Banff Transition

Casaubon’s Book: Rather than buying seedlings.

 

Casaubon’s Book — Notes about early germination of seeds of plants that require periods of cold.

 

Town of Banff: “The Community Greenhouse will be a catalyst to get people growing and cultivating an interest in gardening.

“A greenhouse in Banff is not a new concept. Historical photographs from as far back as 1928 depict several active greenhouses in the Banff area. More recently, the 2006 Banff FCSS Community Social Assessment highlighted a growing community interest in gardening and greenhouse development.

“There are several reasons that a community greenhouse was felt to be a good initial development. A greenhouse allows for an extended growing season. It also avoids open wildlife attractants. A greenhouse can be constructed in such a way that it can be easily re-located if required.”

 

Banff Crag and Canyon: “The community’s interest in building a greenhouse is growing, with over 35 people attending an open house at town hall Nov. 12. Leader Construction, which has donated $5,000 to the project and has agreed to help build the greenhouse, has already drawn up some plans of what the it could look like. But already the interest has exceeded available space. With over 35 people attending the open house — several of them signing up to be on a greenhouse steering committee — only 18 garden plots would be available if the greenhouse project comes to fruition. The greenhouse currently under consideration would have 18, 2×8 plots. Whether a second one would be built depends how the first one is received.”

 

Science Blog: “A group of researchers from the Fat Institute (CSIC) and the University of Seville have confirmed that some wild plants have a high nutritional value. The scientists have found that several species of lupins from the mountains of Andalusia have a protein content similar to that of other cultivated legumes.”

 

London Today: “A London council is converting its disused spaces into areas for local people to grow produce in an attempt to make its food supply sustainable by 2050. Hundreds of unused and abandoned spaces in Enfield are to be converted into fruit and vegetable plots in the hope of the area becoming “London’s breadbasket”. Informal growing spaces around the borough, such as car parks, disused garages and empty spaces around blocks of flats, are to be converted into vegetable plots, while two of its rundown parks will become community orchards. The scheme is part of a borough-wide strategy announced today with the aim of reinvigorating food networks and improving sustainability. As part of the £50,000 council-funded scheme, up to 120 trees – including apple, pear, plum and hazelnut – will be planted across two sites. Community groups will decide what they want to plant and whether they want to sell the produce or eat it themselves.”

 

The Tyee: “It’s called urban agriculture, and it’s relatively new, at least on the scale now being tried. But it may be just what humanity needs if it’s going to survive.”

 

NY Times: “Mr. Chávez’s purge of dissidents from the national oil company focused suspicion on the golf courses, which were seen as bastions of the old elite.”