Author: Carol

Today we are having a Christmas fuddle.

A what ?

a fuddle.

now this was new to us last year but our C.E.O. Carol implemented it last Christmas and . .  . well i think it’s stuck.

A fuddle is a day when you bring a little of something you’ve cooked in to work to share . . .  if enough people contribute; then there’s a plethora of tasty Christmas treats that everyone can share.

my contribution today is the music . . . going to try and play some Carols on the guitar.  (try being the operative word there)

then i’m off to see the boys and girls of this years Prince’s Trust this afternoon.

deck the halls with . . . . .    dum de dum . . .

Merry Christmas !

 

By: Rob Greenfield,

 

This simple guide is written to help you lead a life that is good for you, your community, and the earth. Most of these tips will cost you nothing to implement and many of them will save you money. They will help you to increase your health and happiness and that of the people, animals, and environment that you interact with.

But Beware!  People will think you are awesome.  You will be flooded with compliments, love, and appreciation.  People will want to talk to you and be around you.  Your life will have purpose and you will be passionate to be alive.

1.  Eat a whole food plant based diet which means more veggies, fruits, grains, and nuts and less animal products. Try to buy organic and unpackaged food as well.

2.  Start riding a bike, walking and using public transportation and minimize your time in cars.

3.  Go local. Eat local, shop local, play local.

4.  Reduce- Reuse- Recycle and in that order.  Recycling comes last and is a very energy intensive process.  Much of the trash we create takes 100′s of years to biodegrade so try to cut back on the amount you make.  Compost your food waste, repair items, and find new uses for old stuff.

5.  Share! Share your stuff and share others stuff.  Be a part of the sharing economy.

6.  Buy less stuff and purchase used items when you can.  When thinking of purchasing something ask yourself if you really need it.  This will leave you money to buy the things that you really need and want.

7.  Conserve water and electricity.  Just be conscious of your usage.  There are 100′s of ways to cut back and you will start to see them if you pay attention.

8.  Use products that are reusable and avoid using disposable items such as bags, take out containers, bottled water, straws, dishes, and paper towels. There is an earth friendly alternative to almost any disposable item.

9.  Practice Positive consumerism. Buy from businesses who practice corporate social responsibly. Businesses have a responsibility to people and the planet as well as profit. Support responsible companies and boycott companies who only care about profit.

10.  Simplify. The less you need the easier it is to be friendly to our earth. And the less money you need the more time you will have to do what you love doing.

11.  Be conscious. When you make decisions take into account where things come from and how they were produced.  Take responsibility for your own decisions.   Find out where the things you use come from and if you don’t like what you find then seek out an alternative.

12. Live beyond yourself.  How do your actions affect other humans, animals, and the earth?  Make your decisions based on the wellbeing of everyone and everything, not just you.

13. Be good to others. Good creates good. Smiles create smiles. If you want to be happy just make others happy.

14. Set your priorities. Is eating healthy more important than getting drinks at a bar or eating out?  If so spend your money on the former rather than the latter.

Start small. Choose what will be easiest for you and do that first. Your confidence will build over time and each step will become easier as you progress in living a life that is good for everyone involved. Over time you’ll find yourself happier and healthier and you will likely feel liberated from the things that were holding you back.  Your positivity and health will likely rub off on others and you’ll find yourself creating a more vibrant world around you.

Live Happy.  Live Healthy.  Live Free.  Live beyond yourself.

Read more http://www.trueactivist.com/14-ways-to-live-an-awesome-earth-friendly-lifestyle/

well the season is upon us . . .

We wanted to let the good people of Lincolnshire know that there is still time to order their Christmas bumper veg box . . . .  You’ll find everything you need for your families Christmas Table in there. (with the exception of the Turkey)

Our cut-off date for Christmas box orders will be Wednesday 18th December 2013 – delivery will be on the 23rd December 2013

We are also selling hand made holly and ivy wreaths for £12.50. there are only a few left but contact us on 01472 870609 to reserve one.

