All things red and beautiful
From the RCA Secrets postcard exhibition
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Colour by numbers
Hex numbers - quite useful for web designing and graphics.
| Colour Name | Col | Select a Colour | Hex | R | G | B | Access |
| indian red | indian red | #B0171F | 176 | 23 | 31 | 2037680 | |
| crimson | crimson | #DC143C | 220 | 20 | 60 | 3937500 | |
| lightpink | lightpink | #FFB6C1 | 255 | 182 | 193 | 12695295 | |
| lightpink 1 | lightpink 1 | #FFAEB9 | 255 | 174 | 185 | 12168959 | |
| lightpink 2 | lightpink 2 | #EEA2AD | 238 | 162 | 173 | 11379438 | |
| lightpink 3 | lightpink 3 | #CD8C95 | 205 | 140 | 149 | 9800909 | |
| lightpink 4 | lightpink 4 | #8B5F65 | 139 | 95 | 101 | 6643595 | |
| pink | pink | #FFC0CB | 255 | 192 | 203 | 13353215 | |
| pink 1 | pink 1 | #FFB5C5 | 255 | 181 | 197 | 12957183 | |
| pink 2 | pink 2 | #EEA9B8 | 238 | 169 | 184 | 12102126 | |
| pink 3 | pink 3 | #CD919E | 205 | 145 | 158 | 10392013 | |
| pink 4 | pink 4 | #8B636C | 139 | 99 | 108 | 7103371 | |
| palevioletred | palevioletred | #DB7093 | 219 | 112 | 147 | 9662683 | |
| palevioletred 1 | palevioletred 1 | #FF82AB | 255 | 130 | 171 | 11240191 | |
| palevioletred 2 | palevioletred 2 | #EE799F | 238 | 121 | 159 | 10451438 | |
| palevioletred 3 | palevioletred 3 | #CD6889 | 205 | 104 | 137 | 9005261 | |
| palevioletred 4 | palevioletred 4 | #8B475D | 139 | 71 | 93 | 6113163 | |
| lavenderblush 1 (lavenderblush) | lavenderblush 1 (lavenderblush) | #FFF0F5 | 255 | 240 | 245 | 16118015 | |
| lavenderblush 2 | lavenderblush 2 | #EEE0E5 | 238 | 224 | 229 | 15065326 | |
| lavenderblush 3 | lavenderblush 3 | #CDC1C5 | 205 | 193 | 197 | 12960205 | |
| lavenderblush 4 | lavenderblush 4 | #8B8386 | 139 | 131 | 134 | 8815499 | |
| violetred 1 | violetred 1 | #FF3E96 | 255 | 62 | 150 | 9846527 | |
| violetred 2 | violetred 2 | #EE3A8C | 238 | 58 | 140 | 9190126 | |
| violetred 3 | violetred 3 | #CD3278 | 205 | 50 | 120 | 7877325 | |
| violetred 4 | violetred 4 | #8B2252 | 139 | 34 | 82 | 5382795 | |
| hotpink | hotpink | #FF69B4 | 255 | 105 | 180 | 11823615 | |
| hotpink 1 | hotpink 1 | #FF6EB4 | 255 | 110 | 180 | 11824895 | |
| hotpink 2 | hotpink 2 | #EE6AA7 | 238 | 106 | 167 | 10971886 | |
| hotpink 3 | hotpink 3 | #CD6090 | 205 | 96 | 144 | 9461965 | |
| hotpink 4 | hotpink 4 | #8B3A62 | 139 | 58 | 98 | 6437515 | |
| raspberry | raspberry | #872657 | 135 | 38 | 87 | 5711495 | |
| deeppink 1 (deeppink) | deeppink 1 (deeppink) | #FF1493 | 255 | 20 | 147 | 9639167 | |
| deeppink 2 | deeppink 2 | #EE1289 | 238 | 18 | 137 | 8983278 | |
| deeppink 3 | deeppink 3 | #CD1076 | 205 | 16 | 118 | 7737549 | |
| deeppink 4 | deeppink 4 | #8B0A50 | 139 | 10 | 80 | 5245579 | |
| maroon 1 | maroon 1 | #FF34B3 | 255 | 52 | 179 | 11744511 | |
| maroon 2 | maroon 2 | #EE30A7 | 238 | 48 | 167 | 10957038 | |
