Project Dirt

Making environmental change happen

Nick

Monday 5th October

Autumn draws in...
October's crept up on us this week and I, for one, have been noticing a distinct change in temperature. Yes, OK, I should probably have anticipated this, given that it happens every year, but winter clearly isn't far round the corner and I haven't really got to thinking about getting the big woolly jumpers out yet.

Recently Mark and I did a quick stock-take of the projects represented on Project Dirt - the kind of stuff covered is seriously wide and varied, although (perhaps unsurprisingly) there's quite an emphasis on food growing. Falling into this category are some of the most exciting and innovative projects we're aware of, but we're also preparing ourselves for a dip in activity from many of these groups as the seasons effect their natural dampener on even the most avid horticulturalist's enthusiasm. But let's not get all down about it... it's still a great time to be tasting the summer's produce. The recent Tooting Harvest Foodival was just one such celebration, and by all accounts went down a storm! (read Rach's account here). And if you can make it along, I'd highly recommend Food Up Front's 'Autumn & Winter Growing Workshop' this evening (details here).

But Mark and I are trying to figure out how to stimulate some of the less edible varieties of autumn and winter activity. Much of this will be around ensuring that our houses are well-prepared for the cold. Last year, Hyde Farm CAN ran a brilliant series of Draught-Busting Saturdays, for residents of the Hyde Farm estate in Balham. By demonstrating in person how to fit insulation and draught-proofing materials, and selling them at wholesale prices, many people were encouraged to retrofit their houses with energy-saving measures. So successful was it in fact that the model has been ungraciously 'nabbed' by Peckham Power, who paid a successful visit earlier in the year to go and check it out. Great stuff guys... sharing these kind of ideas is what it is all about!

The sticky subject of how to retrofit your house as a tenant, is the topic of the Guardian's 'Ask Leo' column. If you're a tenant, this question (and answers from the public) is well worth a read.

So, I'll leave it there for today. As we edge closer into winter, we feel sure that the Project Dirt community will continue to be support each other in their efforts to be 'green', even if the weather makes it less attractive to be outdoors. Who knows, sharing ideas about how to save energy in the home may just give you a warm glow inside!

Nick

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Adrian Audsley Comment by Adrian Audsley on October 5, 2009 at 11:43am
If anyone wants to try to organise themselves to run a "Draught-Busting Saturday" in their own street/community I am happy to share details of how we ran them in the Hyde Farm. The basic concept is to get someone, whose house/flat needs doors and windows draughtproofed, to host the Draughtbusting Saturday for a few hours. The event is publicised with leaflets to local houses and neighbours and then we (or rather you) demonstrate how to do the draughtproofing to groups of visitors, letting them have a go and generally demystifying the subject. They then buy the materials, take an installation guide and go and do their own or help each other. Other items like low energy light bulbs, energy meters, reflective panels behind radiators etc. can be sold at the same time. The concept is a social, community building event that achieves immediate, empowering changes in energy efficiency and raises some funds. However a lot of work and you obviously need offers of funding to buy the materials to get it going.
Rach Comment by Rach on October 5, 2009 at 11:12am
The foodival was fab! I'm sorry I missed the food walk, I will be there if there's one next year!
David Thorne Comment by David Thorne on October 5, 2009 at 9:57am
Tooting Harvest Foodival was a great event, especially the walk up the High St. It seemed to connect with all sorts of different people - people into Transition, people who'd never heard of Transition, random passers by, restaurant owners & workers, people from nearby shops. Definitely loads to build on for future events!
Hilary Comment by Hilary on October 5, 2009 at 9:31am
It was great to see the food walk being pied pipered up the high road by Giles and David and their folding table of sustainability (thank you to Indrajit for loaning it to us!) Thanks to all who grew, cooked, walked, ate and generally joined in.
Giles Comment by Giles on October 5, 2009 at 9:24am
The day was amazing - check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU8WKeBvzvw (as well as on the Foodival web page!) Thanks to everyone (and there's tons of them) who helped to make it possible!
Claudia Comment by Claudia on October 5, 2009 at 9:14am
Thanks to everyone who came to the Tooting Harvest Foodival - it was a brilliant event - who knew so many people in the area grow their own food!!

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