Bridget Thurley, Master Composter has sent
this, and asked for volunteers ...
Grow your own Vegetables at Peachcroft Farm
Contact: gyoveg@hotmail.com
Time: Thursday 9.30-11.00 am (please ask if interested in a Saturday
afternoon class)
Place: Peachcroft Farm www.peachcroft.co.uk It has the convenience
of a cafe and toilet! There is also a plant stall and 'pick your own'
to try the vegetables we do not grow (asparagus should be appearing
very soon).Cost: £6.00 per session Equipment: All gardening equipment
provided but please bring wellies, gloves, and refreshments.
The Classes: Week by week basic techniques in vegetable growing are
covered using theory, demonstration and practical work as various
tasks are undertaking on the vegetable plot. The focus is on crops
that are easy to grow, tasty and productive and that gave year round
produce (not just those that yield during the holiday season!)
Labour-saving tips are covered in detail.
The information given and experience gained should suit all gardening
situations. Those who have less experience have the opportunity of
cultivating the Peach Croft Farm plot in a supportive group, others
may choose to use their newly acquired skills at home or on their
allotment.
Within the first few weeks a beginner should have enough knowledge to
be harvesting their own container-grown salad leaves and herbs and
also growing-on tomatoes, cucumber, potatoes and climbing beans. Other
crops will be sown on the Peach Croft plot.
In general, class members should leave each class with some knowledge
gained, a problem solved and a new idea to try out.
Jobs for April:
April 23. Crop rotation, digging and seed-bed preparation; the
’no-dig’ system; container-grown salad vegetables.
April 30. sowing seed, pricking out, potting-on. Weeds and weed control.
May 7. Compost, fertiliser and liquid feed. Looking after tomatoes.
Future classes: Pests, diseases, moisture conservation and other
problems; growing veg. in the poly tunnel/greenhouse; no-dig gardening
(i.e. raised bed systems and permiculture); storing & preserving
produce and recipe ideas; low cost propagation: saving seed, growing
from cuttings and dividing plants etc.
... Read this ...
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Forthcoming dates
The calendar to the right hand side of your screen has been updated. Here's a brief summary of the upcoming events not posted previously:
The next Carbon Cutters meeting will be in the Roysse Room at the slightly later time of 7.45pm. The Roysse Room is part of the Guildhall complex. The meeting will be chaired by Jo Hamilton of ClimateXchange. The objective of the meeting is to look at how to move Carbon Cutters' activities from individual actions to wider town based things. There will be representatives from most of the neighbouring community action groups.
The outcome of that meeting will definitely have a bearing on the first ever Carbon Cutters AGM which will be held during June, to reconfirm the group's purpose and to set its' direction for the coming months. The AGM will be an open meeting, so do watch this space for date and time details.
The many events that are taking place to mark National Cycle Week won't run smoothly withut volunteers If you think that you could help to man the Saturday-stall in the town centre, or to act as a marshall for the Sunday afternoon treasure hunt, please contact carbon.cutters@gmail.com ... Read this ...
The next Carbon Cutters meeting will be in the Roysse Room at the slightly later time of 7.45pm. The Roysse Room is part of the Guildhall complex. The meeting will be chaired by Jo Hamilton of ClimateXchange. The objective of the meeting is to look at how to move Carbon Cutters' activities from individual actions to wider town based things. There will be representatives from most of the neighbouring community action groups.
The outcome of that meeting will definitely have a bearing on the first ever Carbon Cutters AGM which will be held during June, to reconfirm the group's purpose and to set its' direction for the coming months. The AGM will be an open meeting, so do watch this space for date and time details.
The many events that are taking place to mark National Cycle Week won't run smoothly withut volunteers If you think that you could help to man the Saturday-stall in the town centre, or to act as a marshall for the Sunday afternoon treasure hunt, please contact carbon.cutters@gmail.com ... Read this ...
Notes from Carbon Cutters - 15.04.2009
The topic of tonight's meeting was "permaculture" and Sophie & Martin spoke about how Permculture is a matter of working with, rather than against nature "an integration of ecological design principles, ethics and values".
Sophie suggested that we look to some of the patterns in nature for design inspiration. We were also challenged to consider our land use: are plants grown for ornamental purposes, or as food for sustainable living?
Following on from last month's talk about gardening (for food), the Permaculture way of thinking challenges the crop-rotation way of gardening, favouring combination planting.
Much of the background to the concept of Permaculture comes from Bill Mollison: more about him can be read here. ... Read this ...
Sophie suggested that we look to some of the patterns in nature for design inspiration. We were also challenged to consider our land use: are plants grown for ornamental purposes, or as food for sustainable living?
Following on from last month's talk about gardening (for food), the Permaculture way of thinking challenges the crop-rotation way of gardening, favouring combination planting.
Much of the background to the concept of Permaculture comes from Bill Mollison: more about him can be read here. ... Read this ...
Monday, April 13, 2009
Free book
"Sustainable Energy - without the Hot Air" is the title of a book by the Cambridge scientist Prof. David MacKay.
