Shared Garden Open Day-Well Worth A Visit

On Saturday June 14th the Shared Garden Project, located in West Bridgford, Nottingham, held one of its open afternoons.

About 80 visitors from in and around the area popped in to see just how a group of local individuals and families have organised a garden project based on sharing the work, expertise and produce.

There was a chance to chat to people who set up the project, see how community growing can work, and sample some of the produce. A glorious afternoon which appear to have inspired quite a few people. As allotment waiting lists are long these days, you don’t have to be put off. Perhaps you know someone in your area with a large garden they could do with some help maintaining? Get a few people together, form a garden group and set up your own mini project. For advice and information, visit the Shared Garden website: http://www.sharedgarden.co.uk/

Share the load in the Shared Garden

The first topic on self sufficiency dealt with today on BBC radio Nottingham was allotment gardening. It is clear that there is a great demand for allotments nowadays and that waiting lists are getting bigger.

A project like the Shared Garden could be the answer as here we give 20 families a chance to grow their own fruit and vegetables on 6 plots for only £20 per annum.

The Shared Garden project was initiated in October 2000 by Karina Wells and Andy Thomas, both residents of West Bridgford, who have been involved with eco and organic activities for many years.

There are many advantages; the pleasure of working with a friend, sharing knowledge, skills and learning, not to mention the more practical aspects such as running costs, dividing the work load, and covering during holiday periods.

If you want an allotment but the waiting list it too long, you actually don't have more than 2 hours a week you can come down, or you could do with some moral support, why not look at http://www.sharedgarden.co.uk/ this is just one example on how share the load.

For those of you who use Amazon to buy books, music, DVD etc on line, please go through the Shared Garden website, click on 'books' which will bring you to your usual Amazon site. Amazon will donate a small percentage of your purchases to the project's Seed Fund (it won't cost you a thing).

We shall have an open afternoon on Saturday 14th June from 2-4pm, where we can guide you around the gardens, the pecking hen project as well as a plant and refreshment stall.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Food glorious food!

Do you know where your food comes from?

In an era where ‘food miles’ are under close scrutiny and obesity and healthy eating are top of the news list, various groups of individuals and farmers have come up with answers. If you enjoy gardening but lack time or knowledge to have your own allotment, get a group of friends together and follow the example of The Shared Garden Group. http://www.sharedgarden.co.uk/, if you are not into socializing that way, you might like to buy yourself a large window box or container. Alternatively have a look around for a local Organic Box scheme, ours in Nottingham is http://www.redearthorganics.co.uk/ or find out about your local farmers market and support them as much as possible.
While you are at it, invest in a bike you might be able to pick one up through you local realcycle group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/realcycle_nottingham/

If you really want to know where you food comes from have a look at this little video
http://www.themeatrix.com/

You can make a difference and have fun in the mean time!

Organic Winner!

We would like to introduce you to our second EcoList Winner!!

Joanna Kay joined the EcoList mailing list in September and her name just came out of our ‘electronic hat’. Jo will be receiving a £15 voucher from River Nene Organics so that she can try out a box of organic veg delivered directly to her door. Congratulations to Jo – not bad for just signing up to our newsletter list - and many thanks to all at River Nene Organics for providing the prize. If you fancy your own organic veg box just get in contact with them on 0115 981 0002
or visit their website www.rivernene.co.uk.

Perhaps the next prizewinner will be you? For a chance just pop your e-mail address in the space on the right and sign up to our monthly newsletter.

How to reduce the waste in your bin miraculously overnight!

A few years ago I was introduced to bokashi and tried it in my gardens. The results were amazing.

The bokashi process: recycling 100% of food waste. This unique recycling system uses bokashi to ferment food waste inside a sealed container. This means there are no rodents, no insects, no spoiling, and NO ODOUR. The end result is a pickled mass of food waste, which, when placed in a garden, breaks down into rich humus within a matter of days, releasing nutrients, microbes and structure to the soil.

If you can’t use it, no doubt a gardening friend will love it!

And unlike other forms of recycling, such as composting and worm farming, there is no food waste you cannot put in - the bokashi system treats paper, citrus, onions, dairy, even meat!

To make the buckets is easy.

Take two buckets that fit into eachother and have a good fitting lid for the top bucket. Drill holes in the bottom of the top bucket so that any valuable juices can drain into the bottom bucket.

How to use it:

Fill the bucket in layers as and when the waste is created. Start with a layer of bokashi bran then a layer of compostable materials which you sprinkle with bran whilst it is waiting for the next day's waste and so on...keeping the lid on all the time. When full, leave for 2 weeks to ferment whilst filling up another set of buckets. When ready, you can dig a trench/hole and put it in, it will rot very quickly and you can plant into it virtually immediately.

