Plants & gardens
We all know organic food is good for our bodies, but good for our brains? If the people at Growing Well have anything to do with it, then yes. Certified by The Soil Association Growing Well is a social enterprise run from Low Sizergh Barn organic farm in Cumbria. It provides voluntary placements for local people who are getting over mental health problems, in the hope the hustle and bustle of a working farm will help them regain confidence. They also offer a wide range of horticultural training courses in conjunction with Kendall College, which are open to the general public. All of the organic produce grown on the six acre farm are sold to local shops and businesses.
Related: Monday's ethical celeb: Damian Lewis + Samaritans = better mental health (hopefully)
Plants & gardens
How cute is this?! It's a little 'Egg Plant' which is an unglazed ceramic egg, containing black sand soil and either herb or cactus seeds. You crack the egg open, place in a sunny spot, on it's terracotta saucer, water regularly, and watch your plant grow. They would be an ideal gift, either one or a whole set, and are a brilliant way to get kids involved in gardening, as Egg Plants make great leafy 'pets'.
They are by San Fransisco based eco-design retailers Branch Home who donate 10% of their annual profits to environmental organisations. US$12 per egg.
[via alternativeconsumer.com]
Related: Hello Kitty Garden Light with Planter | Ice lolly plants - too cool for kids?
Food & drink
If you live in the city and dream of growing your own organic veg, but don't have enough dosh to get an allotment, these 'No-dig' potato bags are the answer. The re-usable bags are 35cm x 45cm, so they will fit in the most compact of urban pads, and even the least green fingered city slickers can't fail to grow decent spuds. The bags are made from tough, woven polythene with drainage holes already cut. They hold around 40 litres of compost and cost a mere £14.95 for a pack of three. Available from Natural Collection.
Related: Grow your own veg the easy way | Electrolux VEGE: Grow your own - at home!
Green News
Thanks to ten years of hard work and dedication by some of Britain's top botanists the rarest flower on these shores, the Lady's Slipper orchid, may again flourish in our green and pleasant land. The flower was declared extinct in 1917, after it was dug up and collected by the Victorians, who were obsessed with beautiful orchids, but a single flower was discovered by a botanist in 1930 and since then it has been more heavily guarded than the crown jewels. The location of the solitary orchid is top secret, but is rumoured to be somewhere on the North Yorkshire Moors.
[via The Guardian]
Related: New tree species discovered in Scotland | Fair Flowers Fair Plants - sustainable floristry
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Food & drink
Sometimes it's the simplest inventions that are the best and Alex Worswick, a Devon University student, has come up with the novel idea of inserting seeds into lolly pop sticks so instead of throwing them away at the end of the treat, kids can plant the stick and be rewarded with plants and herbs.
The idea will be shown at the New Designers Business Design Cente in London next month along side other products made from sustainable and recycled materials.
Green News
A new species of tree, which grows nowhere else in the world, has been found on the Isle of Arran. The amazing discovery is the result of a research project by Scottish Natural Heritage, Dougarie Estate and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. The tree, named Catacol whitebeam (Sorbus pseudomeincichii), is a cross between a native rowan and whitebeam, and two specimens have been found on the island so far. This brings the number of unique tree species in Arran to three. In order to ensure it's long term future cuttings and seeds have been collected, and will be cultivated in nurseries in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Scotland's capital. Deer fences have also been extended in the area to protect the young trees from marauding mammals.
Related: More green news
Plants & gardens
Maybe I just lead a sheltered life, but I hadn't heard of Guerilla Gardening until last week. For those of you who are also in the dark let me explain...there are groups of people who get together in the middle of the night with their gardening gloves on, clearing up urban sites that have been neglected by local councils, and planting flowers and shrubs to make them look beautiful.
Related: The Freegan Alternative | BTCV Green Gym - environmental workout
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