Another tough morning. I am not enjoying parenting one bit at the moment.
Took our youngest to school and came back to get ready for the Compost Doctors training; Catherine the York Rotters was also booked in so she picked me up and drove me to Elvington Airfield where the training was taking place.
Cath and Doug ran the training and I was slightly disappointed that the DEFRA offer is for 'third sector' organisations which promote composting, not individuals who might be wanting to be consultants. So if I am to be a 'Compost Doctor', I'll have to do it through York Rotters. Now York Rotters is a 'Master Composter' scheme... it trains up volunteers to promote home composting, not businesses' organics composting or 'commercial' composting. The Compost Doctors scheme is aimed squarely at businesses... schools, prisons, greengrocers with a garden behind the shop, a cafe within a park... basically any catering establishment with grounds in which to compost their catering waste and, importantly, grounds which can use the resultant soil-improver. However, I enjoyed the training and participated in my usual enthusiastic way, and the issue of working through York Rotters needn't be a barrier to my doing this consultancy work. It might be good for York Rotters, providing some good publicity and and some income.
The food was good, and I enjoyed meeting the other potential Compost Doctors, including Chris from Leeds BTCV who goes into schools and teaches about 'education for sustainable development', something I'm keen on. Hope to meet him again. The training finished just after 4.30 and Catherine and I came back into York. She too thinks that if I do the Compost Doctor stuff, she will not need to do much admin, so I won't be using up her core York Rotters time. So a decision is needed soon as I have just 8 weeks to do the work!
Things were calm at home... as calm as waiting for a volcano to explode. But we all had a civil teatime, not much talking and no arguments or the like. Gill manages to just keep going and kind of 'surf' over the difficulties, but I am feeling depressed.
However, I cheered up when I got a phone call from Kirbymoorside in Transition, who are launching their Transition initiative in April, and after seeing my spread in The Ecologist, have been asked to speak at the launch. How nice! I also got a Fiddlesticks booking for an event in Hull.
Showing posts with label 'Compost Doctors' scheme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 'Compost Doctors' scheme. Show all posts
Monday, 26 January 2009
Friday, 23 January 2009
Thursday 22nd January 09
Seemed like a busy day... I took our youngest into school and was busy around the house until lunchtime, when I cycled into town to get a cheque out for the Compost Doctors event next week, and pay in a cheque which I've just got for my gig on Christmas Day. The BACS payment I was expecting has not gone into my account. I also got a cheque out to pay for my allotment for the coming year, just over £30.
When I got back I got a phone call from the organisation about the bouncing BACS, and I asked them for a third time to send me a cheque. This was agreed this time! Hooray!!
I got home in good time to go and get our darling from school, he was in a good mood and we chatted about states of matter on the way home. The teacher had stated that there were three states of matter, solid, liquid and gas. Our little scientist put his hand up and said "there are actually four, as there's plasma". The teacher told the class that they wouldn't be learning about plasmas just yet.
As the children were heading for bed, I cycled down to Anna's for a meeting of York in Transition Media group. There were just four of us... me, Anna, Bryony and Ivana. We had a quick and business-like meeting, reviewing the past events YiT has put on, checking the publicity for the forthcoming planned ones and dreaming up future ones, just one per month.
I got home just after 10 and did emails and nominated my friend Dave Hampton for the 'future friendly' awards, as his creation 'The Carbon Coach' is really good. I have also been nominated for this award.
Quite a late night again, with Gill snoozing beside me. She needs lots more sleep than me, but also she gets up earlier and does the kids lunches etc, whereas I do the washing up in the evening... and lie in til 8am usually.
When I got back I got a phone call from the organisation about the bouncing BACS, and I asked them for a third time to send me a cheque. This was agreed this time! Hooray!!
I got home in good time to go and get our darling from school, he was in a good mood and we chatted about states of matter on the way home. The teacher had stated that there were three states of matter, solid, liquid and gas. Our little scientist put his hand up and said "there are actually four, as there's plasma". The teacher told the class that they wouldn't be learning about plasmas just yet.