View a short video about how to make your own bokashi bran. I omit the powder and salt in the beginning and at the end stage I spread the bokashi on my garage floor for a few days to dry out thoroughly otherwise it starts to get moldy.

If however, you would like to buy your buckets and bran ready for use, have a look at the following websites: Natural Collection ; http://www.evengreener.com/Shop/Kitchen_Composting/KCOMSLV2_Kitchen_Composter_2_pack.html ;

Keep up the good work! [K]

Demeter: Goddess of good crops

Demeter is also the symbol of the Bio dynamic organisation.

Demeter is first and foremost a goddess of the earth, with dominion over the fruits and riches of the fields. She is especially a goddess of the corn. She presides over the harvest and the labour that attends to it. Her symbol is an ear of corn, and her temples were called Megara.

Prayer to Demeter

Goddess of the earth and it's plants, of fertility and harvest.Grant that as I grow and develop my garden, husband my plants, animals and pets, that they grow, are nurtured and protected as best can be.
Give me the strength to adjust to the seasons, neither too rigid nor too pliable, and the ability to change and adapt to life.
Assist me in respecting and communing with nature.

For more information have a look at Neil's website

http://neilsorganics.com.au/gardening.htm

Biodynamic Food Fortnight 6-21st Oct - Celebrating the Quality of Demeter Food

If you would like to find out more about biodynamic food and farming methods come along to some of the organised events.

Sat 6th Oct - Borough Food Market, London SE1
11am - The Official Launch of the fortnight will be by the renowned chef Michel Roux who runs the highly acclaimed Michelin three star restaurant "Le Gavroche" in Mayfair. Michel Roux says "I serve biodynamic meat to my customers and eat it myself all the time, the taste and texture is like nothing I've tasted before".

Biodynamic foods will be available for sale or to sample on the day from the following Demeter Producers -
- Cheese and meat from Old Plaw Hatch, E Sussex
- Vegetables from Fern Verrow, Herefordshire
- Juice and apples from Tablehurst Orchard, East Sussex
- Bread from Artisan Bread, KentTastings: Hampstead Tea, Artisan Bread, Pageant Wines
- on our info stand in the heart of the market plus biodynamic skin care samples from Martina Gerbhadrt Rolling programme of talks and presentations on aspects of biodynamic food production at No 1 Cathedral St
- close to the Market: Speakers confirmed :
12.45 Ian Bell of Heritage Prime, Dorset
13.15 Monty Waldin author of Biodynamic Wines
13.45 Wendy Cook author of 'The Biodynamic Food and Cookbook'
14.15 Anastasia Druitt from the Biodynamic Land Fund
14.45 Kiran Tawadey of Hampstead Tea, London
15.15 Ingrid Greenfield from Artisan Bread, Kent
15.45 Panel and closing of the day

Throughout the Fortnight a series of local events will be taking place - see our website at http://www.biodynamic.org.uk/ for a full list of what is happening in your area.

The Biodynamic Food Fortnight will conclude at the Mind, Body and Spirit Festival in Manchester where top Indian chef Cyrus Todiwala (Cafe Spice Namaste) and Chris King a top chef from Le Gavroche kitchens will be operating cookery demonstrations with biodynamic fruits, herbs and vegetables compared by Denise Bell Biodynamic Farmer.

Biodynamic Food Fortnight is Sponsored by: Elysium, Heritage Prime & Demeter Germany

British Food Fortnight - Organic and local producers

There is a wealth of outlets in and around Nottinghamshire where you can buy local produce, some of which is grown to organic standards. These include farm shops, butchers, local markets, tea shops and farmers markets. Many of these outlets are listed in a publication, Notts Nosh, which is a directory of over 50 establishments selling locally produced food or drink, based in and around the county.To order your copy, tel: 0115 977 4222.

Up to date details of farmers markets in the county are contained on the FIG website or at http://www.farmersmarkets.net/ and can also be obtained by calling tel: 01623 882 200.

Organic Fortnight 1-16th September

Please find below some more ways of supporting the organic movement.
Hopefully you can find a way that suits you. Go on, give it a try and buy or grow something organic! K

How Fresh is That

There is something about fresh organic food – and you can’t get much fresher than picking it, washing it and eating it there and then.

The Shared Garden Project, a group of 12 families in West Bridgford, Nottingham do just that. Sharing the work (only 2 hours a week) in their 6 gardens, they have fresh, seasonal veg and fruit just when it is ready to eat!.

Allotments are in short supply nationwide – but if you like the idea of sharing the work and already have a plot, why not invite a couple of people on your street to make a mini Shared Garden Project. A good guide is 4 households for a standard 500 sqm allotment if they work 2 hours per week.

