Renaissance Little Green Book

Succulent Container Gardens

2011-12-28T21:13:00.001Z

Some Spring time planting inspiration from the LA Times, like the idea of planting up a dis-used / damaged bird bath.

Enamel kettle & pot planters - Inspirational Recyclying

2011-12-22T04:25:00.002Z

Great idea for all that rusty enamel wear, plant it and hang it from the wall!

Image via Eline Pellinkhof

Recycled Treehouse - inspirational recycling

2011-10-05T23:54:00.004+01:00

Found this brilliant treehouse made form recycled timber over at Essential Curiosities who in turn found it via Tumbr, sadly neither of us know anything about it. But isn't it great?

Bird Box Window Box

2011-10-05T08:30:00.002+01:00

Love the idea of this bird box window box combination, one could say it kills two birds with one stone but maybe that isn't such an appropriate saying here. Anyway it's available to purchase from The Balcony Gardener in taupe or white for £95.

Recycled Pallet Shelves

2011-10-03T07:58:00.002+01:00

Amazing what can be done with an old pallet isn't it?
At least I think they are made from a sawn off pallet to make a very simple set of hanging shelves, though I'm thinking that a bottom must have been put in each one so that does require a little woodworking skill.

Image via Tumbr

Beautiful succulent hanging basket

2011-10-02T09:06:00.004+01:00

Love the planting of this hanging basket, I have a string of pearls plant myself but of course it would never survive our British winters outside. You've probably guessed by now that I seem to have a thing about succulents.

Image via tumbr

Hanging Tin Can Planters - inspirational recyclying

2011-05-04T08:54:00.004+01:00

Another brilliant recyclying idea for a hanging garden this time using tin cans found at Happy Sleepy's Flickr
Instructions in the photostream

Recycled bottle bird feeder - Inspirational Recyclying you can do yourself

2011-04-17T09:08:00.003+01:00

This recycled bottle bird feeder looks quite stylish don't you think?

Instructions at Shelterness

Platic Pop Bottle Cloches - Inspirational Recycling

2011-04-08T08:43:00.002+01:00

I suppose we all know that plastic 2 litre pop bottles can be used as mini cloches but rarely have I seen them looking so good as in this photograph. Maybe it's the sheer mass of bottles standing in a row, maybe it's the photographers eye for a good shot.

Recycled Shoe Tidy Planter - Inspirational Recycling

2011-04-05T10:25:00.003+01:00

Brilliant!

I think something like this would make a great herb garden hanging close to the kitchen door. Actually you could just pop those pots of culinary herbs from the supermarket into one of these if you aren't inclined to grow your own.

Found via vt wonen.

Recycled Pallet Shelving - Inspirational Recycling

2011-04-01T22:51:00.004+01:00

Whoever would have thought that pallet shelving could be this simple or this smart, great idea for an outdoor summer event.

Found via Green for Less

How to make a simple succulent arrangement - tutorial from Porrige

2011-03-20T09:41:00.003Z

Porrige has a lovely tutorial for making a floral arrangement using succulents from the garden

"everything for my bouquet was found in my front yard. now before you think that i have this awesome garden on my doorstep, i don't. to give you some perspective nathan has said that our yard is like the secret garden---before they fixed it up"

Go take a look and be inspired. Porrige

Planting Spring Bulbs in Cake Tins - Inspirational Recyclying

2011-03-17T22:23:00.003Z

Don't those spring bulbs look great in the springform cake tin?

I just wonder if I'd rather have chocolate cake....

I BELIEVE NOTHING

2011-03-02T22:30:00.002Z

I BELIEVE NOTHING

I believe nothing – what need

Surrounded as I am with marvels of what is,

This familiar room, books, shabby carpet on the floor,

Autumn yellow jasmine, chrysanthemums, my mother’s flower,

Earth-scent of memories, daily miracles,

Yet media-people ask, “Is there a God?”

What does the word mean

To the fish in his ocean, birds

In his skies, and stars?