As the children were heading for bed, I cycled down to Anna's for a meeting of York in Transition Media group. There were just four of us... me, Anna, Bryony and Ivana. We had a quick and business-like meeting, reviewing the past events YiT has put on, checking the publicity for the forthcoming planned ones and dreaming up future ones, just one per month.
I got home just after 10 and did emails and nominated my friend Dave Hampton for the 'future friendly' awards, as his creation 'The Carbon Coach' is really good. I have also been nominated for this award.
Quite a late night again, with Gill snoozing beside me. She needs lots more sleep than me, but also she gets up earlier and does the kids lunches etc, whereas I do the washing up in the evening... and lie in til 8am usually.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Monday 12th January 09
Quite a good day... up earlier than I'd have liked, as I didn't sleep well. Got to bed as usual at 2ish and just lay there with thoughts racing round my head, so at 3.30 got up and came downstairs and played on the computer for half an hour, did some washing up, went to bed at 4.30 and fell asleep immediately! But up at 8 to take our youngest to school.....
And straight into town from school, cycling through the University, where I popped into the info place to find out whom I might talk to about getting the University involved in the Compost Doctors scheme, and along the Foss Islands Road and past the Minster to my dentist. Or more accurately, my hygienist, Cheryl, whom I see every other time, between the dentist who's called Pru (or perhaps Prue). Anyway, my teeth are reasonably OK but there are three areas which I need to work on a bit harder. I have to pay for the hygienist, and so this time paid for that plus some tiny inter-dental brushes and daily mouthwash... two of the reasons my teeth and gums are better than what they were.
Came straight home, via Gill waiting at the bus stop to go into town, so cycled over to her side of the road and gave her a big kiss, and home. Split a few logs and waited for the phone call from Elvina, who came to see York in Transition last week and today was having a 'John tour' round St. Nicks. She rang at 11 having got into York Station and was just getting on the bus. I cycled down to the bus stop we'd agreed, and waited for her, but not for long.
Elvina enjoyed her little wander round St Nicks, and I pointed out all the features which make it 'green'. We visited the stone circle and she took photos of the recycling collection vehicle, woodstove, Rotters info, energy meters, wind turbine and the building itself. Around the back, on and around the kids play area, there were perhaps 50 aluminium beer cans which had been thrown around by partygoers the previous night (presumably) so we collected them up, stamped them flat, and I filled a found polybag with them, to take home and add to my sackfuls to eventually take to the metal merchant.
On the way out of the nature reserve, I spotted a tree trunk with several big bunches of Oyster Mushroom. I removed some of the most edible-looking ones and carefully put them on a cloth bag in my trailer. Felt very pleased I'd found where Simon had found his clusters a few weeks ago... but I'll share these with him as he generously shared his finds with me.
So walked home with Elvina, took a quick tour of the garden and came in to warm up and have lunch. She then interviewed me on tape to get some quotes and commentary for her project. She'll use my info and ideas, and paraphrase it. Might end up on YouTube! Gill arrived home and had lunch; Elvina and I finished and she went to get the bus back to the station and train to Leeds.
I had half an hour before picking up our little one. So I split another few rounds...
When I cam back home Gill asked me to tidy the front garden as it was looking untidy, so I did, and took a load of stuff down the garden for composting, including a potato sack of garlic cloves in perhaps 100 little plastic net bags. I had to curteach of these bags with my big composting knife in order to put these past-it garlics on the new heap. So spent at least an hour outside doing that and other tidying jobs. Place still looks messy, though.
Tea was lovely, mushrooms and veg in white sauce with a mashed potato topping. Nice one Gilly.
A relatively quiet evening. Lots of email traffic.
And straight into town from school, cycling through the University, where I popped into the info place to find out whom I might talk to about getting the University involved in the Compost Doctors scheme, and along the Foss Islands Road and past the Minster to my dentist. Or more accurately, my hygienist, Cheryl, whom I see every other time, between the dentist who's called Pru (or perhaps Prue). Anyway, my teeth are reasonably OK but there are three areas which I need to work on a bit harder. I have to pay for the hygienist, and so this time paid for that plus some tiny inter-dental brushes and daily mouthwash... two of the reasons my teeth and gums are better than what they were.