Visit the Shared Garden website for details of what they do and how you can do the same.

If you have not got the time or inclination to garden yourself why not think about having an organic fruit and vegetable box delivered...?

River Nene Organic Vegetables - if you can't grow yourself, have it delivered!

Allan McKie and Annette Baulcombe first set up a home delivery vegetable box scheme in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham as part of Peterborough-based River Nene Organic Vegetables in 2005.

Seventy five per cent of the River Nene box scheme's produce comes from its own organic farm, which has been managed organically since 2000, and from Nene Organic Grower Group farms that are all within a 50-mile radius of the farm. The group grows an amazing 85 different varieties of vegetables, all seasonal of course.

The scheme is aimed at shoppers looking for an alternative to supermarket organic fruit and vegetables which are often sourced from much further afield and are often much less fresh than we are able to deliver.

We are also very competitively priced compared to supermarket organics and you also do not have the hassle of carrying it home as we deliver free to your door.

You can order online or by phone or e mail. Further information is available by visiting http://www.rivernene.co.uk/ or calling 0845 078 6868 or call Allan and Annette direct on 0115 981 0002

The Green Box Shop

The Green Box Shop is all about giving you a healthier and greener option. About getting effective and affordable, natural household products to your door.

We sell toiletries, child, baby and pregnancy items, dental, feminine hygiene and cleaning products, with cosmetics and men's ranges soon to follow.

You can buy individual items from us or alternatively, a household, toiletries or baby care start up kit. All the products we sell are used and chosen by us at The Green Box Shop on the basis of purity, effectiveness and cost. We even offer a refill service for certain items to help reduce the amount of plastic going into landfill.

To make it all as easy and convenient as possible, orders can be placed on line. http://www.thegreenboxshop.co.uk/

Living the good life

Having an allotment or a large garden is great for growing your own food, but not everyone is fortunate enough to have the space or time to do so.

I would like to give you some good websites and tips on growing your own, even if you only have a window box. www.earthbox.co.uk

If you have 25 minutes to spare to watch a video about sustainable backyard gardening click here. Although I have spent many years growing our own vegetables, I feel this film is very informative and inspiring, it makes you want to get up and start straight away!

For those of you who have not got the space for a window box, try sprouting seeds. They are very cost effective, nutritious and simple to grow. [K]

Celebrate Green Weeks in West Bridgford

On Saturday 9th June the West Bridgford Summer Gathering will take place between 10am - 2pm

Join us (behind the farmers' market in Bridgford Park), to help celebrating Green Weeks and visit the variety of people taking part: Freecycle, Ecoteams, Teddy Bear's Picnic, Craft, Plants, Cakes, Clipper Tea, The Green Box Shop, River Nene Organic Deliveries, Money saving Eco tips, the Vendablenda, Jo Jingles, U3A.

Going for the Good Life

It is a big step to “go self sufficient” and, lets face it, some of us just want to do a little – not change our lives entirely. A new web site aims to help out here. Selfsufficientish is packed full of useful information on growing organic and being (almost) self-sufficient. Set up by brothers Dave and Andy Hamilton, it has real-life examples and tips. They will also be publishing a book in 2008.

Blue Peter goes Green

The popular BBC children’s’ program ‘Blue Peter’ is about to be renamed ‘Green Peter’ on 29th May. The entire program will be devoted to eco and ‘green’ issues and much of it has been filmed at the Hockerton Housing Project, Nottinghamshire.

The program will look at ways its young audience can help limit the effects of climate change.

"Green Peter won't be a list of scare stories, the purpose will be to focus on what is being done, what can be done, what needs to be done to protect the world the Blue Peter audience will inherit." (Richard Mason, Blue Peter Editor).

This year the program will celebrate its 50th year on TV and this is the first time they have dedicated an entire program to environmental issues. You can watch it on BBC 1 at 5.00pm, Tuesday 29th May.

Eco Schools

They say “start them young” and that is just what the Eco Schools web site is helping to do.

It provides help and information about how schools can reduce their environmental impact and offers advice on education for sustainable development. Schools can enrol in the Eco-Schools programme, and its award scheme so that pupils and staff can work towards three certificates and, at the same time, raise the profile of the school within their local community.

Biodegradable Furniture

US based, British designer Julian Lwin produces objects using Eco or recycled elements. His Bio Tube Bench is constructed using cardboard tubes with embedded seeds. This can be grasses, herbs or wildflowers. You water it, the bench sprouts and, eventually, biodegrades so you can have a place to sit in the garden and allow it to become part of the garden once it has degraded. Visit Lwin Design for more details.