Looking around my allotment complex you can see daily people walking up and down with wood to make their own raised beds. The end result can be very successful. Not all of us have time or expertese to make this in one's own backgardens. Now Recycle Works has come up with a very aestetically pleasing, very flexible Raised Garden Plots . For those of you that have a little bit more space this might be just the thing to start your own mini allotment in your own garden or back yard and compost at the same time!Wooden Raised Beds

These easy to assemble garden plots comprises 8 pointed posts - ready for knocking into the ground and eight sides boards.Special Offer! For a limted period of time, this product is available with a 10% discount.To purchase with the discount, please visit the Special Offers section. Watch a video review of our raised beds courtesy of http://www.gardencentretv.co.uk/ Price £53.34

Power in a bottle - A look at essential oils

Many years ago I came across this wonderful book The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Ann Worwood.

Not only did it show how essential oils provide the most natural way to give your home a delightful aroma, it also pointed out that the oils have much more to offer than their fragrances, you can even choose oils which are anti-bacterial or anti-viral and some attract or repulse pests in your garden.

You need never worry again about what the chlorofluorocarbons in your commercial aerosol or air-freshener are doing to the earth’s ozon layer, or what the chemicals it contains are doing to your family’s health. Essential oils provide a far better option all round.

Swap your bulky plastic packaging for some small 10ml glass bottles instead. Better for you and better for your environment.

In the coming week I will highlight a daily digest of oils I use regularly in and around the house. Hopefully this will inspire you to go out and get some yourself so that you too can enjoy these oils so powerful and natural. [K]

In the past I have bought my organic oils from http://www.essentialoilsdirect.co.uk/ I can definitely recommend this company.

Bash Your Trash

Many of us in the UK now have green bins for garden rubbish, collected every two weeks. A positive step in keeping this type of biodegradable material out of the normal bin but they fill up quickly.

If you are out in the garden this weekend just half an hour of ‘trimming’ will probably fill your bin, so you might like to know about TrashBasher.

This simple metal attachment clips onto your bin and allows you to compress the green contents so you can get more in. If you have a council which fines you for your bin lid being open (or refuses to empty the bin), the TrashBasher can compact your contents and allow you to get the lid closed.

It is easy to store, lightweight, easy to use and costs £19.99 online from Maplin.

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/

Recycled Garden Lanterns

As it might look like summer is on the way and we all drift out into the garden, patio or balcony you might like to have a look at these lanterns made from recycled glass.

A wire ‘cage’ is used to hold the recycled glass which ‘pokes’ through to form an undulating surface. Pop a tea light into them and you have instant atmosphere. They come in three sizes, start at around £7.00 and are available online at Hen & Hammock who have a wide range of eco design products.

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.

The Earthbox

The EarthBox is simply the easiest gardening system ever developed. It automatically grows bumper crops of vegetables, flowers, and herbs - anywhere you want - without any work or gardening experience!

No gardening experience required
As easy as "Just Adding Water"
Guaranteed higher yields
Self-watering, self-feeding
Grows anywhere where there is sunlight
100% natural and Earth-friendly
No weeding http://www.earthbox.co.uk/

We are expection Eric from the Earth box at Saturday's Summer Gathering, so if you would like to get your hands on one soon, pop by in Bridgford Park between 10-2pm

The online retailer is Harrod Horticultural, www.harrodhorticultural.co.uk, their telephone number is 0845 402 5300.

Eco BBQ?

If you are dodging the rain this Bank Holiday Monday (in the UK at least), you might be having a barbeque.

If you want it to be an Eco one, you might like to have a look at this article by Lucy Siegel on the best ways to grill in an eco friendly way. www.ecozine.co.uk

In short, avoid the gas barbeques and go for sustainable charcoal. You might also want to not spend thousands on one of those fancy, do everything, outdoor cookers which pretend to be a barbeque, and grill in an old wheelbarrow - that’s what Lucy did!!!

[Via Hippyshopper]

How’s your Muck?

Perhaps not in the headlines but it has been Compost Awareness Week.

One of the quickest, and simplest, ways to reduce the rubbish you throw into your bin is to compost your kitchen and garden waste.

Many councils offer special deals on compost bins and they are extremely simple to use. Not only do you reduce your land fill waste but you actually get something free in return - brilliant compost for the garden, patio or planter.

Lets face it, compost isn’t that expensive in the main supermarkets these days, but you do have to go and fetch it (normally in the car because the bags are heavy), and you end up with another massive plastic bag to trow away. If it you have a compost bin in your garden it is always ‘on hand’.

