Occupy Norwich - Visions for Change - 1 May

We are pleased to invite you to an afternoon of discussion amongst a number of forward thinking groups and individuals from in and around Norwich from 3-5pm at the Playhouse meeting room The idea is to use this special day to get to know each other and our visions as well as strengthen the Norwich civil society network.

The detailed agenda is intentionally kept open, so as to encourage an open discussion of visions for the future of Norwich, Norfolk, the UK and/or globally in light of the current climate. Beyond mutual awareness, the outcome should be the creation and growth of ideas and of
a network for potential joint activities.

We are looking forward to meeting you on 1 May. Though the event is free and open to the public, spaces are limited and we therefore kindly request to register your interest with contact@occupynorwich.org, if you have not already done so. Please feel free to forward the event to other interested groups and individuals, input and ideas are welcome from
everybody.

Vanessa Buth Occupy Norwich contact@occupynorwich.org

Visions of for Change 1 May, 3-5pm at the Playhouse meeting room (as you enter the foyer, turn right) 42 - 58 St. George's StreetNorwich, NR3 1AB. 

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Norwich Community Bees - 29 April

It's just over a year since we first came up with the idea of starting the community beekeeping scheme that became Norwich Community Bees. We spent last summer getting things started, sourcing kit, getting the group bank account set up, putting the hive together and finally, at the end of summer, we managed to get a swarm installed. It was such an exciting event!

Sadly, so very sadly, our first colony died over the winter. Bees are having a hard time at the moment, it's not uncommon to lose a hive. However, onwards and upwards. we're still hugely enthusiastic about what we're doing here, and so, clearly, is the group. We have our first meeting of 2012 planned for Sunday 29th April, up at the Norwich Farmshare site, when we'll be sorting out everything in preparation for a new swarm and making up frames.

We're always keen to welcome to new members - membership for 2012 is only £20 and for that you'll get an equal share in whatever honey our lovely bees produce, as well as the opportunity to get involved in making hives and looking after the bees themselves. Membership also makes a great gift!

You can find more information on our website at www.norwichcommunitybees.blogspot.com or you can mail us at norwichcommunitybees@hotmail.co.uk. We'd love to hear from you!

Pic: www.treehugger.com (Creative Commons)

Discounts for families at Norwich FarmShare - Workday 28 April

We’re really pleased at Norwich FarmShare that our application to join the NHS Healthy Start scheme has been accepted. This means that if you’re a family on a low income with young children you can get vouchers from the NHS to pay for your share.

You’ll be able to take part in all we offer in exactly the same way as all our other members: you can come and spend time on the farm, enjoy some exercise in the fresh air and get to know our great community. All this plus deliciously fresh locally produced seasonal vegetables!

If you want to see if you can apply for the scheme, the Healthy Start Website has all the information you need. Once you’ve got your vouchers, sign up with us too and you’re ready to start collecting your vegetables!

We're enjoying the bounty of the early spring vegetables just before the hungry gap really starts to bite. Purple sprouting broccoli really has to be the queen of spring vegetables and our crop is doing really well. There are two delicious recipes for purple sprouting broccoli on our website, alongside many other seasonal delights.

Your next opportunity to get involved with Norwich FarmShare is our workday on Saturday 28th April. You can find out more about what we'll be doing and what to bring here.

See you there! Elena at Norwich FarmShare.

Pix: Hafidha and Aziz on the farm, Elena

Survey on Economics and Livelihoods

With the Occupy camp in Norwich now taken down, I want to make sure that the energy for change in our economic structure does not dwindle, so I've written this survey to find out what the biggest concerns are amongst people in Norwich, and who's interested in progressing this real change. Please take five minutes or so and give your views! Concerns are divided into national/international and local, and cover areas of interest from unemployment to corporate pay.

The survey is at www.simeonjackson.co.uk/2012/02/23/local-economics-survey.

Please share this link with your friends and email it to others who may be interested.

For background on economics and community resilience see Simeon Jackson's blog here

Grapes Hill Community Garden - Spring Is Officially Here- 22 April

Spring is definitely here at Grapes Hill Community Garden and there are lots of flowers to see - Primroses, Daffodils, white and purple Anemone blanda and a beautiful Clematis armandii on the trellis. Our raised bed tenants have started to sow vegetable seeds and I'm gradually filling my windowsills and the greenhouse at home with seedlings to plant out at Grapes Hill and on my allotment when the weather is warm enough. 7-Spot Ladybirds are out in force, along with early Bumblebees and Bee-flies.

We are having garden tasks every fortnight on Sunday afternoons (2 - 4pm) and the next ones are on 8th and 22nd April and 6th May. Please come along to see the garden and, if you like, do some planting or light weeding.

Sunny weather is enjoyable but we desperately need some proper rain. The soil in the garden has quite a lot of clay so retains moisture but it will dry out rapidly as temperatures increase, especially from May when the ash trees come into leaf. We have planted many drought tolerant plants and have mulched the soil but there may be a tough summer ahead.

The garden is open to visitors free of charge every day (9am - 6pm in British Summer Time). For more information see our website and Facebook page.

Jeremy Bartlett.

Photo by Jeremy Bartlett - 7-Spot Ladybirds on the compost heap