From everyone involved in Green Futures – we would like to wish you a Happy festive season and a prosperous New Year

 

 

Hello to all you good people that support Green Futures at the Vanson Centre.

For me it’s a pleasure to work towards creating a centre for the people of Grimsby . . . A centre to access information, to learn how to make your money go further, how to interact with the natural environment, how to grow your own food and how to access information that’ll assist in personal growth, your general well being and a more sustainable lifestyle.

This coming Christmas I implore you to make cards or presents for loved ones, if you’re creative side won’t allow that; then buy locally, invest in a local artist, friend or locally run business to provide a special something for that certain someone. it’s these small gestures that’ll keep Grimsby’s economy alive. It is us that make the decisions as to where we invest our money and time. invest well . . . . . buying locally. . . . . invests in the people you know, it puts money back into YOUR locality . . . buying at global organisations that exploit the local economy by having the ability to undercut the market is investing in a false economy (of which we are starting to feel the shock waves at the moment with the dramatic leap in people accessing food banks – employed and unemployed people accessing food banks – which has tripled in the last 12 months).

My Christmas message to one and all this year is this:

i hope that you are lucky enough to spend quality time with your nearest and dearest, because at this time of year when the fire needs to be on and the car has to be run, and the bills have to be paid, and the mortgage, and the taxes, and the cost of. . .  and the . . . when you sometimes stop and address the situation. . .  we do live the good life.  It might not seem like it at times, we may get stretched, pushed and pulled in all directions at times; BUT THINK WHAT YOU HAVE.

At this time of year my heart goes out to people less fortunate than myself. people who are hungry, people that are war torn, people that are on their own and isolated, people that are cold, people that live under the threat of eviction, and those who have aggression and violence in their home lives.

Christmas isn’t what Santa brings you . . . YOU are Santa (Sorry Kids) !

Make a difference this year. don’t believe the hype . . .  the world if full of GOOD people, you’ve just got to get out there and meet them.

only then will you see the true face of what Christmas is really all about.

Peace and Love to all

Pete

 

Can you believe all of this could be yours, delivered to your home a day or two before Christmas . . . no fuss, no bother . . . just a local non profit making social enterprise trying its hardest to create an easy build up to your festive season.  .  .  .  and all of this for just £25.00

All you have to do is ring us on 01474 870609, or email us at:  orders@greenfuturesgrimsby.co.uk

Get them whilst you can.

£25 includes 2.5k Linconshire potatoes, 700g red onions, 1k carrots, 800g leeks, 1 cabbage, 1 garlic, 600g beetroot or turnips, 1 swede, 1 stalk of Brussels sprouts, 1k parsnips, 1 broccoli head, 1 pepper, 1 cauliflower, 1 squash, 250g mushrooms, 1 handmade Christmas biscuit, 6 locally made Lacie’s chocolates, 1 box organic stuffing, 1 jar of local made cranberry sauce, 1 mulled wine sachet of herbs and spices, 3-4 oranges.
Can be delivered on Monday 23rd or if you collect from site you will get an extra item in the box!

Re: NCS – Grimsby town youth working with Green Futures at The Vanson Centre, Bradley