The guardian has a top ten guide to the basics of composting and some of those questions you have been burning to ask.

More infomation" www.compostawarenessweek.org.uk

Pooh Pots

At a time when people are growing seedlings ready for transplanting, here is a helping hand in the form of Cow Pots (TM), transplanter pots made from cow manure. Apparently they don’t smell and are completely biodegradable being made from 100% composted USA cow pooh.

They provide an easy way to transplant delicate plants, stimulate root growth and enrich the soil they are planted in at the same time. No word of them being available in the UK yet but a great idea invented by two dairy farming brothers in Connecticut, USA.

More information from: www.cowpots.com

Hi-Tech Paper Lanterns

One of the problems about solar garden lighting is that many people just do not like the ‘modern’ design so, for your traditionalists out there, you might like to have a look at these.

The Chinese style lanterns have LEDs in them which are powered by small solar panels and have an in built sensor which switches them on when it gets dark. All you have to do is hang them up!

Each pack contains three red lanterns and three white. The white ones have colour changing LEDs in them so they slowly fade through a variety of colours. Simple and practical - no installation and no cost for power. You not only have a chance to decorate your garden but save some Co2 at the same time!

Available for around £29.95 from Firebox.com

Tip 5. Not all food comes from the shops - Why not grow your own?

A little bit of self-sufficiency goes a long way, even for those of you with only a little yard, some window boxes and containers will be a great start, you could easily cultivate a couple of simple tomato plants, or herbs on the windowsill and even potatoes in a dustbin! Growing a few organic fruit and vegetables is not only delicious, but it breaks that dependency from the supermarket and opens your eyes to taking the chemical-free route too.

Plant something in the garden to cultivate and eat and start a compost heap. Most local councils have simple but very effective compost bins for sale, or if you have not got the space have a look at the bokashi method as mentioned before on the Ecolist.
Natural Collection or Evengreener.com

The benefits are simple, no more smelly and maggot infested bins, but some very valuable compost for next year's planting and your bin men will be delighted too!

Get Them Growing Green Early

This is a really nice activity pack for children and a way of helping them to become involved in ‘growing’.

The Indoor Gardening Kit contains all children need to plant and grow. Available from Green Toys, the pack is made from environmentally friendly materials and comes with seeds, instructions and even soil.

If you want your children (from 5 upwards) to go green and grow their own plants, but can’t get their name on the allotment waiting list – this might just be the thing. Sadly Green Toys Inc is located in San Francisco but it seems the will ship to places outside the USA.

Recycled Planter

We have featured products made from recycled tyres before on the EcoList, but this is the first one for the garden.

These recycled tyre planters provide a slightly ‘industrial’ solution to potting those plants and, because of their size and the fact that they are VERY durable, they are ideal for large shrubs or small trees.

As it is more and more difficult to dispose of old tyres, this offers a stylish alternative to throwing them away. Mind you, they are almost as expensive as the original tyre!

More details here: www.henandhammock.co.uk

[Via: Better Living Through Design]

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!

The Digital Allotment

How about having your allotment inside your computer?

Here at the EcoList we are constantly enthusing about making little steps towards large changes. One of those steps is to “Grow your Own Veg”. Both Andy and Karina, who edit the EcoList, do just that in the Shared Garden Project.

Allotments have changed over the past few years – waiting lists of young people and families are growing across the country and the image of ‘Grumpy old men’ leaning on garden fences is changing rapidly.

Now there is something for the computer literate generation which will help you plan your planting. GrowVeg.com is a new website which allows you to electronically plan where to grow veg, how to rotate the crop, the best way to utilize the space you have and, at the same time, get advice on planting, growing and eating.

One of the GrowVeg.com team is Jeremy Dore. A computer programmer and keen organic gardener who dug up his front lawn in 2004 to plant vegetables. He is the developer of the online garden planning tool – a graphic and very simple to use system.

Take a 30 day free trial at www.growveg.com and if you like it you can extend the service for £15.00 a year.

This might be just the site to engage children and get them more involved in growing their own veg.
[Via Hippyshopper]

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]

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!

Solar Illuminated Thermometer

This outdoor thermometer has a built in solar panel and rechargeable battery.

During the day the solar panel converts sunlight into power and stores it in the battery. At dusk the built-in sensor automatically turns a LED light on, illuminating the full length of the thermometer tube.

See just how cold it is this summer and illuminate the garden at the same time!

Available from Maplin at £6.98