New Forest Transition - Food

Why is Local Food Important?

nospam@example.com (Editor) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:19:55 +0000

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The Art of Composting - now with added compost!

nospam@example.com (Editor) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 11:37:43 +0000

On 23 March Charles Dowding will be at Minstead Study Centre for an afternoon session looking at all aspects of compost. This post is just to let you know that if you come to event not only will you leave with bags of knowledge but you can now also leave with bags of compost too!

Minstead Study Centre has ordered a supply of Moorland Gold compost. This product from West Riding Organics is made with a natural occuring peat product which is collected through water filtration. These composts are rich in naturally occuring minerals & trace elements, which encourages strong & healthy balanced growth, with reduced need for additional feeding.

There will be 40 litre bags of both potting and and cutting compost each at £10 (rrp £13.99 plus p&p)

Full details of the event can be seen by clicking here.

Food Challenge - 2012 update

nospam@example.com (Sarah) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:08:26 +0000

Here is a bit of an update, put together for the AGM about the Food Challenge last year, and events that it was involved in. Some we had stalls at, some we may have done food demonstrations at, others we just supplied the seeds and compost!

If you want to join the food challenge on line, and start having some fun, growing your own food, and finding out more about New Forest produce you can join us on line at http://newforesttransition.ning.com

Year 2012

AGM
Update

Website – strong part of the Food Challenge. It now has 421 members. The home page focuses on any upcoming local food events. There is also a discussion page, foodtalk and free ads for local businesses to let members know about their products. We send out an email each Friday letting people know about weekly events and any new discussions.

New Forest Food Map – taken on by Kevin and is becoming a useful tool. You can link to the map directly from the home page of the website. Please let him know of any additions or changes maps@newforesttransition.org

Seed Swap Box –we bought 200 pkts of seeds early 2010, and used them to give to local events as a starter for swapping seeds.

2012 Events we have helped support 22 very local events across the forest

Downton Seedy Sunday –
Stall at NPA Volunteer Fair
Totton Seed Swap
Showed our own local food Film and nibbles, kids pie making, and stand at the Sunday market – all at Milford Food Week
Ashurst Seed Swap
Stand at the NPA’s Greener Living Show and a local food demonstration
Seed planting at Hordle School’s Spring Fair
Seed planting and bee’s wax candle making at a Brockenhurst Pre-school
Seed planting at a Lymington Pre-school
Seed swap and kids seed planting at Transition Lymington’s Spring Fair
Gave away ‘runner’ bean seeds to the New Forest Half Marathon participants
Gave away 94 bags onions sets and seed potatoes to Ringwood School children
Ashurst Apple day
Stand - 3x days at the New Forest Show
Local food tasting at the New Forest Festival
Local food tasting and apple press demo at Arnewood School Food Fair
Stall at New Forest Christmas Fair – local cheese, chutney, pate tasting
Stall at Trans Lym Christmas Fair – selling blackcurrant bushes

Events – more planned for 2013 some of which are the same

Given help/support to – Lymington Garden Share, Downton Seedy Sunday

100 blackcurrant buses – After making a contact in 13 local schools, we gave 5 bushes to each and sold 35 at cost to the general public

Local Food Trails – This idea came from a visit to the Brecon Beacons NP, advertising their local pubs and food outlets. The project is at the beginning stages. We hope to plan and produce 4 local food trails in Burley, Milford, Brockenhurst and Beaulieu (2 walking, 2 cycling) which take a route past local food suppliers and stockists.

The Art of Composting - 23 March 2-4pm - Minstead Study Centre

nospam@example.com (Editor) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:29:53 +0000

Join leading organic, no dig gardener Charles Dowding for an in depth look at the glorious world of composting!

We'll be considering what the word means, looking at ideas for assembling heaps to understand the principles and learning that there is no single correct formula, rather it is about making a good job of the
waste one has. Charles will also talk about the use of Bio Char.

Charles will also be doing some myth-busting about the whole process including what you can and can't compost and venturing out into the Study Centre garden to illustrate his talk with some real 'rubbish'!

Tickets cost £8 (inc a cuppa)

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR TICKET ON LINE NOW!

Contact Richard Barnett at richard@veggiebarn.net or phone 023 80 292 531 or text 07791990351 for any further information

Pledge to 'Go Local' this Christmas

nospam@example.com (Sarah) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 19:02:45 +0000

Just click on the chalk board to pledge your support...

Local Food - Incredible Edible in Todmorden

nospam@example.com (Sarah) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 12:28:33 +0100

Introduction to Foraging: 12 May @ Minstead Study Centre 10am-3pm

nospam@example.com (Editor) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:59:22 +0000

Join local botanist Celia Cox on a 2/3 hour morning forage to discover which plants are edible, which have interesting folklore and which can be used for medicinal purposes or otherwise.

We will then return to the Study Centre for a demonstration on how to prepare some of the plants we have collected, so that they may be included in a three course lunch. As this is a small group, there will be plenty of time for questions and interaction.

Continue reading "Introduction to Foraging: 12 May @ Minstead Study Centre 10am-3pm"

Permaculture - An illustrated talk - 14 Jan 2012 - 3.30-5pm - Minstead Study Centre

nospam@example.com (Editor) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:18:14 +0000

An illustrated talk about the value of permaculture as a tool to tackle global climate change and food sovereignty.

Dave Richards, who is the Coordinator of the Schools Global Garden Network, will draw on his experience of developing community growing projects in Reading to explore the possibilities for Minstead's village garden.

Free entry - tea and cake provided!

Baking Continental Breads @ Minstead Study Centre 4 December

nospam@example.com (Editor) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:22:44 +0000

Paul Merry will guide you through making Sourdough, Pitta and Stollen on 4 December at Minstead Study Centre. Full details here.

