grassroots – AmeliasMagazine

Amelia’s Magazine | Food from the Sky: Growing food on top of a Supermarket in Crouch End

Food from the Sky by Sam Parr.

It’s a stiflingly hot day in Crouch End as my friends and I venture into Thornton’s Budgens and, approved feeling slightly stupid, ask one of the cashiers how we can get onto the roof. He smiles and immediately takes us to a staircase supported by scaffolding in the car park at the back, with a notice cheerfully asking everyone to take up a box of compost. As we get to the top, a sea of different kinds of sun drenched greenery opens up, with volunteers already gathered at a wooden picnic table in one corner, discussing how best to get started on the greenhouse we’ve come here to build.

Food from the Sky by Claire Bryne.

So this is Food from the Sky. I’d initially found out about the project in a brief Guardian piece, and the seemingly chalk ‘n’ cheese synthesis of a permaculture/transition inspired grassroots project on the roof of a supermarket, which actually sells its harvest in the supermarket (not compatible…surely??) immediately appealed. It certainly caught the eye of our esteemed mayor Boris Johnson, who came to visit it last week.

Boris Johnson visits Food from the Sky by Sam Parr.

Food from the Sky by Claire Kearns.

The Food from the Sky blog has regular opportunities to volunteer, as well as to take part in courses and workshops, so I went along to build the first stage of a greenhouse made of recycled plastic bottles. With bags and bags of collected empty bottles in tow. Fetching look.

Making the Greenhouse by Claire Byrne
Making the greenhouse at Food from the Sky by Claire Bryne.

Making the greenhouse, by Claire Kearns
Making the greenhouse by Claire Kearns.

Food from the Sky had its practical inauguration in May 2010, when the first load of compost was lifted onto the roof. But the progression to this stage started a long time before, when its creator Azul moved to London and set about utilizing all the endless roof space she saw for food growing. A meeting over a coffee with the owner of the Crouch End Thornton’s Budgens, Andrew Thornton, turned out to be a meeting of minds with a shared vision – she wanted a roof to build her project, and he had one. Once this was established they met frequently with the local community (there are blocks of flats whose windows overlook the Food From The Sky roof), debating and discussing what could and couldn’t be done.

Food-From-the-Sky-by-Victoria-Haynes
Food from the Sky by Victoria Haynes.

All the soil used on the roof is recycled food and garden waste donated by the council. She sees the relationship with the supermarket as an opportunity to bring people to a better relationship with food on a huge scale – the shop has 17,000 visits a week. “I used to hate supermarkets,” Azul says, “but then I thought, what a waste! Supermarkets are a huge part of the reason we have a bad relationship with food, so using the supermarket as a base to promote a better relationship means everything comes full cycle.”

Food-from-the-Sky-by-Victoria-Haynes
Greenhouse building by Victoria Haynes.

Food from The Sky’s first harvest was on the 4th of July 2010, and since then they’ve been bringing down their wares to the supermarket every Friday, in a special display dedicated to them, right at the front of the shop.

Food from the Sky by Claire Bryne.

Education and community engagement is absolutely central to the project, so they’ve partnered up with local schools, running workshops on biodiversity and food growing, as well as running permaculture courses. Food From the Sky is also working with Thornton’s Budgens employees, who between them speak 31 different languages, to share the space. But Azul says that none of the project would have been possible without volunteers, so if you’d like to get involved, check out the website, and go along at least once. The plan is for the project to grow and be used as a template for other supermarket roofs, so catch it while it’s still a gem of an idea just about ready to spread its wings. And have a chat to Azul, she’s a very inspiring woman. Any article you read about this project can only scrape the surface of the philosophy that has shaped it.

Written by Zofia Walczak on Monday June 20th, 2011 10:26 am

Categories ,Biodiversity, ,Boris Johnson, ,Budgens, ,Claire Bryne, ,Claire Kearns, ,Crouch End, ,Food from the Sky, ,grassroots, ,Greenhouse, ,Growing Food, ,permaculture, ,Rooftop, ,Sam Parr, ,Supermarket, ,Thornton’s Budgens, ,transition towns, ,Victoria Haynes

Amelia’s Magazine | Food from the Sky: Growing food on top of a Supermarket in Crouch End

Food from the Sky by Sam Parr.