The book is for sale from Amazon here.
The author, however, is so keen that the message of his book is spread - you can download a copy of the book to your computer for free, from the book's website http://www.withouthotair.com/. The sections I've looked at so far are certainly very readable. ... Read this ...
The book is for sale from Amazon here.
The author, however, is so keen that the message of his book is spread - you can download a copy of the book to your computer for free, from the book's website http://www.withouthotair.com/. The sections I've looked at so far are certainly very readable. ... Read this ...
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Eco-kitchen workshops
SEED-Group and COIN are delighted to announce Oxfordshire’s first, public eco-kitchen design and build workshops.
The five hour workshops are on Saturdays 18th and 25th April, from 10:30 - 16:00. The sessions are open to already eco aware or recently inspired people interested in making major or minor sustainable adaptations to the most carbon intensive room in our homes – the kitchen.
Developed in partnership between COIN and SEED-GROUP, the workshops will give people access to expert eco knowledge, design and skills. The sessions focus on providing attendees with a fresh and inspiring approach to design, and an insight into innovative materials that can be used.
Sally Harper, Founder, SEED-Group commented: “It can be really difficult for the eco aware consumer to get good advice and support, on the design and build of an authentic, sustainable eco kitchen. The workshops will help people make more considered, and confident, green living choices in the future. We’re really excited to showcase our demonstration eco kitchen and hope people leave inspired and better informed.”
Eco Kitchen Workshops: Saturday 18th and 25th April 2009
Time: 10.30am to 4.00pm, a light lunch is included
Location: Great Haseley, Oxon (for detailed
directions and car sharing
opportunities, please contact Toni below...)
Tickets: £35.00 must be booked in advance
To reserve: Contact COIN on 01865 403334 or email
toni@coinet.org.uk
For more info see http://ecovation.org.uk/htmldesigns/kitchenws.html
SEED-Group is a multi-knowledge team of designers and expert advisors
who design, advise, publish, lecture and exhibit on innovative
approaches to eco design and materials. Co-founders include Professor
Susan Roaf, Sally Harper, Eco-consultant and designer and Tony
Williams, Green Construction Expert. ... Read this ...
The five hour workshops are on Saturdays 18th and 25th April, from 10:30 - 16:00. The sessions are open to already eco aware or recently inspired people interested in making major or minor sustainable adaptations to the most carbon intensive room in our homes – the kitchen.
Developed in partnership between COIN and SEED-GROUP, the workshops will give people access to expert eco knowledge, design and skills. The sessions focus on providing attendees with a fresh and inspiring approach to design, and an insight into innovative materials that can be used.
Sally Harper, Founder, SEED-Group commented: “It can be really difficult for the eco aware consumer to get good advice and support, on the design and build of an authentic, sustainable eco kitchen. The workshops will help people make more considered, and confident, green living choices in the future. We’re really excited to showcase our demonstration eco kitchen and hope people leave inspired and better informed.”
Eco Kitchen Workshops: Saturday 18th and 25th April 2009
Time: 10.30am to 4.00pm, a light lunch is included
Location: Great Haseley, Oxon (for detailed
directions and car sharing
opportunities, please contact Toni below...)
Tickets: £35.00 must be booked in advance
To reserve: Contact COIN on 01865 403334 or email
toni@coinet.org.uk
For more info see http://ecovation.org.uk/htmldesigns/kitchenws.html
SEED-Group is a multi-knowledge team of designers and expert advisors
who design, advise, publish, lecture and exhibit on innovative
approaches to eco design and materials. Co-founders include Professor
Susan Roaf, Sally Harper, Eco-consultant and designer and Tony
Williams, Green Construction Expert. ... Read this ...
Eco-renovation survey.
This is a request to Carbon Cutters from the ClimateXChange Coordinator at Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute:
To enable us to evaluate the activities that we’ve been doing, on a
local and national level, we’d really appreciate just 5 minutes of
your time to fill in a survey. We’d like to know if you’ve been to
events on energy efficiency, micro-generation or eco-renovation, what
you thought of them, and what would help you take your next step. It’s
all online, anonymous, and we’ll be picking 1 person in every 10 from
Oxfordshire and send them an eco-renovation goody as a thankyou. You
can do the survey online here. ... Read this ...
To enable us to evaluate the activities that we’ve been doing, on a
local and national level, we’d really appreciate just 5 minutes of
your time to fill in a survey. We’d like to know if you’ve been to
events on energy efficiency, micro-generation or eco-renovation, what
you thought of them, and what would help you take your next step. It’s
all online, anonymous, and we’ll be picking 1 person in every 10 from
Oxfordshire and send them an eco-renovation goody as a thankyou. You
can do the survey online here. ... Read this ...
Thursday, April 2, 2009
How to live a sustainable life ...
As noted in the diary on the right hand side, the forthcoming Carbon Cutters meeting on April 15th is on the topic of Permaculture.If you'd like a copy of the poster to print and display, please contact carbon.cutters@googlemail.com ... Read this ...
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