I only know that when I turn in sleep

Into the invisible, it seems

I am upheld by love, and what seems is

Inexplicable here and now of joy and sorrow,

This inexhaustible, untidy world -

I would not have it otherwise.

by Kathleen Raine

Snowdrops

2011-02-18T00:06:00.003Z

Today was the perfect day for a walk through the snowdrops,

the sun was shining and the sky was blue and new life was erupting everywhere.

One Small Mouse

2010-08-25T09:14:00.004+01:00

Photo by Serena Cowdy

Just discovered a wonderful blog doing very good work -

One Small Mouse

"One Small Mouse unites people who care about animals with the causes that need their help.

Britain is known as a nation of animal lovers - and that's something to be very proud of.

But at the moment, times are really tough. Many people can no longer afford to give money to charity - and at the same time, more and more animals are being abandoned by owners who feel they can no longer afford to look after them.

The good news is, there's plenty you can do to help - even if you're as poor as a church mouse. In every post, we'll highlight one small thing you can do to help pets and wildlife in need.

It could be as simple as giving your old newspapers to your local pet rescue, counting the birds in your back garden or re-tweeting an urgent re-homing request.

We want to show you that you don't need to be rich to help good causes - there are many ways to give that won't leave you out of pocket.

On his own, one small mouse can't do very much. But if every small mouse helps once in a while, we really can make a huge difference. When it comes to mouseketeers, it really is a case of 'one fur all and all fur one'!"

Do take a look - One Small Mouse

Inspirational Recycling - Succulents in Kitchen Pots

2010-08-16T09:49:00.003+01:00

Found via Bohemian Hellhole

These planters were for sale somewhere in Seattle at the weekend, nice idea,

reminds me a bit of our own Aloes in mugs

Arum italicum Pictum

2010-08-09T09:09:00.003+01:00

"This beautiful and interesting herbaceous foliage plant turns the normal seasons of the year upside down. The exciting leaves start to unfold in autumn, and grow larger all through the winter and spring, reaching as much as a foot in length. They are shaped like an arrowhead, dark green heavily marbled with very pale green, and waved at the edges. The pale green flowers, which are short and inconspicuous, consist of a spike cloaked in a spathe (a large enfolding bract) like those of the wild arum, lords and ladies, of the hedgerows. By mid-summer, flowers and leaves have disappeared underground, but in early autumn, spikes of bright red, poisonous berries shoot up like danger signals before the leaf cycle starts afresh."

(Extract from The Best Plants for Your Garden by Anne Scott-James)

Although not a flower this is our Today's Flowers post, I'm sure you'll agree that the berries are stunning.

The Village Show

2010-07-27T11:48:00.003+01:00

I took over a hundred photographs at the village show, many of which I've now uploaded to Renaissance Life for you to view, if you so wish. Pop over and you'll find lots of heavy horses as well as vintage cars and sheepdogs.

Today's Flower - Poppy

2010-07-26T08:10:00.004+01:00

This is our Today's Flower post - Oriental Poppy

The Oriental Poppy is native to the Caucasus, northeastern Turkey, and northern Iran orginally a scarlet orange colour selective breeding in the 19th century has created a range of colors from clean white with black blotches through clear true pinks and salmon pinks to a deep maroon.
After flowering the foliage dies away entirely, which allows their survival in the summer drought their native lands. So ideal for the UK this summer!

For more about us, what we are doing, the Renaissance Newsletter, our other blogs and our shop, please visit Renaissance.

St Swithun's day

2010-07-15T12:23:00.001+01:00

After the drought along comes the rain, and on St Swithun's ...

St Swithun's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain,
St Swithun's day if thou be fair,
For forty days 'twill rain no more.

Recycled Reclaimed Potting Shed

2010-07-14T21:56:00.002+01:00

by Avoca

What to tell the bees

2010-07-11T21:39:00.003+01:00

I've left the privet hedge unclipped this year to enable it to flower,
the bees are enjoying it and I'm enjoying the sweet perfume though I do believe certain people in the nieghbourhood think it unkempt.

This is our Today's Flower post and it also gives me an excuse to post a favourite poem:

I have told the bees
He is gone from us;
I have given up gossamer prayers.
Carry roses, pacasandra, azaleas
The birch and dogwood to listen;
Send the song of his memories back to him.
He tends his garden
And remembers now,
Whispering his story on the wings of the bees.