| maroon 3 | maroon 3 | #CD2990 | 205 | 41 | 144 | 9447885 | |
| maroon 4 | maroon 4 | #8B1C62 | 139 | 28 | 98 | 6429835 | |
| mediumvioletred | mediumvioletred | #C71585 | 199 | 21 | 133 | 8721863 | |
| violetred | violetred | #D02090 | 208 | 32 | 144 | 9445584 | |
| orchid | orchid | #DA70D6 | 218 | 112 | 214 | 14053594 | |
| orchid 1 | orchid 1 | #FF83FA | 255 | 131 | 250 | 16417791 | |
| orchid 2 | orchid 2 | #EE7AE9 | 238 | 122 | 233 | 15301358 | |
| orchid 3 | orchid 3 | #CD69C9 | 205 | 105 | 201 | 13199821 | |
| orchid 4 | orchid 4 | #8B4789 | 139 | 71 | 137 | 8996747 | |
| thistle | thistle | #D8BFD8 | 216 | 191 | 216 | 14204888 | |
| thistle 1 | thistle 1 | #FFE1FF | 255 | 225 | 255 | 16769535 | |
| thistle 2 | thistle 2 | #EED2EE | 238 | 210 | 238 | 15651566 | |
| thistle 3 | thistle 3 | #CDB5CD | 205 | 181 | 205 | 13481421 | |
| thistle 4 | thistle 4 | #8B7B8B | 139 | 123 | 139 | 9141131 | |
| plum 1 | plum 1 | #FFBBFF | 255 | 187 | 255 | 16759807 | |
| plum 2 | plum 2 | #EEAEEE | 238 | 174 | 238 | 15642350 | |
| plum 3 | plum 3 | #CD96CD | 205 | 150 | 205 | 13473485 | |
| plum 4 | plum 4 | #8B668B | 139 | 102 | 139 | 9135755 | |
| plum | plum | #DDA0DD | 221 | 160 | 221 | 14524637 | |
| violet | violet | #EE82EE | 238 | 130 | 238 | 15631086 | |
| magenta (fuchsia*) | magenta (fuchsia*) | #FF00FF | 255 | 0 | 255 | 16711935 | |
| magenta 2 | magenta 2 | #EE00EE | 238 | 0 | 238 | 15597806 | |
| magenta 3 | magenta 3 | #CD00CD | 205 | 0 | 205 | 13435085 | |
| magenta 4 (darkmagenta) | magenta 4 (darkmagenta) | #8B008B | 139 | 0 | 139 | 9109643 | |
| purple* | purple* | #800080 | 128 | 0 | 128 | 8388736 | |
| mediumorchid | mediumorchid | #BA55D3 | 186 | 85 | 211 | 13850042 | |
| mediumorchid 1 | mediumorchid 1 | #E066FF | 224 | 102 | 255 | 16738016 | |
| mediumorchid 2 | mediumorchid 2 | #D15FEE | 209 | 95 | 238 | 15622097 | |
| mediumorchid 3 | mediumorchid 3 | #B452CD | 180 | 82 | 205 | 13456052 | |
| mediumorchid 4 | mediumorchid 4 | #7A378B | 122 | 55 | 139 | 9123706 | |
| darkviolet | darkviolet | #9400D3 | 148 | 0 | 211 | 13828244 | |
| darkorchid | darkorchid | #9932CC | 153 | 50 | 204 | 13382297 | |
| darkorchid 1 | darkorchid 1 | #BF3EFF | 191 | 62 | 255 | 16727743 | |
| darkorchid 2 | darkorchid 2 | #B23AEE | 178 | 58 | 238 | 15612594 | |
| darkorchid 3 | darkorchid 3 | #9A32CD | 154 | 50 | 205 | 13447834 | |
| darkorchid 4 | darkorchid 4 | #68228B | 104 | 34 | 139 | 9118312 | |
| indigo | indigo | #4B0082 | 75 | 0 | 130 | 8519755 | |
| blueviolet | blueviolet | #8A2BE2 | 138 | 43 | 226 | 14822282 | |
| purple 1 | purple 1 | #9B30FF | 155 | 48 | 255 | 16724123 | |
| purple 2 | purple 2 | #912CEE | 145 | 44 | 238 | 15608977 | |
| purple 3 | purple 3 | #7D26CD | 125 | 38 | 205 | 13444733 | |
| purple 4 | purple 4 | #551A8B | 85 | 26 | 139 | 9116245 | |
