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Plants

Paul Jennings : his journey building a home on a smallholding in Wales under One Planet Development

One Planet Development arrested: my attempts to build a home on a smallholding in Wales

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We moved to Wales because of an extraordinary Welsh Government policy. I shan’t lie, despite all experience and political conviction to the contrary, we were optimistic. One Planet Development seemed to be the kind of advance for low impact living and sustainable land use that we had been hoping for

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dragonfly land co-op - sheep

Wanted: new members for a co-operative farm – you are invited to an exploratory weekend

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You are invited to Ffynnon Teilo Farm Activity Weekend, to explore creating a co-operative farm – Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th of September. Activities will include: pond clearing, footpath and step renovation, fire making, campsite cooking and farm tour. Camping space available Saturday night.

Read more about Wanted: new members for a co-operative farm – you are invited to an exploratory weekend








cargobike

Cargo bikes collecting local food waste for anaerobic digestion and biogas

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Closing the food-waste-energy loop – a celebration of sustainability. Enjoy a free community event in a beautiful wildlife park learning about closed-loop recycling, urban agriculture, sustainable cities, decentralised waste management, renewable gas and how YOU can make a difference.

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share offer

Help set up eco-settlements by moving your money and getting a better return than from a bank savings account

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If we want to: help set up organic smallholdings; allow people to build natural homes on their land; preserve rural skills and livelihoods; and develop a sustainable, non-corporate food supply, we have to do more than just talk about it.

Read more about Help set up eco-settlements by moving your money and getting a better return than from a bank savings account


ecological land co-op

I’ve joined the board of the Ecological Land Co-operative because I want to change the way land is owned and farmed

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On Wednesday evening I attended the AGM of the Ecological Land Co-op at Freightliners City Farm in London. I was standing for election to the board after being invited to apply by Shaun Chamberlin of Dark Optimism

Read more about I’ve joined the board of the Ecological Land Co-operative because I want to change the way land is owned and farmed

yorkley court

Introducing Yorkley Court Community Farm – you can help them to secure their land with a land trust, and avoid eviction

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Yorkley Court Community Farm is in the Forest of Dean. They contacted us as they’re involved in a legal battle to stay on the land that they’re currently occupying. The ownership of the land is contested, but a lot of damage has been done

Read more about Introducing Yorkley Court Community Farm – you can help them to secure their land with a land trust, and avoid eviction

elc chickens

Want to see land shared more equally, and managed ecologically? If so, here’s what to do

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We used to get people on our straw-bale building courses who were amazed at how simple and quick a technique it is. They’d sometimes say ‘wow, I’m going to get a few acres and build my own home!’ and we’d have to inform them that they might have to do it in another country.

Read more about Want to see land shared more equally, and managed ecologically? If so, here’s what to do



paved gardens

3 million front gardens have been completely paved since 2005. Let’s try to reverse this trend.

The RHS 2015 Greening Grey Britain Report reveals that three times as many front gardens are paved over compared to ten years ago, a total increase of 15 square miles of ‘grey’, and that plant cover in front gardens has decreased by as much as 15%.  

Read more about 3 million front gardens have been completely paved since 2005. Let’s try to reverse this trend.

sunflowers

Should we be planning to ‘drought-proof’ our food production for a warmer climate?

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The weather is not the climate. Nonetheless, over the last few years I have noticed that I have developed a slightly panicky fear of the weather; I can’t notice the weather I suppose, without it triggering all sorts of associations in my mind to the myriad articles I’ve read, and conversations I’ve had, about Anthropogenic Climate

Read more about Should we be planning to ‘drought-proof’ our food production for a warmer climate?