I spent most of the day on the computer, doing mainly assorted Novaterium based things. I sorted out the UK directory into Scotland, Wales and the different regions of England, and added several new natural or woodland burial sites. I had to ring two up to get the map pin in the right place (I have learned not to trust where the pin is on the particular website, or the postcode of the nearest place... I'm making sure that the pin is exactly on the burial site! This sometimes involves Google Street View... and today I worked out how to get the latitude and longitude of the pin using just Googlemaps, so I now don't need to use Multimap as well. I felt very pleased with today's work.
But I needed to get some exercise so I went to collect our youngest from school, I also delivered two spare climbing pea bean plants to a Freecycler in Heslington. I enjoyed walking home with my lad, despite the rain getting heavier and heavier. But as soon as we got home, the rain got less heavy so I went into the garden for a bit and put more stuff into the Compostumbler.
Gill put together a pasta, cauliflower and cheese sauce meal, and at 7 I got ready to go to the LETS meeting. My old LETS friend Geoff was waiting at the Seahorse, and then some of the regulars turned up, and a new member... another of my friends, Tracy, who helped organise one of the Green Festivals. And another new member came, Doreen, bearing two trays of scones which she was selling, 4 for one Yorky.
I chaired, constructed an agenda and we got through the meeting relatively quickly. We planned the AGM for next month, when we'll launch the website to the membership and vote on re-installing the Social Fund, a sort of voluntary taxation or tithing to help needy members.
I came home via one of the regular pallet dumps and brought two home on the bike trailer.
Then several hours... playing Scrabble, welcoming my old friend Mark onto facebook (Mark was the first person I met in York when I moved here with my previous partner in 1987) and chatting with Rory my Novaterium partner on Googletalk.
Oh, and I looked through The Book of Green eco living directory which came in the post today. Both Novaterium and Professor Fiddlesticks are on page 32. I am happy.
Monday, 7 June 2010
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Sunday 6th June 10
A late start to the day, but as soon as I was awake I got busy with the Novaterium website, modifying some of Rory's map pin information and making the pages more usable. I didn't add any more woodland burial sites but I need to, to populate the UK map more completely.
But the rain stopped and I decided to cycle down to Country Fresh to deliver some more compost and to pick up the two boxes of 'resources' that I didn't take yesterday, due to my trailer being full of Fiddlesticks stuff.
Then I spent time down the garden loading up the smaller Compostumbler and a pallet bin, also doing some weeding - docks, before they set seed, and ground elder flowers, and then I decided to cut the Privet hedge at the front, and I put all the cut material through the shredder, making 3 sacks of good compostable stuff.
I had some leek and sweet potato soup, which Gill had let down with some soya milk, with some boiled potatoes and a blob of hommous.
Enjoyed 'The Sky At Night' as it is always just a bit too complicated for me to totally get my head around.
But the rain stopped and I decided to cycle down to Country Fresh to deliver some more compost and to pick up the two boxes of 'resources' that I didn't take yesterday, due to my trailer being full of Fiddlesticks stuff.
Then I spent time down the garden loading up the smaller Compostumbler and a pallet bin, also doing some weeding - docks, before they set seed, and ground elder flowers, and then I decided to cut the Privet hedge at the front, and I put all the cut material through the shredder, making 3 sacks of good compostable stuff.
I had some leek and sweet potato soup, which Gill had let down with some soya milk, with some boiled potatoes and a blob of hommous.
Enjoyed 'The Sky At Night' as it is always just a bit too complicated for me to totally get my head around.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Saturday 5th June 10
Up early as working today, over in Harrogate. The gig started at 11, so I had to get the 10.11 train, which meant leaving home soon after 9.30. As I had very limited time at the Harrogate end (the train was due to get in at 10.43) I decided to travel in costume, and I cycled down to the station with my bag of sticks, balls and diabolos, two unicycles, a pedal go and a fun wheels, two bags of balloons, something to read on the train and my sandwiches for lunch. No problem!
A hassle free ticket purchase and ride over to Harrogate, and then a 10 minute walk to Party Fever which had a gazebo outside covered in baloons and contained a facepainter. There were several people with collection buckets, as the event was a fundraiser for St Michael's Hospice. I met the boss and she showed me where I could work, which was on the South side of the street, facing the shop, and fortunately in the shade, as it was a very hot and sunny day.
