By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
A POTATO in a bucket contest was held on Sunday 15 February by the Rotary Club of Cranbourne to raise funds for the Blairlogie Living and Learning organisation.
About $6000 was raised along with spuds galore and three awards went out to the fastest potato peeler, the biggest potato crop and the biggest potato, weighing in at 240 grams.
“Some people used their own secret remedies, others put stones in the bottom or straw, all sorts of things were tried and tested, some people used garden compost or potting mix as well,” Tom Schreurs from the Rotary Club of Cranbourne said.
The contest was a success with about 120 potato growers buying a 25 litre bucket and potato seeds for $30 each.
The buckets were sold in September and growers had six months to grow their spuds.“We had a barbecue on harvest day and weighed the spuds, the largest crop weighed a kilo with about nine potatoes,” Mr Schreurs said.
Blairlogie and the Rotary Club of Cranbourne are planning to make the spud contest an annual event.
“It was a fantastic day and was enjoyed by all, a fun way to raise awareness for Blairlogie,” Mr Schreurs said.
Blairlogie Living and Learning chief executive Carolyn Carr said she will be seeking advice from potato experts next year.
“I attempted the challenge without much success.
“I don’t think I was the only one on the day that had their bucket emptied with just a pile of dirt to show,” Ms Carr said.
“It sounds like such a simple thing but it’s actually very tricky,” she said.
The money raised will go towards equipment and resources at the Cranbourne South organisation.
“I think it has inspired people to try and produce a better crop of spuds next year,” Ms Carr said.