Report regarding the week of Aug 5^th – 9^th 2013

Work Completed

1. Re-painted the building on site – work included: sanding down the walls, covering the floor surfaces and painting the external brickwork.
2. Weeding and watering on site – work included: internal weeding and watering in the 3 poly tunnels, weeding the back plots, composting, burning off dried weeds, pest control (catching cabbage white butterflies with a fishing net . . ) planting fresh seedlings and potting on plants.
3. General tidy up on site – work included: moving recyclables into their designated place, sweeping down, clearing weeded area, grass cutting, watering, tidying the composting area, controlled burn of dried green waste and tidying the inside of the building
4. Woodland Clean up – guided walk down to Bradley woods discussing indigenous British flora and fauna, woodlands in Lincolnshire and the natural environment. Work included: litter picking between Green Futures site and Bradley Woods and Litter picking the woodland. Additional support by Emma Warrener, a local Herbalist. She walked the young people through the woodland and discussed the historic, medicinal and edible use of the plants, shrubs and tree’s within the woodlands.
5. Community project – Laceby wild pollinator Raised Bed. – Working in partnership with RAALI (Residents Association for Aylesby, Laceby & Irby) work included: Clearing the old flower bed next to the Chalk stream. Constructing a raised bed from Railway sleepers, back filling with new soil, planting up with bee friendly plants and herbs, watering, sweeping down and tidying the site.
6. Environmental Art – working in partnership with local artist Steve Green. Work included: discussing the natural environment, shape, form, growth and seasons. Evaluating recyclables and structure, pressing flowers, design and drawing session.

Evaluation

• Regarding the Work done on Site

The young people where offered the opportunity of choosing which work they wanted to get involved in, this was to push decision making and promote the opportunity of working in a field of their interest.  We witnessed some dedicated individuals that worked very well with their peers and Green Futures volunteers on site. We placed two mature volunteers with groups and promoted a mentoring process. The young people worked well under their own steam and finalised their given tasks. As with every group there were 3 – 5 individuals that didn’t want to engage as the others were happy to do. (age and attitude being contributors rather than interaction and work load). The painting was done well, the building looks like it’s had a new lease of life (from the outside at least).  The spring clean on site really has made a big difference to the perception of new visitors and has benefited us as a social enterprise that actively encourages walking busses from local schools and children’s’ centres.  Between the allocated work sessions; the young people where keen to discuss and explore the numerous interactions on site. We discussed, the natural environment and the personal benefits regarding its health, biodiversity, pollination, bee keeping and honey making, seasonal fluctuation and growing your own food, diet, physical fitness, community based and green economy, geology, botany, horticulture and permiculture, practical conservation, British wildlife, personal aspirations, career ideas and further education.

 

• Regarding the Work done in the Woodlands

We instigated two sessions at Bradley woods.

The young people walked from The Vanson Centre to Bradley woods following two different routes. First session followed the main road down to the woodland – litter picking all the way there and whilst there. The second session walked through the village of Bradley – again, litter picking all the way there and whilst there.

Together the young people collected 13 bags of non biodegradables from their walk – these were collected by the local authority and disposed of. Throughout both walks’ discussions where instigated on the following topics – Tree’s and the part they play in our existence, Lincolnshire and the percentage tree cover, The Oak tree and the species that are dependent on them, Local Flora and Fauna and local agriculture. We were joined by a local Herbalist; Emma Warrener , on the second walk and she identified and discussed the plants, shrubs and trees with the young people. It was great to see such interest and interaction.

 

• Regarding the Work done on the Community Project in Laceby

The project at Laceby allowed me to work with 15 young people – we looked at clearing the area, construction (to which Jake was excellent), back filling with new soil, plants and planting, pollinator plants, local biodiversity and community based work. Discussions with the young people broadened the idea of partnership approaches to resolving problems and enhancing the natural environment for local people. The young people worked well as a team, sharing workloads and offering to play a part in the project. The group where very impressed with both the work and the outcome of the raised bed and supported the whole group on their last day with us.  They have since then submitted an additional correspondence to thank the group for their sterling work.

In Conclusion, on behalf of all of us here at Green Future, i would like to thank each and every one who spent the week assisting in the ongoing process of creating an educational landscape with us here at the Vanson Centre and improving the natural environment in and around North East Lincolnshire. This project would be nothing without the good people that choose to spend their time with us.

I would like to add an additional thank you to all who facilitated the process for these young people. We witnessed a very pro-active and supportive system and thoroughly enjoyed the week we had with everyone.

We look forward to this becoming a standard system for next summer and really getting these young people actively involved in projects that improve and enhance Grimsby and its surrounding areas.

Many thanks

Pete Allen – Development Officer – Green Futures