In my road we all have (or had – my rewinding!) 5/6m sq front gardens which are lawns. Yet we all have a lawn mower which we use once a fortnight or longer. And then we have our power drills (used rarely) and so many other appliances like this. I would love to lend out the following pasta maker, yoghurt maker, ravioli maker, pizza stone, jam saucepan (big) and maybe even the food mixer although I do use it regularly, but many do not – and I never used to. I have offered to lend all these things, but no one takes me up? Does this make me a freak for making my own pasta and pizza and yoghurt? But we should share more!
SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE
ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL
RECIPE TIME – PESTO AND OTHER HERBS
TREES IN A BUNGALOW!
LAWNS
Why do you have a lawn? If you can answer positively and say you use it for whatever, that is fine. How many people mow a small lawn using electricity or petrol, for no other purpose than to stop the grass growing? I am not advocating concrete or even plastic grass – but what is the point?
CROWD FARMING
I have just received my second purchase from Crowd Farming Both times the deliveries have been fast and the quality excellent. Firstly clementines then olive oil. The price is ok – not the cheapest but organic olive oil for £10 ltr is not bad.
RHS BRIDGEWATER
A new 154 acre garden is opening in Salford. Admission £12.10 or £7.70 if you arrive by bike or on foot. Locals free on Tuesdays and GP’s can prescribe visits instead of anti-depressants. Costing £35 million the site will hopefully generate £13 million for the local economy. The site is a former scrap yard, derelict area. I think this could be replicated in many area. It is sort of a more practical Eden Project?
BANWELL BYPASS
Probably 50 years too late to be useful! And possibly obsolete within 10 years! But I have just received a questionnaire about it. It is from Sandford Neighbhood Group – whoever they are? Their names are not published. And I will question the motives as there is no mention of costs/benefits to surrounding villages and communities.
JACKDAWS
For the past couple of weeks a blackbird has been singing with great gusto from the TV aerials opposite the shop or a tall willow tree. The last couple of days have seen jackdaws move into his patch.. This morning there was a kerfuffle with one jackdaw seemingly being dragged out of a chimney. This was followed with a growing number until there were 14 whirling round whilst shouting. They were joined by 2 magpies who came in like UN Observers. They watched until the hubbub died down and there were only 2 left. Then the blackbird arrived on a neighbouring TV mast, but obviously de coded that it was not wise to practise his melodies, and he soon flew off.