Thank god for yesterdays downpour, I now have one water barrel one third full, it will not last long but at least if it rain today aswell the garden and pots will not need any water for a few days. I hate having to be dependant on the hose pipe not just for environmental reasons but I find it hard to keep track on the ammount of water I use when there is a constant supply.
Over the weekend I’ve been getting on with the van trying to turn it into a campervan, I think that the warm weather has spurred me on. I’ve never done anything like this before and it’s alot harder than it looks. Part of the problem is that none of the angles are square. I’ve tried to get round that by simply making everything square and ignoring the curved walls.
I’ve finished the hob/sink unit which now needs another connector to fit the gas supply which will go under the unit.
Next to that is a seating unit with storage under. This will become a bed once the other side is finished much the same as in a caravan. The seating cushions my wife bought from ebay, they came from an old caravan and luckily enough fit perfectly.
It’s still early days at the moment I still have to insulate the roof and pannel over it, get all the electrics in and sort out the gas connection but I feel that I’ve made a good start.
Asda anounced this week that it was introducing bagless check outs so that people could only use it if they brought their own bag. Thats a great idea but I would rather they put pressure on supplyers to reduce the ammount of packaging and introduce refill systems. Ecover have refill systems but you only get them in independant health food shops. I would like to see a supermarket looking more like a way and save.
We are less likely to see these changes in the near future as the supermarkets real goal is to win the eco wars and not to save the planet. In the last few years it has become fashionable to be seen to be green.
How can Tesco say that they have an environmental policy when they have reuined thousands of small businesses by pushing then out and by offering a tesco life where you can buy all your food, electricals, phone, bank, insurance and mortgage, they are even talking about introducing GP surgerys! A healthy eco system relys on a polyculture not a monoculture to survive.
All these actions are just token gestures to trick the consumer into thinking that they are the most green supermarket, while they can get away with the slightest action they will continue to do so. A bagless shopping checkout makes the national news, is it realy that big a deal, when they still promote huge food miles, unseasonal produce and continue to buil there shops on the edge of town meaning you have to drive to get there.
I’m still holding out, a supermarket could be such a better place but there is still a long way to go.
Now coming from an english man it may seem that I’ve lost my mind. I’m not complaining the weather for the last few weeks has been amazing but the gardener in me is getting impatient. I have not been keeping a record but I know that it has not rained here in nearly 20 days as thats when I fixed the water butts so they are still sitting empty. I would also go as far as saying that it hasn’t rained for three weeks.
I’m not saying that this is a sign of global warming I’m just sick of having to use the tap to collect water for the plants and seedlings. The dry weather also means that I’m having to water the rest of the garden aswell causing me to use even more water than normal.
It does make me think about how we would cope if we relied on the rain for all our water or even just for crops without the tap I would have nothing left by now.
If it rains tomorrow don’t blame me for moaning about it and knowing my luck it will rain for the next three weeks non-stop, sorry.
What with coming back from Bulgaria and having my wisdom teeth out this years growing season has been a little behind but I’m almost back on track now. I managed to drag my puffy face down to my mothers and get some seeds in.
Here’s what went in.
Chard blue lights
Spinach beet- perpetual spinach
Beetroot bolthardy
Lettuce mixed
Leeks - forget which sort
Sugar snap peas
Pea kelvedon wonder
This is my experiment for this year to see if I can simply just push the pea seed through the paper mulch. I’m surethat it will be fine and also I hope that it will stop the pigeons from digging them all up but thats a long shot.
I was very pleased to find that the sandy soil under the mulch was quite moist which surprised me as it has not rained here for over two weeks. The only problem is that there was quite a number of slugs under there as well but I deal with that by just planting more seed one for me one for the slug.
My best victory has been between me and the cabbage white, last summer it totally decimated my cabbage and broccoli crop and although I lost all the cabbages and most of the broccoli the purple sprouting because of it’s long season has come back beautifully. All I need now is to be able to eat and I can enjoy it.
I’ll also be potting on most of the seedlings like tomato chilli pepper and the squashes in the next few days. My only problem is that I’ve lost a number of seed packets, I think I need a word with the little lad.
