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Bristol eco-village

Posted on April 22, 2010 | 12 comments

Welcome.

The squatters moved in on Saturday and already three acres of desolate wasteland in inner-city Bristol have been transformed.

What is dead has been brought back to life.

The beans are planted in the soil – on lined raised beds as the land used to be a scrapyard and may be contaminated by toxins.

The squatters are conducting soil tests.

If contamination is found, the squatters plan some soil restoration, such as feeding with compost tea and planting with nitrate-fixing plants (such as beans).

Here is their reception area where visitors can get more info.

It looks like something out of Mad Max or a similar post-apocalyptic movie – and that’s the point.

Rather than be victims of a future likely eco-disaster, some people would rather prepare positively in the present.

Here is a makeshift green house.

On Tuesday the squatters must got to court.

Why?

Must the land be repossessed by the owners so it may lie unused for another twenty years?

Or can it be restored to life as the squatters are doing, growing vegetables and rebuilding soil fertility?

“We come in peace they said

To dig and sow

We come to work the lands in common

And to make the waste ground grow

This earth divided

We will make whole

So it will be

A common treasury for all

We work, we eat together

We need no swords

We will not bow to the masters

Or pay rent to the lords.

Still we are free

Though we are poor

You Diggers all stand up for glory

Stand up now!”

12 Comments

Posted in eating well on a budget, food, health, peak oil, rant, sustainable

Tagged Bristol eco village, growing beans, growing on wasteland, land restoration, squatters, the Diggers

Make more of vegetables

Posted on October 22, 2009 | 40 comments

MAKING MORE OF SQUASHES MAKING MORE OF BEANS & PEAS

Two books I have co-authored launch this Saturday at The Udder Farm Shop.

Make More of Squash and Make More of Beans and Peas are the first two in a new series, Make More of Vegetables, published by Hothivebooks.

Fresh vegetables are the basis of real food, bringing vitality, health and taste.

Vegetables are good for us so how can we make more of them?

These two books will show you how.

First, the recipes cook the veg from scratch.

Queen of Italian cookery writer, (Nigella’s mentor) Anna del Conte, says of the recipes by local food enthusiast and recipe creator, Patricia Harbottle:

“The recipes in these books are a joy to read and an even bigger joy to eat.

I was particularly captivated by the section of one-pot dishes, which I love to cook – the end result is delicious in its balance of flavours and perfect in its balance of nutrients.

Pat is a cook after my own heart!”

As well as cooking from scratch, the books show you how to grow from seed.

Correct me if I am wrong but few gardening books are aimed at the inadequate gardener, such as yours truly.

So when I teamed up with organic horticulturalist, Peter Chadwick, I made sure I asked all the right questions. Example: “What is a ‘module’?”

Peter answered ever-so-patiently, even my inner child could understand.

So if you work with children or have never grown a bean or squash from seed – try these books.

Ditto if you want to enjoy eating more veg.

Available at Amazon.

Love and vegetable blessings, Elisabeth

PS I cooked Squash Mousse for pudding and it was delicious.