| mediumpurple | mediumpurple | #9370DB | 147 | 112 | 219 | 14381203 | |
| mediumpurple 1 | mediumpurple 1 | #AB82FF | 171 | 130 | 255 | 16745131 | |
| mediumpurple 2 | mediumpurple 2 | #9F79EE | 159 | 121 | 238 | 15628703 | |
| mediumpurple 3 | mediumpurple 3 | #8968CD | 137 | 104 | 205 | 13461641 | |
| mediumpurple 4 | mediumpurple 4 | #5D478B | 93 | 71 | 139 | 9127773 | |
| darkslateblue | darkslateblue | #483D8B | 72 | 61 | 139 | 9125192 | |
| lightslateblue | lightslateblue | #8470FF | 132 | 112 | 255 | 16740484 | |
| mediumslateblue | mediumslateblue | #7B68EE | 123 | 104 | 238 | 15624315 | |
| slateblue | slateblue | #6A5ACD | 106 | 90 | 205 | 13458026 | |
| slateblue 1 | slateblue 1 | #836FFF | 131 | 111 | 255 | 16740227 | |
| slateblue 2 | slateblue 2 | #7A67EE | 122 | 103 | 238 | 15624058 | |
| slateblue 3 | slateblue 3 | #6959CD | 105 | 89 | 205 | 13457769 | |
| slateblue 4 | slateblue 4 | #473C8B | 71 | 60 | 139 | 9124935 | |
| ghostwhite | ghostwhite | #F8F8FF | 248 | 248 | 255 | 16775416 | |
| lavender | lavender | #E6E6FA | 230 | 230 | 250 | 16443110 | |
| blue* | blue* | #0000FF | 0 | 0 | 255 | 16711680 | |
| blue 2 | blue 2 | #0000EE | 0 | 0 | 238 | 15597568 | |
| blue 3 (mediumblue) | blue 3 (mediumblue) | #0000CD | 0 | 0 | 205 | 13434880 | |
| blue 4 (darkblue) | blue 4 (darkblue) | #00008B | 0 | 0 | 139 | 9109504 | |
| navy* | navy* | #000080 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 8388608 | |
| midnightblue | midnightblue | #191970 | 25 | 25 | 112 | 7346457 | |
| cobalt | cobalt | #3D59AB | 61 | 89 | 171 | 11229501 | |
| royalblue | royalblue | #4169E1 | 65 | 105 | 225 | 14772545 | |
| royalblue 1 | royalblue 1 | #4876FF | 72 | 118 | 255 | 16741960 | |
| royalblue 2 | royalblue 2 | #436EEE | 67 | 110 | 238 | 15625795 | |
| royalblue 3 | royalblue 3 | #3A5FCD | 58 | 95 | 205 | 13459258 | |
| royalblue 4 | royalblue 4 | #27408B | 39 | 64 | 139 | 9125927 | |
| cornflowerblue | cornflowerblue | #6495ED | 100 | 149 | 237 | 15570276 | |
| lightsteelblue | lightsteelblue | #B0C4DE | 176 | 196 | 222 | 14599344 | |
| lightsteelblue 1 | lightsteelblue 1 | #CAE1FF | 202 | 225 | 255 | 16769482 | |
| lightsteelblue 2 | lightsteelblue 2 | #BCD2EE | 188 | 210 | 238 | 15651516 | |
| lightsteelblue 3 | lightsteelblue 3 | #A2B5CD | 162 | 181 | 205 | 13481378 | |
| lightsteelblue 4 | lightsteelblue 4 | #6E7B8B | 110 | 123 | 139 | 9141102 | |
| lightslategray | lightslategray | #778899 | 119 | 136 | 153 | 10061943 | |
| slategray | slategray | #708090 | 112 | 128 | 144 | 9470064 | |
| slategray 1 | slategray 1 | #C6E2FF | 198 | 226 | 255 | 16769734 | |
| slategray 2 | slategray 2 | #B9D3EE | 185 | 211 | 238 | 15651769 | |
| slategray 3 | slategray 3 | #9FB6CD | 159 | 182 | 205 | 13481631 | |
| slategray 4 | slategray 4 | #6C7B8B | 108 | 123 | 139 | 9141100 | |