Came straight home, via Gill waiting at the bus stop to go into town, so cycled over to her side of the road and gave her a big kiss, and home. Split a few logs and waited for the phone call from Elvina, who came to see York in Transition last week and today was having a 'John tour' round St. Nicks. She rang at 11 having got into York Station and was just getting on the bus. I cycled down to the bus stop we'd agreed, and waited for her, but not for long.
Elvina enjoyed her little wander round St Nicks, and I pointed out all the features which make it 'green'. We visited the stone circle and she took photos of the recycling collection vehicle, woodstove, Rotters info, energy meters, wind turbine and the building itself. Around the back, on and around the kids play area, there were perhaps 50 aluminium beer cans which had been thrown around by partygoers the previous night (presumably) so we collected them up, stamped them flat, and I filled a found polybag with them, to take home and add to my sackfuls to eventually take to the metal merchant.
On the way out of the nature reserve, I spotted a tree trunk with several big bunches of Oyster Mushroom. I removed some of the most edible-looking ones and carefully put them on a cloth bag in my trailer. Felt very pleased I'd found where Simon had found his clusters a few weeks ago... but I'll share these with him as he generously shared his finds with me.
So walked home with Elvina, took a quick tour of the garden and came in to warm up and have lunch. She then interviewed me on tape to get some quotes and commentary for her project. She'll use my info and ideas, and paraphrase it. Might end up on YouTube! Gill arrived home and had lunch; Elvina and I finished and she went to get the bus back to the station and train to Leeds.
I had half an hour before picking up our little one. So I split another few rounds...
When I cam back home Gill asked me to tidy the front garden as it was looking untidy, so I did, and took a load of stuff down the garden for composting, including a potato sack of garlic cloves in perhaps 100 little plastic net bags. I had to curteach of these bags with my big composting knife in order to put these past-it garlics on the new heap. So spent at least an hour outside doing that and other tidying jobs. Place still looks messy, though.
Tea was lovely, mushrooms and veg in white sauce with a mashed potato topping. Nice one Gilly.
A relatively quiet evening. Lots of email traffic.
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Wednesday 12th March 08
A good start, a peaceful household and as there was a lot of very gusty winds, Gill walked down to the school with the boys. I received a phone call from Catherine, our 'York Rotters' paid worker, offering me the chance to share a lift to the Compost Doctors event at Elvington Airfield in her car. As it was very windy, I accepted this offer, so she picked me up at 9.40, soon after Gill got back looking windswept.
The Compost Doctors event was really interesting and inspiring. The scheme was started about 18 months ago by the Community Recycling Network and the Community Composting network (http://www.compostdoctors.org.uk/) and the idea was to promote the composting of catering waste on the site where it is produced, such as schools, hotels, farm shops and prisons, with equipment provided by the project, and expertise provided by a 'compost doctor' who is available to manage the system initially and help train the users so they can take it on.
I was delighted to meet some of the well known people in the Community Composting world, including Nicky Scott from 'Proper Job' in Devon, and Richard Boden from 'WyeCycle' and Mary Goldsworthy from the Community Waste Network, Yorks and Humber, who sends me a regular e-newsletter.
