LET'S GO LET'S GROW

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Comment by Mike Wohl on May 12, 2012 at 6:45

FESTIVAL OF GROWING 2012

The August event will bring together people in Hackney, Harringey, and Islington to produce a unique event combining herb growing, craft activities, outdoor play and cutting edge digital radio programming.

We are putting together an event production team in conjunction with a local residents association and an already established local growing project near Finsbury Park tube station.

A summary of this exciting venture, which has captivated the imagination of several talented people is attached.

If YOU would like either to be involved or have resources or expertise that could enhance the festival and the summerscheme leading up to it please get in touch.

Thanks   Mike        FESTIVAL OF GROWING 2012

Comment by Mike Wohl on February 6, 2012 at 16:14

PILE OF MUCK

To you its a pile of muck. To me it is like the fuel going into an aircraft taking it’s passengers on a long exciting adventure trip. Its delivery this morning signals a mark in time, like the firing pistol  at a  hurdles race. The project begins in earnest now! It is a statement of commitment that change is going to come.

A disused, neglected area is going to be transformed and so will some of the people who are to get involved in the the scheme. It is also  physical evidence once again of the amazing human power that can come from

a single thought.

In this case it was a thought I had at a summer barbecue for volunteers and staff at Westminster YOT (youth offending team) – find a site half way from my home and that of my friend and colleague in arms Rockstone Robbie, so we can plan joint projects – and that is how I started to become active here in West Green and Finsbury Park in conjunction with Haringey YOT and also the Islington Master Gardeners (http://islington.mastergardeners.org.uk/)

The power is a combination of  several essential ingredients.

Faith, determination, boldness, persistence, conviction, subtle co-ercion and enormous passion. This recipe can create the most potent force to produce creative ventures, if you team up with the right people and want to make a positive effect on the locality.

This particular area is less than half a mile from the epicentre of last August’s nationwide urban unrest.

A fruit and veg growing area and a wildlife garden are to be created here, and I have the privilege of supporting the Haringey Yot reparations officer, Jelena, in getting 15 to 18yr old young offenders to dig, sow and plant the site and help deliver benefits to the neighbourhood. A similar, well established scheme exists for adult offenders at Back2earth where Robbie is garden manager. Well worth a visit. See: http://www.back2earth.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=...

The young people, most from troubled and deprived backgrounds, are also involved in building a display garden close to Finsbury  Park station. This garden will feature both cooking and medicinal herbs, planned by one of London’s leading practitioners Jeanne-Lyse Sibaud (http://www.jeanne-lyse-sibaud.co.uk/).

It will also feature exotic foods which people don’t normally associate with growing in the UK, modelled after a Midlands pilot by  Garden Organic. (http://www.sowingnewseeds.org.uk/)

Jamaican, Bangladeshi, Turkish and African growers are helping to grow sample plants of foods from back home which adapt well to our changing climate. There will also be a berry section and a couple of small fruit trees and, hopefully, many visitors.

 Added to this array of urban gardening goodies is a  low-maintenance perennial vegetable section courtesy of neighbouring project ELL, at Manor House ( A must for a visit too! Edible Landscapes London  ), and we have the agenda for potentially one of the must visit horticultural destinations in the capital.

 The entire garden will be designed to illustrate ways that produce can be grown in ZONE 1 and 2  households by people with no garden or very limited space. For the more ambitious ,we will give advice and support on how to start a small growing site on any disused land they may wish to develop.

 The prospect of giving young people positive activities and encouraging those households who are unaware of the immense opportunities that abound  in Central London for fruit and  veg growing is a real delight.

 IT MAY SNOW IN LONDON THIS WEEKEND, BUT I HAVE 
OVER A HUNDRED SEEDLINGS ALREADY AN INCH HIGH OF AUBERGINE, CUCUMBER, CHILLIE, SCOTCH BONNET PEPPERS AND TOMATOES DOING GREAT ON MY WINDOWSIL!!!

Waiting in anticipation for the next lot to sprout, including corriander, bell peppers, and cayenne – it is such a magical process, that it still fills me with awe and wonder each new sowing I do. Like many others I spend the days wondering “will it work this time, or will nothing happen?”