| dodgerblue 1 (dodgerblue) | dodgerblue 1 (dodgerblue) | #1E90FF | 30 | 144 | 255 | 16748574 | |
| dodgerblue 2 | dodgerblue 2 | #1C86EE | 28 | 134 | 238 | 15631900 | |
| dodgerblue 3 | dodgerblue 3 | #1874CD | 24 | 116 | 205 | 13464600 | |
| dodgerblue 4 | dodgerblue 4 | #104E8B | 16 | 78 | 139 | 9129488 | |
| aliceblue | aliceblue | #F0F8FF | 240 | 248 | 255 | 16775408 | |
| steelblue | steelblue | #4682B4 | 70 | 130 | 180 | 11829830 | |
| steelblue 1 | steelblue 1 | #63B8FF | 99 | 184 | 255 | 16758883 | |
| steelblue 2 | steelblue 2 | #5CACEE | 92 | 172 | 238 | 15641692 | |
| steelblue 3 | steelblue 3 | #4F94CD | 79 | 148 | 205 | 13472847 | |
| steelblue 4 | steelblue 4 | #36648B | 54 | 100 | 139 | 9135158 | |
| lightskyblue | lightskyblue | #87CEFA | 135 | 206 | 250 | 16436871 | |
| lightskyblue 1 | lightskyblue 1 | #B0E2FF | 176 | 226 | 255 | 16769712 | |
| lightskyblue 2 | lightskyblue 2 | #A4D3EE | 164 | 211 | 238 | 15651748 | |
| lightskyblue 3 | lightskyblue 3 | #8DB6CD | 141 | 182 | 205 | 13481613 | |
| lightskyblue 4 | lightskyblue 4 | #607B8B | 96 | 123 | 139 | 9141088 | |
| skyblue 1 | skyblue 1 | #87CEFF | 135 | 206 | 255 | 16764551 | |
| skyblue 2 | skyblue 2 | #7EC0EE | 126 | 192 | 238 | 15646846 | |
| skyblue 3 | skyblue 3 | #6CA6CD | 108 | 166 | 205 | 13477484 | |
| skyblue 4 | skyblue 4 | #4A708B | 74 | 112 | 139 | 9138250 | |
| skyblue | skyblue | #87CEEB | 135 | 206 | 235 | 15453831 | |
| deepskyblue 1 (deepskyblue) | deepskyblue 1 (deepskyblue) | #00BFFF | 0 | 191 | 255 | 16760576 | |
| deepskyblue 2 | deepskyblue 2 | #00B2EE | 0 | 178 | 238 | 15643136 | |
| deepskyblue 3 | deepskyblue 3 | #009ACD | 0 | 154 | 205 | 13474304 | |
| deepskyblue 4 | deepskyblue 4 | #00688B | 0 | 104 | 139 | 9136128 | |
| peacock | peacock | #33A1C9 | 51 | 161 | 201 | 13214003 | |
| lightblue | lightblue | #ADD8E6 | 173 | 216 | 230 | 15128749 | |
| lightblue 1 | lightblue 1 | #BFEFFF | 191 | 239 | 255 | 16773055 | |
| lightblue 2 | lightblue 2 | #B2DFEE |
Transition in Kensal Rise
Back in October '07 at the Be the Change symposium in London, (www.bethechange.org.uk), I met Rob Hopkins who started Transition Town movement in Kinsale, Ireland first of all, then Totnes in Devon. I wondered how it could be done in London and took a long time feeling defeatest about it, but realised when I heard Duncan Law in Brixton was initiating it there of all places, I realised it could be done. Once I'd got settled in my new abode in Kensal Rise, London, I slowly set about trying to find anyone else in the area to set it up with. It wasn't until May 2009 that I met a group of others who were thinking the same thing, and we've now properly set it up! We've got no end of ideas but since our initiating group is only 4 in number, we're concentrating on getting funding and raising awareness to get others on board.