The presentations were really interesting.. Otter Rotters with a Deli and cafe (Joshua's Harvest Store) using a home-made rotating drum composter in a polytunnel, WyeCycle with a farm shop using two 'Keenan Feed Wagon' mixers and a tractor with Power-Take-Off, a 'waste reduction' operation, not to produce good compost, although the material will be used on a field currently growing Xmas trees. Then Dean Community Composting using a home-made double chambered rotating barrel to compost food waste from a restaurant/craft centre/market garden. Then the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust working with The Pear Tree Hotel in Purton using a 'Rocket', my favourite hi-tech mechanical composter although it needs electricity to run it. Proper Job was next, using a very simple but effective insulated rotating composter called a Jora 270 and a 'Scotties Hot Box' for maturation and 'Big Foot Wormeries'.... both these two made in East Yorkshire by the Worm Research Centre. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust came on again to tell of their work with the Bridge Inn with a Jora 270, and an aborted project with Centre Parcs in Longleat. They had started enthusiastically with a 'Big Hanna', a Swedish machine with rotating internal cylinder, temperature sensors and data loggers, making it 'Animal By-Products Regulations' compliant, and odour control biofilter... but a few months into the project, the company had been bought by another company, they'd sacked all the environmental team and then said they didn't want to have the composter as they wouldn't use the compost, partly as the land doesn't need the enriching effect of compost as it is a naturally low fertility area, and adding compost would damage natural biodiversity. So the Big Hanna had come to Elvington Airfield, and we then went to see the machine which was not far away. The Compost Doctor managing this was Steve from the Worm Research Centre, also managing another Big Hanna at a prison in Wetherby, a Jora 5100 in Brough and 'Worm Pads' at a golf course in Boothferry. Busy man!
Lunch was good, lots of it and pretty diverse... sandwiches and chips and salads and lots more savouries and lots of opportunities to network and meet interesting people.
After lunch we had a presentation from the administrator of a new funding stream called 'Local Food', from the Big Lottery, just coming on stream in the next few days and open to food composters as well as many other food projects. There was also a review of the Compost Doctors project, and a look to the future.
I was able to tell the delegates about my forthcoming meeting with Hilary Benn and invite them to suggest ideas for me to suggest to the Minister which would be easy, quick, his decision, and carbon cutting. During the next session... Compost Doctor surgeries, several people came to tell me what they'd like me to ask Hilary Benn, including changes to the way that waste/recycling rates are calculated and changes to the disliked Animal By-Products Regulations and complicated licencing system.
Catherine and I came away just before 4pm and got back into York safely. I was buzzing with the possibilities and all the positivity there...
A happy evening, with my son dealing with an embrio anger attack very well and defusing it somehow.
The Compost Doctors event was really interesting and inspiring. The scheme was started about 18 months ago by the Community Recycling Network and the Community Composting network (http://www.compostdoctors.org.uk/) and the idea was to promote the composting of catering waste on the site where it is produced, such as schools, hotels, farm shops and prisons, with equipment provided by the project, and expertise provided by a 'compost doctor' who is available to manage the system initially and help train the users so they can take it on.
I was delighted to meet some of the well known people in the Community Composting world, including Nicky Scott from 'Proper Job' in Devon, and Richard Boden from 'WyeCycle' and Mary Goldsworthy from the Community Waste Network, Yorks and Humber, who sends me a regular e-newsletter.
The presentations were really interesting.. Otter Rotters with a Deli and cafe (Joshua's Harvest Store) using a home-made rotating drum composter in a polytunnel, WyeCycle with a farm shop using two 'Keenan Feed Wagon' mixers and a tractor with Power-Take-Off, a 'waste reduction' operation, not to produce good compost, although the material will be used on a field currently growing Xmas trees. Then Dean Community Composting using a home-made double chambered rotating barrel to compost food waste from a restaurant/craft centre/market garden. Then the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust working with The Pear Tree Hotel in Purton using a 'Rocket', my favourite hi-tech mechanical composter although it needs electricity to run it. Proper Job was next, using a very simple but effective insulated rotating composter called a Jora 270 and a 'Scotties Hot Box' for maturation and 'Big Foot Wormeries'.... both these two made in East Yorkshire by the Worm Research Centre. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust came on again to tell of their work with the Bridge Inn with a Jora 270, and an aborted project with Centre Parcs in Longleat. They had started enthusiastically with a 'Big Hanna', a Swedish machine with rotating internal cylinder, temperature sensors and data loggers, making it 'Animal By-Products Regulations' compliant, and odour control biofilter... but a few months into the project, the company had been bought by another company, they'd sacked all the environmental team and then said they didn't want to have the composter as they wouldn't use the compost, partly as the land doesn't need the enriching effect of compost as it is a naturally low fertility area, and adding compost would damage natural biodiversity. So the Big Hanna had come to Elvington Airfield, and we then went to see the machine which was not far away. The Compost Doctor managing this was Steve from the Worm Research Centre, also managing another Big Hanna at a prison in Wetherby, a Jora 5100 in Brough and 'Worm Pads' at a golf course in Boothferry. Busy man!
