Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi y'all
Have literally just finished watching the first episode of this new series on BBC2 where Dick Strawbridge and his family + 2 friends, up sticks and move to a derelict farmhouse in Cornwall and attempt to live a green lifestyle. Thoroughly entertaining and as the weeks progress I'm sure the actual info coming through from their nesw lifestyle will prove useful to all in some ways. Tonight for example, if you ever wanted to build a waterwheel, (and I know I've had sleepless nights about this very subject) this was the programme to be watching. Seriously though, could contain lots of good info on saving energy, water conservation ( take note you lot dahn sarf!) and permaculture.
Definitely recommend you watch next week - Tuesdays, 8pm til 9pm

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday 17th September

When I saw the title of the thread I thought you'd over indulged SR They must be really cheap to make these sorts of progs as there is a glut on the TV. Why can't we have some propper telly for a change

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Actually it was very good Nick, and interesting!

I missed it. Football was on the other side as usual. The blurb in Radio times looked good so I should have gone upstairs and watched it.
Jax

tiz propper telly, not soaps or sport like we usually get

I soooooooooo want a water wheel, what a brilliant show and his son is cute aswell

I missed it too. In next week's programme there is a piece on a green greenhouse. Should be interesting.

I thought it was very good. A bonus is that the families aims are realistic and not just idealistic, they want to be able to use a dishwasher and a fridge and other mod cons, but in a way that has a minimal impact on the environment.

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Kindest regards, David.

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/
updated lots - Sunday 28th at 1640hrs

I enjoyed it. As a newbie to 'grow your own' and green issues I felt that there was a lot of useful information. It has the potential to be a very interesting and entertaining series.

Janet

I thought it was excellent, Dick Strawbridge is a presenter on bodge it programme and spin offs from Scrapheap Challenge. Really liked his 'sod it' attitude and 'just do it' ethos. Also interested in what the hell is permaculture?

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

I almost didn't dare google it!!!

permaculture.org.uk

Interesting read!!

It's fantastic and with jobs!

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

www.permaculture.org.uk

www.permaculture.co.uk

http://www.spiralseed.co.uk/

http://www.originalorganics.co.uk/wormeries.htm

Pemaculture didn't exist as a word 20 years ago & was coined by some Aussies who couldn;'t spell Sustainability

I've read one or two of the mags they produce, some of it is a bit way out for an old fart like me (my daughters phrase, not mine) but Other I can relate to or Dig as we old age hippies used to say

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

wether or not i understand or practice permaculture, the programme was really interesting and inspirational. i would love to embrace a lifestyle where i could move towards self sufficiency energywise.

An admirable target Scooby but not easily achieved. If renewable energy was cheap we would'nt be so reluctant to take it on board. You would have to have a system for a very long time to recoup the outlay. It almost get's to the stage where only the rich can afford it which makes it a joke.

When I bemoaned the program earlier it wasn't the content so much as the style. Every other program these days is someone who is moving from the rat race (sorry rat) to their ideal life. most of them are totally unsuited to this and I assume it's only the money that they get paid for making the prog that keeps them afloat for so long.

Anyway of my chest now so there you are.

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Trust me, Dick Strawbridge is totally suited for this, he can bodge, build and run military campaigns with his eyes shut and both hands tied behind his back. Water power is the way forward, reliable and economical, the government though are not commited to this because of initial outlay. You can now get tiles for your roof that produce electricity (not solar panels) and look like tiles (if a bit shiny). However, if every home started selling their surplus electricity back to the big corporations it would decentralise power, and would put the government in a funny spot, as their supporters and funders include electricty magnets (funny that, isn't it). Trust me, water power and solar are manageable, are cost effective but the government would rather play corporate suck up than environmental health.

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

I think that every new built should have solar pannels, that would soon mount up, my next house, we are moving in about 12 months time will get solar pannels and now I want a water wheel aswell

Water wheels are an old technology but the power ratio is high, bigger the wheel higher the ratio, the power in water falling is phenomenol.

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

tell me about it!!!! When will it stop raining?????

Heard energy minister Malcolm Wicks on radio the other day saying the government are currently consulting (including the public) about future energy policy, and he was very pro micro generation (or so he said). Lots of problems, including having to change most local authority planning policies, as they are so obstructive, not giving permission for small wind turbines on house roofs etc.
Anyway, they're asking, so we should all be telling
via website: www.dti.gov
One person suggested all new industrial planning apps ( and supermarkets for that matter) should have a condition to include photovoltaic (solar) roof panels. They always have expansive roofs. It would be relatively cheap at the building stage to install energy generation. They are gradually realising there is no alternative but to pay attention to the whinging greenies... lets all turn up the volume!

I watched this for the first time - missed the beginning of the episode but caught it just as they were discussing making bio-deisel from free veg oil from a fish and chip shop. We've been thinking of doing some thing similar, but instead of making bio-diesel you convert your car to run on vegetable oil. My OH has been doing a load of research into it and it sounds great. Unfortunately you still have to pay duty on the vegetable oil you use as fuel, but it still owrks out cheaper than buying deisel and also reduces your emissions by approx 75% or more...the OH isn't here to offer insight so I'm making this up on the spot from the limited info I've stored in my head from previous converstations.

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We've considered the solar panels on the roof idea. If you place an order now you might get the panels at the end of 2007.

I agree with the whole argument of both sustainability and self sufficiency.

One trouble with generating your own electricity is the storage, which is why you sell back to the grid when you are generating more than you use. However, on dark, calm nights in the middle of a dry spell, you may struggle to generate enough for your own needs so you would need to draw from the grid. This would still keep the "power" with the corporations. The supply and demand principle still applies, even if you think you are reducing your demand - you won't be the only one in the area without their own solar/wind/water power. So they can charge increase their charges accordingly for times like that demonstrated.

However, having power stations on standby is a costly and inefficient affair so the benefits may be further reduced.

I think it may come down to lifestyle choice. How many of us would be willing to accept potential power cuts so as to not have power stations on stand by?

What if the freezer has just been stocked with your own, recently butchered, meat? Losing this would have a massive impact on your food stocks and annual budget. I agree there are other ways for long term food storage but what we have now is convenient.

I admire anyone willing to have a go, Dick Strawbridge included. Perhaps the most important factor is the "Never give up" approach to the project, and indeed life, that Dick has.

And yes - I would like to become more self sufficient and less reliant on foreign sources of food and energy.

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Dave

Do what you enjoy, or learn to enjoy what you do - life is too short.