Wild Cooking - Minstead Study Centre - 12 November 2-4.30pm

nospam@example.com (Editor) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:32:15 +0000

Learn about and get involved with three highly fuel efficient outdoor cooking techniques using minimal quantities of wood and charcoal and the odd bit of hay!

The event will take place in Minstead Study Centre's Round House and includes an introduction to 'Kelly Kettles', 'Rocket Stoves', 'Dutch Ovens' and 'Hay Boxes' and you will get to eat is cooked. This will include carrot and lentil soup, moroccan style local seasonal vegetables, rice cooked in a hay box and chapattis made with New Forest flour cooked on a griddle over a BBQ powered by New Forest charcoal.

Numbers are limited so book your place now via Richard Barnett (who will also present the course) on 023 8029 2531 or 07791 990351 or email him

Cost - £20 per person

Be ready to wrap up warm!

Please vote for the Food Challenge

nospam@example.com (Sarah) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:50:00 +0100

Can you help us?

Can spare a couple of minutes to vote for us to win some money from Nat West Community Force Fund? Voting ends this week.

We have plans to buy some more fruit and/or nut trees this winter, and would like to give them to as many individuals, groups, schools, community gardens across the forest that we can.

You can go on line, sign up and vote at

http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/4665 You get three votes.

We may not win all the money we have asked for, but even if we get some we will buy what we can.

Many thanks

Sarah

Connecting with New Forest Food - Film Trailer

nospam@example.com (Sarah) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:45:51 +0100

Farmers are the Intellectuals of the Earth

nospam@example.com (Sarah) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:57:47 +0100

The founder of the International Slow Food Movement, Carlo Petrini, spoke at The University of California, Berkeley on Tuesday:

"We are spending more energy to produce food than we are getting from the food. We need new paradigms. It requires change. It requires changing systems.

What do a lot of politicians tell us? Just consume more. Well that’s obviously no solution. It’s like taking a diabetic into a pastry shop. Have this lovely cream puff and you’ll get better. You’re just killing them. So the idea that you can produce your way out of a crisis is a way of killing society. Let’s change paradigm. Let’s change our ideas and get out of this totalitarianism of productivity and participate. Become real symbols of change. Not that it’s so easy. If all we’ve have on our heads is economy and business, every solution will be production and business. There’s not only economy to think about. There’s sociability. Happiness. Friendship. Living well. It’s much more than economy.

The economy just robs our spirit and our soul. It’s this concept of productivity we have to change. We can do it thinking of food. Let’s take a symbol of slow food. It’s a snail. So the snail grows in concenric circles. At a certain point it stops, it strengthens its shell the other way. We’ve come to just that point. We’ve grown plenty. We are at the point we have to strength what we have. If we keep growing, we will kill ourselves. A snail can’t have an enormous shell, it goes back. We have to act like snails. Instead of growing, we have to consolidate what we have.

We have to build a convivial society. What does that mean? Society with new values. That can help bring about new relationships with new people and strengthen local communities. Re-invent communal goods and resources. So this is a trick question. Who knows what reciprocity means? What is reciprocity? Society based on linear exchange. I give something to you, you pay me something or pay me money. That’s linear exchange. Then there’s free giviing. You call it charity. I give something to you, you don’t give me anything. I, with this act, demonstrate my superiority. You are poor. I am giving you a little charity. Here’s reciprocity. I give something to you. It’s worth $100. You can’t give me a $100 back right now, so you give me $50. Or you give him $50. And then he gives $50 to the guy next to him. And he will give me $50. It creates a new economic economy. We have to recreate that kind of energy. It’s based on a gift. That requires you to be active.

I give money to a farmer, whenever it’s ready, give me what you got. That’s a lot better than going to a bank, and much better because the farmer doesn’t have to give the money back to the bank. The farmer gives you a product. That’s my idea of reciprocity. So this is the concept that I want you to create."

To read more:

nospam@example.com (Patrick) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:34:37 +0100

The JOY of bread-making

Do you love good bread? Would you like to try making
your own, without using a machine?

Bread-making is one of those practices that no-one has time for these days. Yet it need not take much time and can be really rewarding, once you know how.

So take a class with someone who has been baking bread at
home for more than 10 years. Learn basic skills and top tips. My speciality is sourdough bread - making bread without factory-made yeast means the bread tastes better, lasts longer and is easier to digest. It is also fun!

Classes available throughout the year. By arrangement, I
can even bake with you in your own home.

Prices start from £20.

Call Patrick on 01590 623052 or e-mail patrick@riversimple.com

for more details

Fresh thoughts?

nospam@example.com (McKay) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:38:12 +0100

An interesting article by Cambridge University Gardener Laurie McPhun in the Summer issue of Country Standard magazine (p.6). Fresh thoughts for an agrarian revolution is the title of the article, which begins:

"Britain is a country of many gardens. From sweeping rural estates to fluttering urban window boxes, via village displays and metropolitan ‘spaces’, our ancestors have been turning the soil and honing their craft for at least twenty-seven centuries. This tradition, though changeable, is extremely unlikely to end. We all need food. We also need nature’s calming influence and a place to be ourselves. The challenge for us, in modern Britain, lies in how we should set about defining, or re-defining, our relationship to the natural world around us. It is a very delicate balance. Huge swathes of Greenfield land are lost to urban development every day and over forty per cent of the food we now consume is imported from outside the UK."

Not sure why the already burgeoning Transition movement doesn't get a mention whereas the urban food gardens of Cuba do. Maybe it has something to do with Country Standard being published by the UK Communist Party.