Food from the Sky by Claire Bryne.

Boris Johnson visits Food from the Sky by Sam Parr.

Food from the Sky by Claire Kearns.

Making the Greenhouse by Claire Byrne
Making the greenhouse at Food from the Sky by Claire Bryne.

Making the greenhouse, by Claire Kearns
Making the greenhouse by Claire Kearns.

Food-From-the-Sky-by-Victoria-Haynes
Food from the Sky by Victoria Haynes.

Food-from-the-Sky-by-Victoria-Haynes
Greenhouse building by Victoria Haynes.

Food from the Sky by Claire Bryne.

Written by Zofia Walczak on Monday June 20th, 2011 10:26 am

Amelia’s Magazine | Guerilla Gardening – the community led action

Earlier this year, this site The Canalside Environment Group initiated an act of guerilla gardening in a North Oxford resident’s estate. Amelia’s Magazine spoke to Moira regarding the reasons behind the action.

All Illustrations by http://Katy Gromball

How and where did the idea for the Guerilla Gardening come about?

One of our members read about the concept and brought the idea to the group. We are an environmental action group and loved the idea of not waiting for the ‘authorities’ to brighten up wasteland areas. Instead taking it into our own hands by doing something to brighten up an area for the community.

We chose to plant bulbs as we like the idea of them emerging in the spring with many people enjoying them but not knowing how they got there. We also planted a fruit tree that in time we hope will yield fruit that can be picked and shared by the local community. We had some money available in our funds from a grant we had received which paid for the plants.

How did you choose the area to garden and what was the aim for the action?

We looked around our local area for an area of neglected ground that we thought could be cheered up with planting. We were careful to take into account concerns such as whether it was an area that might get trampled by children or whether we were going to affect planting that was already in the area.

The aim of our group is to promote sustainable lifestyles in our local area and help to develop a sense of community. The Group and its activities are led and managed by volunteers. With all our events we actively encourage newcomers to take an active role. We have grown from an initial meeting of 6 people to a community action group with an ever-expanding mailing list.
The group is inclusive to all members of our community and includes support for the local primary school. We welcome anyone with a passion for local environmental change.

The Canalside Environment Group was formed in November 2005 originally to cover the Waterways, this Waterside and Aristotle Lane developments that lie along the canal in North Oxford. As interest in the group has grown locally it has expanded to include the surrounding areas of North Oxford to the west of Woodstock Road.
Local actions initiated by the group include: installing a household battery battery-recycling box outside Phil and Jim School, information pills the production of a Local Food Sourcing Leaflet, to promoting the benefits of cycling, both for the environment and personal health. The group is on a mission to encourage environmental action from the grass roots.

The list of actions they have initiated is certainly admirable. Past events include campaigning to reduce packaging outside Marks and Spencers, to a wildlife walkabout the aim of which is to increase the local communities knowledge of the surrounding wildlife and what can be done to protect the ecosystem.
Other events organised by the environmental volunteers of North Oxford include Christmas Tree Shredding. A simple idea that involves encouraging residents to take chippings back to their gardens or donate the mulche to local allotment holders.
My favourite events are as always the Swap Shops. Where else would I have found my drill and electric screwdriver (for free!) that has provided invaluable during the construction of my degree show at Goldsmiths? Or mourn over the missed opportunity of a hat stand that was swiftly nabbed as soon as it entered the local village hall.
The Swap Shops are now held four times a year in St Margaret’s Institute. They are definitely worth a trip.
The Canalside Environmental group is also rather fantastic at keeping the North Oxford area free of litter picking. Before the Guerillia Garding, the group organised guerilla litter picking, where a team of volunteers would descend on mass to the resident’s estates blitzing them of any rubbish. Whilst at the same time holding composting workshops to push local residents towards the idea of starting their own composts in their back gardens.
As of yet, the group has had no scrapes with the Law. However it is rumoured that the estate managers are not happy with this simple act of creating a more enjoyable landscape for the residents.