So, I worked from 11 through to 1.30 when I had 10 minutes for lunch and carried on til 2.5o, when i quickly packed up and got to the train as it drew into the station. The day in Harrogate was really jolly and I had a brilliant time, lots and lots of positive interaction. I worked with several groups of teenagers, quite a few talented individuals, lots of small children and a surprising number of 'game' adults. I did loads of balloons, plenty of devilsticking, diabololing and unicycling. I taught 3 people how to do the 3ball cascade, the basic juggling pattern. I got paid a charity fundraiser size fee, about half my average, and it all worked like clockwork. The trains were on time and I read most of a NewScientist whilst on the train.
I called in on Country Fresh on the way back but didn't take recyclables, I just got some fruit and veg, and a cucumber plant as one of the ones I got a couple of weeks ago has died.
So, when I got home I needed some quiet time, and after I unloaded, I went upstairs and listened to Tracey Smith's Taunton Hospital Radio-over-the-net on Apple AM. I like this as she is reasonably bonkers and the music she plays is ok too, nothing too cheesy. I had tea upstairs whilst avoiding Dr Who. I chatted with a friend on facebook and played Scrabble, a good couple of hours relaxation.
But I had a Freecycling offer I couldn't turn down, a load of pallets and a tree trunk over in Leeman Road. So I hopped on my bike and bombed over to the other side of the city, and then very very slowly brought back four large pallets and a 6 foot tree trunk on the trailer... possibly the heaviest load I've ever towed home. I'm glad the roads were quiet.
So, a busy and productive day which I enjoyed and I think I brought some happiness to quite a few people, plus raised some money for a worthwhile charity.
A hassle free ticket purchase and ride over to Harrogate, and then a 10 minute walk to Party Fever which had a gazebo outside covered in baloons and contained a facepainter. There were several people with collection buckets, as the event was a fundraiser for St Michael's Hospice. I met the boss and she showed me where I could work, which was on the South side of the street, facing the shop, and fortunately in the shade, as it was a very hot and sunny day.
So, I worked from 11 through to 1.30 when I had 10 minutes for lunch and carried on til 2.5o, when i quickly packed up and got to the train as it drew into the station. The day in Harrogate was really jolly and I had a brilliant time, lots and lots of positive interaction. I worked with several groups of teenagers, quite a few talented individuals, lots of small children and a surprising number of 'game' adults. I did loads of balloons, plenty of devilsticking, diabololing and unicycling. I taught 3 people how to do the 3ball cascade, the basic juggling pattern. I got paid a charity fundraiser size fee, about half my average, and it all worked like clockwork. The trains were on time and I read most of a NewScientist whilst on the train.
I called in on Country Fresh on the way back but didn't take recyclables, I just got some fruit and veg, and a cucumber plant as one of the ones I got a couple of weeks ago has died.
So, when I got home I needed some quiet time, and after I unloaded, I went upstairs and listened to Tracey Smith's Taunton Hospital Radio-over-the-net on Apple AM. I like this as she is reasonably bonkers and the music she plays is ok too, nothing too cheesy. I had tea upstairs whilst avoiding Dr Who. I chatted with a friend on facebook and played Scrabble, a good couple of hours relaxation.
But I had a Freecycling offer I couldn't turn down, a load of pallets and a tree trunk over in Leeman Road. So I hopped on my bike and bombed over to the other side of the city, and then very very slowly brought back four large pallets and a 6 foot tree trunk on the trailer... possibly the heaviest load I've ever towed home. I'm glad the roads were quiet.
So, a busy and productive day which I enjoyed and I think I brought some happiness to quite a few people, plus raised some money for a worthwhile charity.
Friday, 4 June 2010
Friday 4th June 10
An unhurried morning, and caught the 12.44 train back home, and was back before 3pm, coming via Country Fresh and Freshways; an empty trailer is a wasted journey.
A bit later, after dealing with lots of emails, I had a freecycling trip down the road to supply some mulch to someone and to pick up some wood and plastic carrier bags, which will get filled with riddled compost and go out again to people who want them.
I had two stale onion bagels for tea, with a good selection of fresh moist salads... the perfect complement to the unwanted bagels, which had been rejected by the children.