People need to have a certain amount of self-starterishness about them - too often people wait to be told what to do and how to do it. We've all got jobs, and families, hobbies and commitments, so everything must be done in our spare time. But it's worth it because we bring the community together on a small, grass-roots scale. So far, in 6 or 7 months, we've networked madly, built a website, got at least 130 people to join, held several stalls, had 3 or 4 film nights with discussions and speakers, so we're really pleased with ourselves. However, as usual, i am swamped with ideas and bogged down with admin. (See my other posts on OVERWHELM!) BUT, anyway, it's taken on it's own momentum and it's all about delegating and empowering others.
For more on what transition towns are all about, see www.transitiontowns.org or google it, and see my other posts.
For OUR LOCAL WEBSITE, see www.ttkensaltokilburn.ning.com:
[caption id="attachment_62" align="alignleft" width="830" caption="our Transition Town website"]
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Canape-tastic
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I went to a canape-making masterclass and it was great fun and the canapes were the best I have ever tasted. It seems to me that each canape must cost about £10 considering the effort and the array of ingredients going into a single one... anyway they were YUMMY.
An article on making canapes in the Times Online:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article6933542.ece
documenting good-doers
This is an environmentalist who now takes photos. She did some studies of people who are doing things to make a difference to the world, using her photography and the short films are on the Community Channel.
http://howtomakeadifference.net/about/
Jewellry on show
I had a problem - too much jewellry. I'd inherited much of it from my mother, and it was big, colourful, and tangely-uppy. Also, I never wore any of it because it was always tangled away in some box. Then, I had a brainwave! I came across an old decorative metal mannequin from the department store Dickens & Jones, which closed down - at least that was what the junk shop man said. He said there were only a few left. It's nothing like what you find on the net, much nicer with intricate spirals - a piece of art in itself. I knew it was exactly what I needed to hang all those necklaces on, so I twirled some fairy lights through and hung all my bits and pieces on it - it brings me a lot of pleasure, especially at night. I think my mother would approve.
The carbon footprint of the art world's Biennale industry
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As I work on a project about Venice's Art Biennale, I'm thinking about what a massive carbon footprint it has. For those not in the know, the art biennale which happens every 2 years in Venice is the world's oldest, and has spawned a whole industry of biennales all over the world - Istanbul, Manifesta, Documenta, being just some. Thousands of art lovers and critics and artists and Venice lovers from all over the world converge on the water-logged city, planeload after planeload, private jets galore; and of course let us not forget the environmental impact of the transportation of the artworks themselves.
To get to the Venice biennale, particularly in the stressful-sounding opening week when you just HAVE to be seen at all the parties, is arguably the hottest ticket in the art world's calendar. Millions of pounds gets pumped into these exhibitions, and the spectacular nature of the event is fueled by the stage within which it exists - Venice itself, cultural crossroads of the globe, steeped in centuries of cutting-edge art, architecture and historical significance. The media go wild. But it all feels a bit exclusive and elitist. Who really goes? What proportion of the world is actually helped by spending all this money and creating all these carbon emissions?