Are you looking to involve more people?

We have only guerilla gardened once so far and there were 3 people involved. We will certainly get more members involved next time.

Do you plan on repeating the action? What has the response been towards the action from the local community?

Yes – as CEG is centered in the new housing developments we have limited scope for guerilla gardening in this area. We think it is such a good idea however that we plan to look elsewhere in Oxford for other sites – probably supporting other community groups.

There has been no reaction yet from the local community because we planted bulbs so they have not appeared yet. I would not expect to hear much response anyway. We didn’t plant a ‘sea’ of daffodils for instance so I think it is more than likely that when our flowers arrive in the spring they will bring a smile to people’s faces and cheer up their day, rather than provoking much reaction.

Our little plum tree is looking well though. We planted it so it would bear fruit for the community in years to come. The grounds maintenance people have been in recently with a strimmer but our little tree has been spared. However THEY are probably wondering where it came from!

Finally, what are your thoughts regarding transition towns? To your knowledge has Oxford looked into becoming one?

Transition Oxford has wound down and folded recently. I think the transition town’s idea is great, however I don’t think a place the size of Oxford, with such a transient population, is quite ready for it.
It is a massive project for a group of volunteers to take on in a town of this size. I think it might work better in a smaller town.
Also, the concept of peak oil is quite central to them and, although I myself am a firm believer in the peak oil concern, I think many people don’t really ‘get it’ yet. CO2 is hard enough to grasp!

Has there been any resistance to the gardening action?

There was some resistance from the local management committee when they inadvertently heard what we were doing because they were concerned we would upset planting plans for the development. We chose our planting area carefully and just went ahead without telling them! That’s what guerilla gardening is all about!

Written by Sally Mumby-Croft on Thursday October 15th, 2009 11:48 am

Categories ,action, ,bulb, ,Canalside Environmental Group, ,community, ,compost, ,environmental, ,garden, ,grassroots, ,guerilla gardening, ,swapshops, ,transition towns, ,tree

Amelia’s Magazine | There’s the General Election, and then there’s Democracy Village in Parliament Square.

Illustration by June Chanpoomidole

While Spring turns to Summer, check London Fashion Week AW10 may fade in our memories, but the designers that drew us in certainly won’t. One such designer that caught my eye at the Esthetica exhibition was ‘Makepiece’. The concept and techniques used were so intriguing that we couldn’t resist interviewing the owner, Beate Kubitz.

Why did you choose to focus on eco-fashion? Why is it so important to you?
Clothes are important to me. I think what you’re wearing tells other people a lot about you, who you are and how you feel about yourself. I don’t like the idea that something that makes me look great was complicit in damaging the environment or the people who made it. You don’t want your favourite t-shirt to be dripping with pesticides, cause a water shortage or to be sewn up in a sweat shop. But unless you’re very careful, it might be.
There’s something wrong with the latest trend ‘buy, wear, chuck’ mentality – it’s a bit neurotic and it’s definitely bad for the planet. We try and make clothes that are significant to the women that wear them and that they can feel really good about.

How did the Makepiece brand begin?
I’ve been keeping sheep for seven years now, met Nicola six years ago and Makepiece is now five.
We’re located in Todmorden, a small town in the Pennines. It’s beautiful and has a long history of wool production so it feels like the right place to be doing it. The landscape is scattered with mills built in the nineteenth century – but wool was being spun and woven in cottage industries and then transported to market or the Piece Halls on ponies travelling on packhorse tracks which still crisscross the moors.

What techniques do you use in your clothing?
Knitting – with some knitted felt. The important thing is stitch design – Nicola is the queen of 3D stitches that really sculpt the garments and give them their drama as well as their details. She uses hand operated knitting machines which give her scope to develop a stitch then apply it in loads of different ways so that it works on the body. Our knits tend to be more three-dimensional because they’re designed like this. Also, all our knits are fully fashioned (knitted to shape rather than cut out of a piece of knitted cloth) which looks better and wastes less yarn.