Lunch was good, lots of it and pretty diverse... sandwiches and chips and salads and lots more savouries and lots of opportunities to network and meet interesting people.
After lunch we had a presentation from the administrator of a new funding stream called 'Local Food', from the Big Lottery, just coming on stream in the next few days and open to food composters as well as many other food projects. There was also a review of the Compost Doctors project, and a look to the future.
I was able to tell the delegates about my forthcoming meeting with Hilary Benn and invite them to suggest ideas for me to suggest to the Minister which would be easy, quick, his decision, and carbon cutting. During the next session... Compost Doctor surgeries, several people came to tell me what they'd like me to ask Hilary Benn, including changes to the way that waste/recycling rates are calculated and changes to the disliked Animal By-Products Regulations and complicated licencing system.
Catherine and I came away just before 4pm and got back into York safely. I was buzzing with the possibilities and all the positivity there...
A happy evening, with my son dealing with an embrio anger attack very well and defusing it somehow.
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Wednesday 24th October 07
Woke feeling very grotty and snotty, wondered if the flu jab yesterday had given me something? Or is it just a coincidence? So had a relatively quiet day with just one appointment at 3, a couple, Angela and Ralph, who'd contacted York Rotters with a query about recycling a feather bed. Angela knew that feathers could be composted, but this duvet/mattress thing was so big that she didn't have the capacity. So her details were passed to me, I rang up and said that I liked a challenge and would take in the huge duvet and get it's contents composted. So they had a tour and I gave them some Jack Edwards Pea Beans and a couple of carrier bags of finished compost as a thank you for the feathers.
At 3.45 there was a 'Street Sports' thing at school which I cycled my eldest lad to, as he enjoys cycling up and down ramps, and he took his skateboard too. The street sports activity is provided by City of York Council every fortnight in the school playground, but as it's half term no-one else turned up. I left him to play and went to do my Martin's pick up of compostables, and then went immediately back down to school, this time having persuaded my youngest son to come with me. So he had an hour of cycling around, and we all came back for 6pm, to enjoy pizza which Gill had been making all afternoon, the dough proving next to the stove.
Tried to do some writing during the evening, as I've another paid blog to do this week, but didn't get much done as was feeling so grotty. But I did reply to a letter in the York Pres by Mike Usherwood (loves planes, hates bikes) suggesting I might be a hipocrite by pointing out the irony of a local airport (Elvington) installing food waste composting. I had written in praising the company for this innovation (Compost Doctor scheme) but just to stir it a bit had mentioned the green and non-green aspects sitting side by side. I am looking forward to seeing my latest letter published as it could help to prolong the debate and inform people about the huge impact that flying has on the atmosphere.
At 3.45 there was a 'Street Sports' thing at school which I cycled my eldest lad to, as he enjoys cycling up and down ramps, and he took his skateboard too. The street sports activity is provided by City of York Council every fortnight in the school playground, but as it's half term no-one else turned up. I left him to play and went to do my Martin's pick up of compostables, and then went immediately back down to school, this time having persuaded my youngest son to come with me. So he had an hour of cycling around, and we all came back for 6pm, to enjoy pizza which Gill had been making all afternoon, the dough proving next to the stove.
Tried to do some writing during the evening, as I've another paid blog to do this week, but didn't get much done as was feeling so grotty. But I did reply to a letter in the York Pres by Mike Usherwood (loves planes, hates bikes) suggesting I might be a hipocrite by pointing out the irony of a local airport (Elvington) installing food waste composting. I had written in praising the company for this innovation (Compost Doctor scheme) but just to stir it a bit had mentioned the green and non-green aspects sitting side by side. I am looking forward to seeing my latest letter published as it could help to prolong the debate and inform people about the huge impact that flying has on the atmosphere.
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