTIA, we are investigating a few options including moon-phase planting and the use of chicken manure.....I'll keep you posted