When the seeds germinate it is such a big thrill it always reminds me of the first time I tried. As the twelve step mantra goes  – IT WORKS IF YOU WORK IT…. follow directions on the seed packet, sow, wait, water, pray, inspect daily and  then it all happens like magic!  Trust me – there is no such thing as green fingers so

READY, STEADY, GROW!!!!

Get involved at http://www.letsgoletsgrow.com

FOR OTHER Interesting tales of growing projects visit

www.growingcity.co.uk

Comment by Mike Wohl on January 26, 2012 at 22:50

******************************************

Pop along to the first CHILDRENS seed planting session of 2012.   FOR 7 - 12 years

at  N4 LIBRARY, Blackstock Rd. Finsbury Park.

THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON
  from 2pm   -   parents welcome too
********************************************
Start growing some plants right now!
Seeds and earth supplied, just bring your pot.
FEATURING PEPPERS,PEAS, AND POTATOES
With Mike Wohl, Director of Lets Go Lets Grow

Comment by Mike Wohl on January 10, 2012 at 3:03

Delete Comment

"GROW,

LIKE A PRO" AUBERGINE SEEDLINGS FOR 2 0 1 2

RIGHT NOW

Comment by Mike Wohl on October 17, 2011 at 16:52

The London Honey Show, at the Lancaster Hotel, saw London's oldest botanic garden clear the board with its exquisite floral tasting honey. Fitting for a Garden dedicated (since the 1670s) to growing plants beneficial to health. It was the place apprentice apothecaries learned how plants (and their extracts) could be used as medicines.

The Chelsea bees certainly have one of the most exotic diets of all their rivals with nearly 5,000 different named plants to choose from. The hives, nestled in the Garden a bare 3.5 acres site on the south bank of the Thames, seem to be the ideal homes for producing one of nature's purest foods.

Following blind tastings the judges agreed that the Chelsea Physic Garden golden bee nectar was the Capital's finest in five of the main categories including 'Best all round honey'

The Garden's volunteer bee keeper Peter James was delighted that the Physic Garden bees came out tops, especially as all the honeys were judged 'blind'”. A bee keeper for 12 years, Peter, who also teaches very popular basic beekeeping courses at the Garden, explained why he thought the honey is so special:

"With over 5,000 plants to choose from, bees at the Physic Garden have something to forage on all year round. From small and delicate winter flowers like snowdrops to an abundance of nectar laden blooms when the temperature rise later in the year,.'

Comment by Mike Wohl on October 14, 2011 at 18:03

CONGRATULATIONS  TO  PETER JAMES  beekeeper at  Chelsea Physic Garden http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/ - Winner of the BEEKEEPER OF THE YEAR 2011 award. His honey won many categories full results available http://www.londonbees.com/london-honey-show/

Comment by Mike Wohl on October 2, 2011 at 22:21

A celebration of bees & honey.  The show is taking place from 6pm on the 10th October – at the Lancaster London Hotel, overlooking Hyde Park. Come and join the fun on the evening – there will be some great speakers including Ian Douglas who writes about bees and beekeeping for the Telegraph, plenty of stalls to browse around, and Charlie Dimmock will be at the show to launch her brand new DVD on Beekeeping for Beginners

Check out:

  http://www.londonbees.com/london-honey-show/ 

 

If you would like to enter honey into the show simply click on this link and tick the categories you’d like to enter - http://www.londonbees.com/london-honey-show/honey-competition/

 

If you would like to nominate a beekeeper for the title of London Beekeeper of the year here is the link - http://www.londonbees.com/london-honey-show/beekeeper-of-the-year/

Comment by Mike Wohl on July 28, 2010 at 10:49

MIKE AND PLANTS AT THE MARYLEBONE STRAWBERRY FAYRE

Comment by Mike Wohl on July 28, 2010 at 10:46

KIDS FANCY DRESS COMPETITION AT STRAWBERRY FAYRE

Comment by Mike Wohl on July 28, 2010 at 10:44

KIDS FANCY DRESS COMPETITION AT STRAWBERRY FAYRE

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