~Julie Ferioli

The Continental Market

2010-07-06T09:25:00.003+01:00

We'd rather have home grown but we stumbled upon a continental market in town the other day and took some photographs to share, you can find them at Renaissance Life, if you're interested that is.

How to clone your herbs

2010-06-30T19:50:00.003+01:00

Nice tutorial on rooting herbs by Gala Trail found at Re-nest

Clematis

2010-06-27T14:10:00.005+01:00

Today's flower is a clematis, I can't remember which variety, so if anyone would care to enlighten me I would be most grateful.

For more information on Renaissance, what we are doing, the Renaissance Newsletter, our other blogs and our shop, please visit Renaissance.

Midsummer Roundup

2010-06-26T10:04:00.003+01:00

We're at Midsummer and what a glorious week it's been hasn't it?

Last night we were at Houghton Hall for a concert and we picniced on the lawn, the evening was just perfect.

What a wonderful setting this would be for a Vintage Party, and what a perfect place to sip homemade elderflower cordial or champagne.

Our Midsummer flower of choice this week was the wild honeysuckle it smells devine especially in the evening.

The roses are marvellous as well right now giving us the perfect excuse to blog a favourite poem, You love the roses - so do I.

And whilst we are on the subject of flowers we've found a delightfully pretty necklace for little girls called the Annabel Necklace of course we blogged about it at Renaissance Children's Notebook.

Not much blogging going on at The Chicken Daily but rest assured that the girls are all fine and enjoying the sunny days, we'll catch up with them again soon....

For more information on Renaissance, what we are doing, the Renaissance Newsletter, our other blogs and our shop, please visit Renaissance.

You love the roses -so do I.

2010-06-22T20:09:00.004+01:00

You love the roses - so do I. I wish
The sky would rain down roses, as they rain
From off the shaken bush. Why will it not?

Then all the valley would be pink and white

And soft to tread on. They would fall as light
As feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be
Like sleeping and like waking, all at once!
~George Eliot

I know a bank where the wild thyme grows

2010-06-21T14:35:00.003+01:00

"I know a bank where the wild thyme grows,

Quite over-canopied with lucious woodbine,

With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine."

A Midsummer Nights Dream

The "lucious woodbine" flower is our choice for this weeks Today's Flowers post,

perfect for Midsummer wouldn't you say?

Enjoy the longest day.

Elderflower Cordial & Elderflower Champagne

2010-06-16T15:47:00.004+01:00

The Elder Flowers are particularly bountiful at this time of year so why not take advantage of natures bounty and make yourself some Elderflower Cordial or Elderflower Champagne. We've added our old family recipes to our Renaissance Newsletter if you'd like to have a go at making them yourself.

Orange Blossom

2010-06-13T14:32:00.004+01:00

Sweet little flowers with the most heavenly perfume

Orange Blossom

is our Today's Flowers post to find out more about Today's Flowers go here.

For more information on Renaissance, what we are doing, the Renaissance Newsletter, our other blogs and our shop, please visit Renaissance.

Government Flying - excessive amount of domestic flights

2010-06-10T11:40:00.002+01:00

This WWF press release popped into my inbox a couple of days ago but it was embargoed until: 00:01 BST Thursday 10 June 2010, interesting to see that the government could save £100 million over the next three years not to mention the green isuues..

WWF calls for urgent action on government flying as new report reveals excessive amount of domestic flights

The Government could save more than £100 million over the next three years if it reduced the number of unnecessary flights it takes. A new WWF-UK report, Excess Baggage: The case for reducing government flying reveals the extent of government flying over the past three years finding that 90 per cent of all flights were taken within the UK.

The most frequent domestic routes used by Ministers and officials were between London and Edinburgh and London and Belfast whilst the top non-UK short haul routes were to Brussels, Geneva, Luxembourg and Strasbourg- all of which are reachable or replaceable by train, ferry, or videoconferencing.

