Archive | July, 2009

Grow your Own exhibit at the Garden Museum

31. July 2009

Comments Off on Grow your Own exhibit at the Garden Museum

Grow your Own exhibit at the Garden Museum

The Garden Museum  located in Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1, is one of the leading national venues for exhibitons and debate on gardens and garden design. It celebrates British gardens and gardening through its collection, temporary exhibitions, events, symposia and garden. Visit the web-site to find out more about the Museum’s range of activities http://www.gardenmuseum.org.uk […]

Continue reading...

Mini NASA allotment targets “space” savers

30. July 2009

Comments Off on Mini NASA allotment targets “space” savers

If you are a long way down the waiting list to get a local allotment from your council, then NASA have designed one for astronauts that may be just the answer. It uses no water or soil, just requires a power supply as reported by the Daily Mail: The Power Plant Growing Machine was designed […]

Continue reading...

Grow Your Own fever hits London

27. July 2009

Comments Off on Grow Your Own fever hits London

Grow Your Own fever hits London

It appears that  Grow Your Own is gripping the capital this summer. The desire to harvest crops of runner beans , tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, parsnips and much more is being fuelled by the daily musings of the London Standard newspaper which is running a “Grow Your Own” campaign. Every day a different story highlights the […]

Continue reading...

Hanging city gardens reduce food imports

25. July 2009

Comments Off on Hanging city gardens reduce food imports

Hanging city gardens reduce food imports

The European Environment Agency is considering Europe-wide building regulations that would encourage developers to include “vertical allotments” in their designs. Walls, balconies and roofs would be used to cultivate fruit and vegetables, reducing the need to bring food from the countryside. With 80% of people living in towns in the UK and 23% of each […]

Continue reading...

UK’s five million flats offer 600 acres of growing space

23. July 2009

Comments Off on UK’s five million flats offer 600 acres of growing space

UK’s five million flats offer 600 acres of growing space

UK’s five million flat dwellers have the biggest challenge when it comes to finding space to grow food at home, but , according to the National Trust, there are over 600 acres of growing space available on window sills in the UK for “grow your own” . The window sill space is equivalent to 344 […]

Continue reading...

Big Lunch promotes human warming

20. July 2009

Comments Off on Big Lunch promotes human warming

Yesterday was the day when the Eden Project suggested that we all get together to share a meal, using  produce that we have grown ourselves or, that has been locally sourced. The idea came from one of my favourite Eden gurus – Tim Smit who wanted to promote “human warming.” He summed it up when […]

Continue reading...

Carbon Connection – Rainforest SOS

14. July 2009

Comments Off on Carbon Connection – Rainforest SOS

Carbon Connection – Rainforest SOS

Just one day of tropical forest emissions from deforestation is equal to 12.5 million people flying from London to New York. This impressive fact was used in my favourite garden at the Hampton Court Flower Show – “The Carbon Connection.” designed by Fiona Stephenson. Fiona created a stunning display of horticultural art with ecological meaning […]

Continue reading...

Londoners Grow Their Own in Handbags

12. July 2009

Comments Off on Londoners Grow Their Own in Handbags

Londoners Grow Their Own in Handbags

Here are some of the weird and wonderful ideas for growing your own produce on the Capital Growth stand at the Hampton Court Flower Show. They really were creative using everything from  briefcases, handbags, lampshades and hats to re-cycling cartons, tins and just about anything else that will retain water. Everything is planted with small […]

Continue reading...

Met Office – weather to forecast climate change in 2050?

12. July 2009

Comments Off on Met Office – weather to forecast climate change in 2050?

Met Office – weather to forecast climate change in 2050?

The weather was the topic of conversation at Hampton Court yesterday – especially in the Garden Energy area presented jointly by the RHS and the Met Office and designed by Sarah Eberle, eight times medal-winning garden designer .This enormous display of gardens, alternative energies , grow your own and very detailed  information boards fitted in […]

Continue reading...

Dahlias delight at Hampton Court

11. July 2009

Comments Off on Dahlias delight at Hampton Court

Dahlias delight at Hampton Court

Apparently about 170,000 people visit the Hampton Court Flower Show and stay for about 5 hours. I must be the exception as I arrived yesterday at 5pm and left as the Show was closing at 7.30pm. If you go after 3pm it is £17 rather than £27 and its also less busy and more relaxed. […]

Continue reading...