Category: This and that


A mosaic mural for Africa’s greenest Hotel

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05/02/2014

ruarkmosaicart's avatarruarkmosaicart

My friend and professional mosaic artist, Jo de Freitas, recently started and completed a very big mural commission for the Greenest Hotel in Africa, Hotel Verde. This environmentally conscious hotel is situated in Cape Town near the Cape Town International Airport. The mural is to be 16 meters high and 4 meters wide. This was a large and challenging project indeed, that kept 5 people permanently busy for 2 solid and exciting mosaic filled months.

Jo and I met taking a smalti class in the Southern Peninsula and we became firm friends united in mosaic enthusiasm for the art form. Jo asked me if I could help out for a few days on her project so I had the privilege of working on the mosaic team for a few short days, where I also gained valuable experience.

Hotel Verde Mosaic in progressMosaic water drop Mosaic mural design

Assisted by her strong team the mosaic quickly progressed on schedule at her studio…

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Filed under: Community Gardening, Grow your own food, School and childrens' Gardening, This and that — Leave a comment

Cuba and Cake in Norfolk

https://i0.wp.com/farm4.staticflickr.com/3671/12319132855_dc77ebcacc_n.jpg

Norfolk Master Gardeners heard about Permaculture in Cuba, celebrated achievements in helping communities, schools and families in growing their own food and planned for the future at a recent event in Norwich. If you’re growing your own food and live in the Breckland area of Norfolk, you could join the team!

Find out more by clicking the title link.

Old School Gardener

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Filed under: Climate change and gardening, This and that, Wildlife and Nature — Leave a comment
04/02/2014

World Temperature Records on Google Earth

‘Climate researchers at the University of East Anglia have made the world’s temperature records available via Google Earth.

The Climatic Research Unit Temperature Version 4 (CRUTEM4) land-surface air temperature dataset is one of the most widely used records of the climate system.

The new Google Earth format allows users to scroll around the world, zoom in on 6,000 weather stations, and view monthly, seasonal and annual temperature data more easily than ever before.

Users can drill down to see some 20,000 graphs – some of which show temperature records dating back to 1850.

The move is part of an ongoing effort to make data about past climate and climate change as accessible and transparent as possible…..’

click on the title for the full article and link to the data

Old School Gardener

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Robin Hood Gardens, Poplar: ‘an exemplar – a demonstration of a more enjoyable way of living’

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Municipal Dreams's avatarMunicipal Dreams

What more is there to be said on Robin Hood Gardens?  Its architecture and its planned demolition have inspired voluminous and passionate writing on both sides of the debate – it’s become less a council estate, more a proxy in a cultural war.

This story begins in 1963 – though it stretches back further, of course, in terms of East End housing problems and the visions of politicians, planners and architects in solving them.  Still, in that year, three small areas of land became available to the then London County Council for redevelopment. Alison and Peter Smithson were commissioned to draw up designs for two separate buildings with plans for further which would form ‘one big linked dwelling group’.

Two years later, the Greater London Council decided to demolish the adjacent Grosvenor Buildings – seven private tenement blocks opened in 1885, replacing slums cleared by the Metropolitan Board of Works.  The…

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Filed under: PicPosts- great photographs, This and that, Wildlife and Nature — 2 Comments
03/02/2014

Seasons

A fascinating photo log of an elderly couple standing in the same position in their cottage garden through the seasons…. and with a touching end pic….

Old School Gardener

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6 April: Ouse Washes Experience – Do join in!

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HowardJones's avatarOuse Washes: The Heart of the Fens

LogosAn exciting event is coming your way soon: On Sunday 6 April will see the Ouse Washes Experience.

This is a brand new event, which will be held in the heart of the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership scheme area.

The Ouse Washes Experience: a sponsored run or cycle ride

This event is organised by the Ely Hereward Rotary Club, in close co-operation with the OWLP scheme, Cambridgeshire ACRE, Mepal Outdoor Centre, RSPB, Environment Agency, Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridgeshire Police.

The idea is that all participants will either run or cyclealong the Ouse Washes between Mepal and Welney, for either 4 or 9.6 miles (6.4 or 15 km), that is from Mepal until the Welches Dam/RSPB Ouse Washes reserve, or until the end in Welney village.

New Picture (11)

See the Ouse Washes close up – all abilities are welcome

Cyclist and runners of all ages and abilities…

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The Signs of Spring

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01/02/2014
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Delivering food security through international trade

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canwefeedtheworld's avatarOne Billion Hungry: Can We Feed the World?

ID-10035220When discussing global food security, the issues of access and availability commonly come up.  As One Billion Hungry examines, we currently produce enough food to feed the world, although demand is rapidly outpacing supply as populations and incomes rise and as the impacts of climate change escalate, and yet almost 900 million people do not get enough food to eat. Increasing food production, while critical, is unlikely to solve hunger and malnutrition alone. A new report by the Global Harvest Initiative highlights the importance of trade to food security, examining how our global trade systems can and must change to serve the whole of the population.

Coming at a particularly relevant time, following the success of the Bali trade talks and with negotiations for several bilateral trade agreements underway, the report, International Trade and Agriculture: Supporting Value Chains to Deliver Development and Food Security, was developed by GHI in…

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31/01/2014

Hedgehog Survey- Can You help?

photo by Hedgehog Champion Mark Sant

‘2014 Hibernation Survey

We need your help to collect hedgehog records from 1st February until 31st August 2014.

Simply tell us every time you see a hedgehog, noting its location and whether it is alive or dead…..’

Click on the link above for more information

Old School Gardener

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28/01/2014

Biomimetic Products- ExhibitionLotus Leaf

‘What is biomimicry? Derived from the Greek word bios meaning ‘life’ and mimisis, meaning ‘imitate’, biomimicry refers to the copying, emulating and imitating of nature in all its forms and functions.

Dedicating an exhibition to highlight the many everyday products, objects and buildings that have used nature as a source of inspiration, Designs by Mother Nature presents an intelligent, interactive and thought-provoking display of objects, videos and photographs that demonstrates the power of biomimicry….’

Click on the title for more information

Old School Gardener

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