The report found that if government departments followed their own best practice, they could cut 600,000 flights, reduce CO2 emissions by more than 59,000 tonnes and save well over £100 million of taxpayers’ money over the next three years.

WWF, the conservation organisation is calling on the coalition to end the spending of thousands of pounds on unnecessary flights to help it reach its commitment of reducing central government carbon emissions by 10 percent over the next 12 months.

Of the 22 government departments contacted by WWF, less than half have reduced the number of flights taken between 2007 to the end of 2009. According to the report, the best performing departments are the Department for Education and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Department of Energy and Climate Change spent £715,115 on 1,378 flights last year, with 676 of those taken domestically.

The worst performers include HM Revenues & Customs and the Department of Health. Flying in both departments increased over the three year period.

David Norman, WWF-UK's Director of Campaigns, said: “Businesses have done everything in their power to cut out wasteful spending on unnecessary flights during the recession. Yet WWF’s report shows that very few government departments have made similar efforts to reduce their flying, throwing away potential savings of well over £100million of taxpayers’ money.

“It’s shocking that nine out of ten flights by government officials are to destinations within the UK. There's a huge opportunity here to cut costs and carbon emissions – as shown by the star performers Defra and the Department for Education, which have reduced flight costs by 39% over three years. It’s time for the rest of government to catch up, and they should start by cutting out at least one flight in every ten over the coming year.”

The new Government needs to quickly improve efforts to reduce unnecessary flying. Not all departments were able to provide data in response to WWF’s FOI requests indicating that there is an urgent need for government departments to improve the way they record flight data and introduce clear travel policy standards as well as setting flight reductions.

WWF believe these flight reduction targets could be included in the new Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG) framework which is replacing Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) targets when they expire in the next year.

WWF wants to see Government departments sign up to cutting one in five flights within five years, replacing these flights with lower carbon alternatives such as rail or videoconferencing. We therefore welcome news that the Scottish Government will be joining WWF’s One in Five Challenge, which will help them reduce their flights by 20 per cent by 2015.

Blackbird fledgling learning to forage

2010-06-03T17:30:00.003+01:00

Or is it hunting?

Anyway Dad was nearby to provide a tasty morsel.

These last days of May

2010-05-29T12:08:00.003+01:00

These last days of May we are watching the swallows fledge

Sorry for the poor photographs, wrong light in the barn
and the adults swooping through the door are just too
fast for my little camera.

Inspirational Recyclying - Flowers in Jam Jars

2010-05-25T12:23:00.003+01:00

Makes you wonder why we bother to buy vases doesn't it?

But then these flowers were arranged by the delightful Miss Pickering

who does indeed have a flower shop.

Wallflowers

2010-05-24T12:11:00.003+01:00

The delightful perfume of wallflowers has been greeting my return home for a few weeks now, they are planted by the front door and their fragrance is wonderful.

This our Today's Flowers post to find out moreabout Today's Flowers go here.

Blackbird Chicks

2010-05-19T12:04:00.002+01:00

There that's a better photograph isn't it?

The babies by our door

2010-05-18T12:44:00.002+01:00

Can you see them?

The nest by our door

2010-05-13T12:57:00.001+01:00

Apple Blossom - Day Seven of a Week of Flowers

2010-05-08T13:39:00.003+01:00

Our week of flowers started with plum blossom

so it seems somehow fitting to end it with the

apple blossom.

Thanks to all of you who have popped by to view,

with special thanks to Pom Pom for taking the time

and trouble to leave us so many encouraging comments.

Back next week with I don't know what -

but there is a nest outside the back door...

Kerria Japonica - Day six of a Week of Flowers

2010-05-07T20:38:00.002+01:00

This is day six of our week of flowers,
we'll be back tomorrow with our final flower of the week.

Forget Me Nots - Day Five A Week of Flowers

2010-05-06T13:31:00.002+01:00

This is day five of our week of flowers,

we'll be back tomorrow with another flower

from the garden or orchard.

Hellebore - Day Four of a Week of Flowers

2010-05-05T11:48:00.003+01:00

The Hellebores

have just a few flowers left

for us to enjoy.

Back tomorrow with another flower.