I did a bit of work in the garden, wormery management and another layer on a compost heap... and I brought in a load of leeks which one of the shops felt it couldn't sell, as they had a woody central 'core', actually the flower stalk. But surrounding this are ordinary leek leaves, and these I made into a soup, with some sweet potato similarly thrown out. So tomorrow we'll have leek and sweet potato soup, which I've never had before. Let's hope it's nice!
I also made up my muesli, using home-dried Asian pears, dried bananas and pumpkin seeds rescued from last Autumn's Pumpkin Day at St Nicks, which I've been trying to find time to de-shell so I get the 'naked' seed, as I don't like the roughage-laden outer husk. I'm still looking for a gadget which I can feed them into and will mechanically do this job, something about the size of a pasta-maker would be good!
A bit later, after dealing with lots of emails, I had a freecycling trip down the road to supply some mulch to someone and to pick up some wood and plastic carrier bags, which will get filled with riddled compost and go out again to people who want them.
I had two stale onion bagels for tea, with a good selection of fresh moist salads... the perfect complement to the unwanted bagels, which had been rejected by the children.
I did a bit of work in the garden, wormery management and another layer on a compost heap... and I brought in a load of leeks which one of the shops felt it couldn't sell, as they had a woody central 'core', actually the flower stalk. But surrounding this are ordinary leek leaves, and these I made into a soup, with some sweet potato similarly thrown out. So tomorrow we'll have leek and sweet potato soup, which I've never had before. Let's hope it's nice!
I also made up my muesli, using home-dried Asian pears, dried bananas and pumpkin seeds rescued from last Autumn's Pumpkin Day at St Nicks, which I've been trying to find time to de-shell so I get the 'naked' seed, as I don't like the roughage-laden outer husk. I'm still looking for a gadget which I can feed them into and will mechanically do this job, something about the size of a pasta-maker would be good!
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Thursday 3rd June 10
Up early as working today and won't be back til tomorrow.
Caught the 10.40 over to Cheshire, got to my destination soon after midday.
A very pleasant afternoon and evening, and enjoyed the last episode of Genius on Channel 4, with interviews with some of my favourite scientists.
Caught the 10.40 over to Cheshire, got to my destination soon after midday.
A very pleasant afternoon and evening, and enjoyed the last episode of Genius on Channel 4, with interviews with some of my favourite scientists.
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Wednesday 2nd June 10
A good day with not too early a start, so had a lie in til after 9, and then a fairly quiet nothingy morning doing I don't know what. But I had a date with Cycle Heaven whom I'd asked to fit an new Weber trailer hitch, as the old one has almost worn through. It is an excellent piece of equipment, and the rubber thingy inside lasts quite a long time, and when that disintegrates with the exceptionally heavy use I give it, the metal links rattle but continue to do the job, but they do gradually get thinner and this is my third hitch in maybe 12 years, not sure exactly.
On the way into town I popped into the Council's Civic Amenity Site (skip site or recycling site) at Hazel Court, with a whole load of electrical stuff that Ben asked me to take in, a couple of electrical things I'd found in skips and wanted not to go to landfill, a sack of scrap iron and two sacks of soya milk cartons. I had absolutely no hassle with the gentlemen there and the sign saying no cyclists has been removed. I think we have won. A victory for common sense and sustainability over petty rules. I'm pleased with this.
So then into Cycle Heaven and the wonderful Ash modified the trailer hitch to make it compatible with my pannier rack. In the hour that it took, I walked into town, tried to visit Pauline but she wasn't in, and found somewhere to sit for a while. At 2pm I went back and handed over my money and cycled away happy, with a now non-rattley trailer.
Back via Country Fresh and Freshways.
Late lunch, and then a bit of time on the computer... and had a phone call from NewScientist who are interested in Novaterium and greener funeral options. I'd actually been thinking last night that I'd like to write an Opinion piece for them, and I suggested this. I hope someone will get back to me with a positive response.
Spent more time in the garden, composting and pruning and shredding and planting some beans.
A good day.