I was just thinking how I’d never thought much about my ethics when it came down to medicine and being ill. I will quite happily starve rather than go into a Mc Donalds but if I’ve got tooth ache I’ll take anything that will relieve the pain.
I’m suffering at the moment after having my wisdom teeth out, my face is swollen , I can’t feel my tounge and I can’t open my mouth properly. I’ve been given an arm full of tablets for the swelling, pain and antibiotics. I’ve done without the paracetamol but I’ve taken the others, not because I’m brave but it’s just not painful, just uncomfortable. If it starts hurting I’ll be taking the painkillers too.
To be honest I’m too afraid of getting an infection not to take the others. I’m also using a strong chemical mouthwash instead of just warm salt water, which works just as well. I think it’s all down to having had tooth ache so many times the thought of having it again or some other mouth infection is just to much of an incentive not to reach for the chemicals.
Also because I can’t eat I’ve been having these ‘Enrich plus’ milkshakes. They are full of chemicals and E numbers but I need something. I have had some homemade soup but it’s ran out and I don’t have a liquidiser just a hand blender so I still choke on the chunks.
I don’t know if it’s my lack of commitment or my long running fear of teeth troubles but I’m sticking with the tablets for now. I’m not against modern medicine, for many people it’s life or death but I just don’t like all the side effects you get from supposedly low risk medicine. For example as I type this I keep making mistakes and when I stand up I feel drunk, not that it’s such a bad thing, I’d just rather be doing the drinking part.
Here is is part of my tub crop raddish lettuce and garlic
this is the herb spiral looking a little healthier.
I proud of the thifty use of this old window that I’ve just put into the shed door. I just need to get the roof on the shed now! I’m hoping for something to turn up on freecyle as up to now all the materials have been free.
I may not be posting for a while as tomorrow I’m having my wisdom teeth and another tooth, out and will be feeling sorry for myself. I ‘m not looking forward to it but also I’m hoping that it will also relieve alot of stress that my teeth cause. I clench my teeth at night a lot and the thought of tooth ache is always in the back of my mind, whenever I travel I need to remember painkillers and mouthwash.
I wonder, after it all heals, if I will feel different, as my teeth are often on my mind, I hope so. I’ll post a picture of my face, if I remember so you can see how great I look.
I sometimes get sick of all the freecycle e-mails that I recieve because so many of them are people wanting things rather than offering what they no longer need but I know that it will be worth it in the long run. Like today I picked up 3 demi-johns from just 5 minutes walk away. Thanks Colin.
If you have never heard of it then you are missing out, here’s an explanation of what it’s all about.
The Freecycle Network™ is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them’s good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by clicking on the region on the left. You may then go directly to your local group by clicking on “Go To” or you may immediately joining by clicking on “Join.” It will generate an automatic e-mail which, when sent, will sign you up for the local group and send you a response with instructions on how it works. Can’t find a group near you? You might want to consider starting one (click on “Start a Group” for instructions). Have fun!
The Freecycle Network was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson’s downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to “recycle” unwanted items. One person’s trash can truly be another’s treasure!
HOW DOES IT WORK ?
When you want to find a new home for something — whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door — you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group.
Or, maybe you’re looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member’s offer, and you just might get it. After that, it’s up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.
Our main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.
Check out freecycle.org
I spent the weekend with friends in Sheffield, we went to see ‘Bison’ play got very drunk and had a great time. The next morning feeling a bit rough we went walking round some of the parks which are just a great place to be when you are feeling a little delicate.
It was also great to see a couple of lads urban foraging at the back of a supermarket, they ended up with easy enough stuff to feed themselves and others.
I also went to the new-ish arboretum in the city centre, it’s a huge wooden domed building. There is also a new peace park which again is beautiful.
What I like best is that there is such a good vibe in Sheffield, we were not the only ones enjoying the parks there were loads of people with picnics and BBQ’s but what makes it different is that everyone is so friendly. Thanks Sheffield for a great weekend.
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