Members Experiences

Ali Clarke

Southern Branch 

I joined the NVS with a mild interest in growing veg for the table. However, the enthusiasm of the members is infectious; their passion for growing better vegetables has become mine. As well as learning useful new skills, the friends I have made through the NVS will be friends for life.

Noel Cavanagh

Ireland 

My name is Noel Cavanagh and I was born and raised in Dublin.  I am a retired Stone Mason and all my life I have been a very keen gardener but I was mostly interested in growing flowers since I learned a great deal about Horticulture when I was a young lad at school.

10 years ago, I was offered an Allotment and since then I have been growing my very own Vegetables. Having my Allotment gives me great Joy especially in my retirement years, as the saying goes you never know enough in life and we all learn every day,

I am a member of this great National Vegetable Society for four years and I must say I have learned so much about growing vegetables in such a short time, at present I would never class as myself as an exhibition grower but I am indebted to all the growers with the NVS who shared their knowledge with me and other members this surely has enhanced my Vegetable growing specially on the fantastic zoom talks and the quarterly NVS magazine lends me great knowledge,

I am sincerely looking forward to continuing being a member of this great society, Very Many Thanks, Slainte,

Nathan Rush

Southern Branch 

My name is Nathan Rush.  The NVS has helped me understand that you may not always have all the right tools but you can succeed by substituting which is why I am so glad to be a member.

I first came in contact with the Southern Branch at the South of England Show at Ardingly 2019 as a volunteer at the show. The stand was awarded the Gold medal! 

I look forward to the quarterly magazine as it provides so much information and motivation, the NVS is an excellent forum if you have any queries or questions, it is inclusive and it does not judge you on age or experience. 

Kevin Tritschler

Northern Branch 

Hi I'm  Kevin Tritschler. I've been a member  of the NVS for about 9 years  although I have been growing vegetables for a lot longer than that.

The main reason I joined  the NVS was that I wanted to attend  the North York's and South Durham DA  meetings which are highly rated  here in the North East. These meetings  are attended  by some excellent  growers  and  there are talks  from experts across the country who are all willing  to share there ideas and tips.

I think that  the difference  that the NVS  has made to my growing and showing  is that under NVS standards I have had to ensure  the vegetables I put on the showbench  are of a standard  that would do anyone proud. Only last year I succeeded  at my first attempt  to win the Master Gardeners class at Harrogate Autumn Show which to be honest still hasn't sunk in.

I also  provide most of the vegetables for the North York's and  South Durham DA stand at the Harrogate Spring Show  and the fact that they were awarded a premier gold medal and best in show gives me a real buzz.

Being a member of the NVS  has for me been a great experience. The membership  are very friendly  and everyone is willing to share ideas and help to anyone  just starting out, something  I also like to encourage  on my Facebook page - "madkeen on gardening for pleasure and the show bench".