On the way into town I popped into the Council's Civic Amenity Site (skip site or recycling site) at Hazel Court, with a whole load of electrical stuff that Ben asked me to take in, a couple of electrical things I'd found in skips and wanted not to go to landfill, a sack of scrap iron and two sacks of soya milk cartons. I had absolutely no hassle with the gentlemen there and the sign saying no cyclists has been removed. I think we have won. A victory for common sense and sustainability over petty rules. I'm pleased with this.
So then into Cycle Heaven and the wonderful Ash modified the trailer hitch to make it compatible with my pannier rack. In the hour that it took, I walked into town, tried to visit Pauline but she wasn't in, and found somewhere to sit for a while. At 2pm I went back and handed over my money and cycled away happy, with a now non-rattley trailer.
Back via Country Fresh and Freshways.
Late lunch, and then a bit of time on the computer... and had a phone call from NewScientist who are interested in Novaterium and greener funeral options. I'd actually been thinking last night that I'd like to write an Opinion piece for them, and I suggested this. I hope someone will get back to me with a positive response.
Spent more time in the garden, composting and pruning and shredding and planting some beans.
A good day.
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Tuesday 1st June 2010 Novaterium.com Launch
Today I spent most of the day polishing and massaging the new website that I've been working on for a while. It is called Novaterium, a made-up word based on 'nova' meaning new, and 'cometerium' which is a tract of land used for burials. It is a worldwide directory of green funeral options.
Over a year ago, Rory Rickwood, a Human Resources professional from Canada, lost his father who was a bit of an 'eco-warrior' and Rory wanted to give him an environmentally sound send off. But he couldn't find any green funeral choices in his area... but he did find this blog, where I've been mentioning Promession for a while, a 'composting burial' technology. He contacted me and asked if Promession was available yet, and I had to tell him it still hadn't been launched commercially, but was at least a year away, and would first be available in Sweden and South Korea.
So earlier this year, Rory contacted me and asked me how much I wanted to promote green funerals. I was, as you'd expect, enthusiastic. He suggested that we could co-operatively start a website with information about the issues and a directory of goods, services and 'natural burial' sites around the world. So, since then we've been working on it, using the professional services of Jim and Jamie at Semlyen IT. Today, the website went live. The worldwide directory is still being populated... it's a very slow job, involving two mapping websites and pretty laborious cutting and pasting of co-ordinates. The website is dedicated to Rory's Dad.
I got a couple of emails from people who either received the Press Release that Rory sent out, or have a 'Google Alert' on one or more of the key words. One was from the Netherlands, the other from an operator of several UK woodland burial sites.
I did nothing but add these sites to the maps today. Adding one site takes between 20 and 40 minutes. If any reader of this blog knows of a 'green funeral solution' which ought to be on this website, please send me the details.
I had already made a facebook page for the site, and I clicked 'publish' today, and by midnight there were already 19 fans on this page. My next job is to send out the Press Release to UK recipients.
Over a year ago, Rory Rickwood, a Human Resources professional from Canada, lost his father who was a bit of an 'eco-warrior' and Rory wanted to give him an environmentally sound send off. But he couldn't find any green funeral choices in his area... but he did find this blog, where I've been mentioning Promession for a while, a 'composting burial' technology. He contacted me and asked if Promession was available yet, and I had to tell him it still hadn't been launched commercially, but was at least a year away, and would first be available in Sweden and South Korea.
So earlier this year, Rory contacted me and asked me how much I wanted to promote green funerals. I was, as you'd expect, enthusiastic. He suggested that we could co-operatively start a website with information about the issues and a directory of goods, services and 'natural burial' sites around the world. So, since then we've been working on it, using the professional services of Jim and Jamie at Semlyen IT. Today, the website went live. The worldwide directory is still being populated... it's a very slow job, involving two mapping websites and pretty laborious cutting and pasting of co-ordinates. The website is dedicated to Rory's Dad.
I got a couple of emails from people who either received the Press Release that Rory sent out, or have a 'Google Alert' on one or more of the key words. One was from the Netherlands, the other from an operator of several UK woodland burial sites.
I did nothing but add these sites to the maps today. Adding one site takes between 20 and 40 minutes. If any reader of this blog knows of a 'green funeral solution' which ought to be on this website, please send me the details.
I had already made a facebook page for the site, and I clicked 'publish' today, and by midnight there were already 19 fans on this page. My next job is to send out the Press Release to UK recipients.
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