Traditionally organised by national pavilions, the number of countries exhibiting this year is around 77, many of which have no designated pavilion in which to exhibit. These are the later entrants to the art scene - forced to exhibit elsewhere in a spare palazzo in a far flung corner of Venice rather than in the coveted Giardini or Arsenale. Sometimes they end up lucky - the Comorros Islands, represented by Italian artist Paolo Tamburella (an old friend of mine from Rome incidentally), couldn't even get a patch on land to exhibit, but was allotted a patch of water - which is right next to the Giardini entrance. Paolo catches the eye of the visitor immediately drawing attention to their exclusion, with a crumbling Comorros old boat, banned by Comoros authorities in favour of modernisation - on which rests a modern cargo container. So the Comorros Islands get some attention. But what if all this money was instead spent on the poorer countries to help local artists and galleries? It might get spread around a little better.
The jostling for exhibition space by competing nations, around Venice, just shows how significant these countries think it is to be included in the Venice Biennale, which demonstrates the globalisation of the art world in many ways.
The Biennale's strength is that it breaks the dominance of the western European and American art scene so that we hear and see a more diverse range of voices, in turn bringing a new range of political, social and economic issues to the world's attention. But the negative is perhaps that it ain't cheap, and perhaps fosters gentrification, it is an industry like any other with certain political and economic imperatives, and of course my original point - the environmental impacts are gi-normous.
Foodie Films
1 Babette's Feast
Gabriel Axel, 1987
Parisian chef Babette becomes a cook in a strict Lutheran community in 19th-century Denmark. When she wins the lottery, she decides to repay her dour employers and the villagers by preparing a celebration meal, but the locals fear that such indulgence will be corrupting. Finest food moment (FFM): The heart-warming scenes as, despite themselves, the guests begin to enjoy the meal.2 Big Night
Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci, 1996
Set in Fifties America, this is the story of two Italian brothers in search of the American dream who open a restaurant. Teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, they decide to host a sumptuous banquet for singer Louis Prima in the hope that this will pull in the punters. FFM: The loving attention to detail with which the timballo is prepared is enough to make you cry, and the eventual creation of a dish that is just too magnificent to eat.3 The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie
Luis Bunuel, 1972
Bizarre interruptions from clergymen, military manoeuvres and unexplained food shortages, prevent a group of friends from enjoying a meal together, no matter how they try. The director, Bu�uel, creates a series of situations that reveal the hypocrisy and empty ritual of the privileged classes. FFM: The exasperated expressions of the protagonists hoping for food but never getting any.4 Felicia's Journey
Atom Egoyan, 1999
A poor Irish girl becomes pregnant after a brief affair with an English soldier. Misled about his identity, she embarks on a fruitless search for the father of her unborn child. Once in England, she is befriended by a lonely, middle-aged catering manager. But, all is not as it seems... FFM: Bob Hoskins, as the bachelor, spending his evenings recreating the dishes demonstrated on television by his celebrity chef mother, Gala.5 Chocolat
Lasse Hallstrom, 2000
An attractive single mother and itinerant chocolatier, Vianne, opens a chocolate shop in a French village in the Fifties. She encounters fierce opposition from the mayor who fears the effect her indulgent, magic confections will have on the strait-laced residents. FFM: The villagers' faces as, one by one, they give in to temptation and enjoyment as they sample those irresistible cakes, truffles, hot chocolate and much more.6 Eat Drink Man Woman
Ang Lee, 1994
A widowed chef tries to hold his family of three daughters together, but their only communication is over Sunday dinner. In this gentle comedy of food and family life, primary needs are asserted over more ephemeral desires. FFM: As the opening credits roll, it is such a pleasure to watch the chef preparing the Sunday meal, even the way he cuts the vegetables is inspiring.7 Like Water For Chocolate
Alfonso Arau, 1991
Set against the backdrop of the 1910 Mexican revolution, the plot centres around a widow and her three daughters.The youngest girl, Tita, has the ability to transmit her feelings to anyone who tastes her cooking. FFM: Tita cooks quails in rose petal sauce and her passion for the dish so affects her sister that, unable to contain her desire, she runs from the shower naked, jumps on to the horse of a passing trooper and rides off with him.8 Tampopo
Juzo Itami, 1986
Tampopo satirises Japanese society's view of the relationship between food and sex in a series of amusing vignettes. A wandering troubleshooter helps the heroine transform her nondescript ramen restaurant into culinary perfection. FFM: The lips of a gangster and his moll meet only after using their mouths to pass a raw egg yolk from one to the other.9 Tom Jones
Tony Richardson, 1963
Based on Fielding's 18th-century novel, this is the story of an orphan adopted into an aristocratic household. Our hero's fun-loving attitude makes him fatally attractive to women, including the squire's daughter. FFM: Tom enjoying a bawdy meal with a buxom wench.10 What's Cooking
Gurinder Chadha, 2000
A hilarious film looking at how four ethnically diverse families celebrate Thanksgiving in LA. On the day, tensions rise and boil over with surprising results. FFM: It's fascinating to see how the same ingredient, such as yam, is prepared differently by each family. courtesy of WaitroseGetting the Plot...allotment plans!
