Tomorrow, Karina begins a week of brilliant suggestions for ‘alternative’ Christmas presents so, just before that, here is something which might just be a Christmas present for your and your neighbours.
Why not invite people on your street, in your block of flats, or around the corner, to an evening round at your place? Don’t panic – it isn’t much work as the people you invite do it all for you!
We did this the year we moved into our house. We really didn’t know many of the people on our street – it isn’t as easy to make contact when everyone is at home in the warm, so we invited them round. Pop a note through peoples’ door and invite them one evening. Ask them to bring a Christmas decoration and some food to share. Place an undecorated tree near the food table or in your hall and, as each person arrives, ask them to hang their decoration on the tree and put the food on the table.
When we did it everyone brought something. Some people made their own decoration, others had purchased something. Over the course of the evening the tree became more and more festive. A great way to meet the neighbours – and often just the thing they need to give them a way to say ‘hello’. As everyone brings food it isn’t a massive job for the party giver and you end up with a Christmas tree fully decorated by people on your street.
Years later we still have all the decorations from that evening and some really good friends. A simple and festive way to remember a great get together. [A]
Invite your Street
Shared Garden Open Day-Well Worth A Visit
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/
Earth Hour
Back in February Beccy Spurr, our first ever EcoList prize-winner sent us information about the next Earth Hour event.
Well now is the time - this weekend - so turn off some lights and join in.
How do you draw people's attention to global warming and the massive amounts of power we use every day? - Simple – we all turn off our lights for one hour on March 29th 2008.
The event took place in Sydney last year and now, many more major cities around the world have signed up to ‘do it again’. There is a website, packed full of information, help and ideas on how to take part and you can sign up quickly and simply.
Have a look at the video below, which is also on the EarthHour website and see just what impact Sydney made in 2007.
Already cities from across Europe, North America, Asia and Asia Pacific, including Chicago, Copenhagen, Manila, Melbourne, Sydney, Tel Aviv and Toronto have been named as the flagship participants in the WWF-led event.
www.earthhour.org
Chip in and join Chippers!
The way the scheme works.
When you join the scheme you paid a one off joining fee of £5. For this you receive 10 Chips to get you started (these need to be given back when you no longer wish to be a member), your details will be added to the data base which will then be distributed among the rest of the group.
The sort of details you would have to give are: Name, Address, Telephone number, Email Address, What you would like to offer, What you might like to receive.
For every hour you provide a service, you receive one ‘Chip’ which can then be spend again on anything listed on the list.
The more you use the system the more successful it is.
Chippers is still going but needs some new life. At one point we had over 85 members, most of whom used the services weekly and who became good friends.
Now more than 10 years later, people still occasionally use it but situations have changed, people have moved on and Chippers has gone to sleep a bit. After yesterday’s meeting with some Eco Team members it transpired that there might be some more interest among people of West Bridgford.
If you would like to become a Chipper and try and get the group active and healthy again, please contact me on: karina.wells@ntlworld.com. If you are interested to join but are not sure what to give, I am very happy to have a chat with you and come up with some suggestions.
Eco Lighting for Everyone
There is something about a city skyline, illuminated at night, which ads spectacle and intrigue to the places we love.
On the one hand we want to reduce our carbon footprint, energy consumption and budget but on the other we want our cities to look spectacular at night.
In London the National Theatre is trying to find a way to be both eco friendly and remain a beacon on the South Bank. In a 5-year partnership with Philips they are renewing the external and internal lighting of their building complex.
During September they completed the first phase and changed their external lighting. The results (suggested by Philips) are a 70 % reduction in the energy required to illuminate the distinctive, but daylight ugly, flytowers.
It seems that once the entire project is compete the theatre hopes to save £100,000 annually which they want to reinvest in theatrical productions.
More details at the community website London SE1
Energy Saving Week
Well, did you know!! An annual event hosted by the energy Saving Trust, Energy Saving Week runs from 22nd – 28th October. Part of its aim is to encourage groups, families and individuals to commit to saving 20% of the energy we use and so fight climate change.
The Energy Saving Week website has a host of tips and information which include a home energy’ check, efficient ways of driving and details of energy saving grants and offers. All well worth a look. You can also make your own commitment by using their easy to use ‘commitment’ pages. Very simply you can choose to ‘only boil as much water in your kettle as you need”, turn your thermostat down by 1 degree or turn off appliances which are on standby. You get the idea – simple steps which are easy to achieve.
Save your 20%
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...?
West Bridgford – Back to the future
I recently read an article’ Small is Inevitable after oil runs out.’ It is about the Transition Town, Totnes. This historic market town of 4,000 people is used as a model to try and live in a more sustainable way, relying less on oil and energising the local economy.
Here in West Bridgford for many years individual groups have advocated the virtues of sustainable living.
1. Eco Teams: A programme where a group of people in a street will come together once a month and discuss and act upon issues relating to Waste reduction, Water preservation, Energy reduction and Transport alternatives. tina.holt@globalactionplan.org.uk
2. Shared Garden Project: A group of people working 2 hours per week in local allotments, where they grow a large proportion of their weekly organic fruit, vegetables and eggs. Andy@sharedgarden.co.uk
3. Notts Nosh is our local food producers directory to obtain it go to: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/nottsnosh.pdf
4. Chippers: A local database where people trade their skills and services for a ‘Chip’ per hour. Karina.wells@ntlworld.com
5. LETS: Local economic trading scheme, this is a BARTERING system where goods and services are paid for in Acorns. lets@veggies.org.uk
6. Pedals and Ridewise: A group who will help you get on your bike and give you FREE cycling lessons so that you can ride safe and with confidence. Hugh.McClintock@ntlworld.com
Apart from making our town a more sustainable, all these groups contribute to a closer knit and safer community for you, your family and friends.
If you would like to be part of this, please contact the groups direct and Enjoy!
First zero-carbon house
Monday was a good day for the zero-carbon debate as the UK government has just recognised the first zero-carbon house by awarding it a stamp duty exemption certificate. For those not living in the UK – stamp duty is a tax payable when you buy property.
Housing minister, Yvette Cooper, handed over the certificate to a prototype house which is the most environmentally friendly home built in the UK. For a buyer this means they do not have to pay the tax and could save around £2,000 on a zero-carbon house costing £200,000.
"A quarter of carbon emissions come from our homes. That's why zero-carbon homes are so important," said Yvette Cooper.
Photo: Peter White, BRE. Used with permission.
[From the Guardian]
EcoList in the Park
On Saturday 9th June the EcoList took part in the the West Bridgford Summer Gathering along with the Shared Garden Project and many of the groups, companies and organisations listed here.
A stunning day, bright sunshine and hundreds of people who had a chance to find out more about green and eco issues.
Lots of displays to pick up information, plenty to interest the kids and time to chat. A good day for Green Weeks 2007.