What materials do you use in your clothing?
Wool – some of it undyed brown wool from our Shetland sheep, others fine Bluefaced Leicester wool, from the UK flock and English alpaca and mohair.

Illustration by Becky Glover

What was the inspiration behind your most recent collection?
Romance, definitely. Nicola got married in the summer and the sense of romance seems to have seeped into and permeated the collection. There are lots of ruffles, little frills, translucency and volume – but not just ephemeral prettiness, really lovely things that you can adapt and keep forever.

Do you have a favourite piece in the current collection? If so, what is it and why?
There are a few things that are really adaptable – like the Manifold cardigan which has a ribbon tie which can be used to ruche it up to bolero length or left loose so that it’s a long, elegant cardigan. Our little Foxglove shrug also works as a summer scarf and the Manifold dresses can be styled in loads of ways so they let the wearer use her imagination.

What are your future aims for the Makepiece brand?
We’ve really been growing our website so that people all over the country can buy our clothes but we’d like to be in more stores, for the people who are less confident with internet shopping or who like to try things on.

Is it harder or easier to sell eco-fashion? Is there a lot of competition?
Because we make everything in the UK it’s more expensive to manufacture so that means that we have to do a good job in helping people understand.

What is so individual about the Makepiece brand?
Style, humour and our flock of Shetland sheep. We go from mud to mascara in a twinkling of an eye – never forgetting the roots of our fashion but always looking for beauty and grace in our designs. We try and be sustainable throughout the business – from the way we farm the sheep with the lowest impact possible (we’re just about to become part of a scheme to help protect twite – which is one of the most endangered British bird species) to buying green energy for the studio, recycling everything we can, using public transport as much as possible (I took our last collection to London Fashion Week on the train from Yorkshire – in the most enormous trunk – it was quite a feat), I even do some of the farming on my bike.

The good thing about wool is that it is more or less a by-product from sheep farming so it’s not using up land or resources that should be in food production – and on upland farms like mine creating good grazing and farming sheep is one of the few productive things you can do (I tried vegetables once, but it was not a success!). Compared to cotton, for example, which uses over 15% of the pesticides used in the world and vast amounts of water – so much that the irrigation of cotton has shrunk the size of the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan, wool is farmed much more sustainably (particularly in the UK where we have to look after the land as well as the animals and the government monitors your impact on the environment).

Because we make everything so locally we avoid the CO2 emissions from shipping things vast distances. We also employ people in our community and use a local dyer who has to comply with European dyeing regulations – the REACH standards; no azos, no heavy metals and irritants, effluent is stringently monitored so no emissions into the water system, and so on.
We also only use recycled and sustainable paper in our labelling and packaging.

You can find the brand at: www.makepiece.co.uk and selected eco-fashion stores.

Illustration by June Chanpoomidole

While Spring turns to Summer, stuff London Fashion Week AW10 may fade in our memories, information pills but the designers that drew us in certainly won’t. One such designer that caught my eye at the Esthetica exhibition was ‘Makepiece’. The concept and techniques used were so intriguing that we couldn’t resist interviewing the owner, Beate Kubitz.

What materials do you use in your clothing?
Wool – some of it undyed brown wool from our Shetland sheep, others fine Bluefaced Leicester wool, from the UK flock and English alpaca and mohair.

Illustration by Becky Glover

You can find the brand at: www.makepiece.co.uk and selected eco-fashion stores.

Democracy Village Amelia Wells
Democracy Village. All photography by Amelia Wells.

Parliament Square is currently home to the Democracy Village; a few tents, viagra 100mg a couple of marquees and a whole lot of passion. It was set up on May the First and will be there… until people leave, this or for some, viagra 40mg until the war is over. I went down on Election Day, since I couldn’t vote anyway having failed to register, to see what was going on at the Festival of Peace. I found a vibrant and close knit community of anarchists, doing what they colourfully could to challenge the establishment, promote democracy and bring the war that we’re still at to an end.