My name is down for 2 allotments (greedy!) which should be coming up in the next year. Because I am unlikely to be able to tend to them all by myself, let alone eat the produce, I'm planning to turn them into permacultured forest gardens in which my local community can learn to grow and share food by close observance of nature and how it behaves in order to get the best fruit and veg. Seeing as I only took up gardening in September 08, I've gotta lot to learn! So in fact, I'll be looking for teachers and gardeners ready to come along and show groups what to do and why. I attended a short permaculture course at Naturewise in the Lea Valley in July '09 and there's certainly a lot of fascinating theory to learn about too. Wish I had time to attend the longer courses. http://www.naturewise.org.uk/page.cfm. There is even a Permaculture Picture House in east London devoted to showing films on this topic. The best known is Rebecca Hoskings BBC documentary "A Farm for the Future", which you can probably find a copy of somewhere.
I'll be returning to this post to write more about permaculture and to start mapping out how we might plan the plots and if you have any suggestions as to planting combinations you have found successful, I'd love to hear. EG - maize supports the climbing runner beans and squash plants used as ground cover beneath them prevents weeds.
On the other hand, I need to get the community involved so I'll leave a lot till then. I'd also like to get a local artist on board to document our plots development. Also, I'd like to see bikes with trailers selling the produce door to door, all over the community.
As always, how to fund it?
Children's books on climate change
I'm interested in how the kids are being taught about climate change through story-telling and tales, so I'm looking out for any books coming out on the market. I haven't got any time to devote to this but I'm going to start collecting a list here when I come across any:(with reviews or synopsises if I find them)
1) "‘Hope and the Super Green Highway’ is Helen Moore’s brilliant page turning sequel to ‘Hope and the Magic Martian’. The author cleverly weaves together evocative facts about Nature from around the world with the web-surfing lifestyle of today’s children. The appearance of an exotic tropical tree frog in a box of bananas sets Hope off on a quest to learn more. The efforts of her internet pen pal, Cloud Boy, to protect his tropical rainforest inspire her and her grandmother to take steps to look after their own local, badly littered and dangerous wood. By setting this gripping story in a time when carbon is traded with ‘Ice Caps’, Helen Moore gives a glimpse of how life could be when fuel is rationed and the cost of food reflects the miles it’s travelled. Warm, intelligent, inspiring and thought provoking, this story is ideal for children from 8 to 12. It should be in every primary school. The meaning of this tale is in the heroine’s name. This is a story that gives hope, something that we all need right now."
review by- Eric Maddern, storyteller and children's author
2) a teenage fiction book called 'The Carbon Diaries 2015' by Saci Lloyd.
What struck me as a strong point of this book is that it gives a glimpse of what would happen if the government suddenly imposed carbon rationing upon people who had previously not made any of their own journeys into Transition. There are those who believe that carbon reductions should all be done at government level and then implemented downwards (the 'they will solve it' way of thinking). This book really highlights why that will not work, and although the book chronicles hard times as the characters all adapt with having to get by with less of everything, it is ultimately not cynical and hopeless. (Jane - member at Transition Network)