Cowslips - Day Three of a Week of Flowers

2010-05-04T17:18:00.002+01:00

Cowslips the Primula veris

also known as

Arthritica, Artetyke, Buckles, Cuy, Drelip, Fairy Cup, Frauenchlussel, Herb Peter, Key Flower, Key of Heaven, Lady's Key, Lippe, Paigle, Paralysio, Password, Peggle, Plumrocks.

This is the third day of our week of flowers and it's also our

Today's Flowers post to find out moreabout Today's Flowers go here.

We'll be back tomorrow with another flower from the garden or orchard.

Lily of the Valley - Day Two of A Week of Flowers

2010-05-03T12:44:00.002+01:00

I suppose really we should have posted this photograph of the

Lily of the Valley

on May Day.

Isn't it a tradition to give little bunches of Lily of the Valley as May Day gifts in France?

Back tomorrow with another Spring Flower.

A week of flowers - Plum Bossom

2010-05-02T17:15:00.002+01:00

Plum Blossom from the orchard

For some reason or other we haven't gotten around to our weekly roundup
instead we've decided to bring you some Spring loveliness each day this week from either our garden or the orchard.
Today's offering is the plum blossom - enjoy and do pop back tomorrow if you get the time.

Alys Fowler’s The Edible Garden

2010-04-29T17:12:00.003+01:00

Way back in August of last year I did a little review of Alys Fowler's

The Thrifty Gardener

I liked that book a lot even though to be honest it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.

But I liked Alys' style and I found that she made me want to garden. With that in mind I was keen to watch her BBC program The Edible Garden

Have you seen it?

Once again I found that I liked her style, who could resist someone who

gardens with a Jack Russell and talks to her hens?

I'm not learning anything I don't already know but I'm enjoying the show,

it has an element of whimsy and escapism that I find appealing.

What do you think?

Oh correction - I'd never heard of hapa-zome until I saw Alys making those

fabric lid covers for jam pots on last nights show.

Now I'm keen to have a go at that myself.

Told you she was inspiring didn't I?

Violet

2010-04-28T12:59:00.002+01:00

Sweet Violet has a strong fragrance, and has been used in the making of perfume as far back as Ancient Greece. Some say that you can only smell violet flowers once but this is a myth. however the fragrance is strangely short-lived due to the chemical, ionine, which makes up the violet’s scent, it has the ability to deaden the smell receptors that detect it.

In medieval Britain, Sweet Violet was used as a deodorant.

It has a long history of folk use, especially in the treatment of cancer and whooping cough. It also contains salicylic acid, which is used to make aspirin, and is therefore effective in the treatment of headaches, migraine and insomnia.

This is our Today's Flowers postfind out more here.

Earth Day

2010-04-22T17:39:00.003+01:00

"Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in held on April 22, 1970.[1] Earth Day is celebrated in spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Earth Day Network, a group that wishes to become the coordinator of Earth Day globally, asserts that Earth Day is now observed on April 22 on virtually every country on Earth.[2] World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5 in a different nation every year, is the principal United Nations environmental observance.[3] Many communities also celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of environment-related activities. "from Wikipedia

The rather wonderful illustration is by Ishtar Olivera who says :

"Our Earth has given us SO much… lets think of ways, of having more love and gratitude to her and really give some of our time, love, and dedication in return. There are so many ways, we can start doing something. Little acts that really make a difference. Earth Day is not -should not- be just ” a day”, but everyday..
With this button all I pretend is Plant a seed of awareness in our lifes and have present that ” Everyday is Earth Day”."

Earth Day

Clematis Armandii

2010-04-20T12:06:00.004+01:00

Walk down our garden path and the sweet fragrance of Clematis Armandii will engulf your senses. Look up and you'll see a mass of white blossom against the pale blue sky.

This is our Today's Flowers post
find out more here.

Armandii is the only fragrant clematis, it's flowers will last several weeks in spring time and it will sometimes flower again in August. Even when not in flower it is extremely decorative with it's long dark evergreen glossy leaves. It orginates from China and is an extremely vigorous climber.

Weekly Roundup

2010-04-18T13:36:00.002+01:00

For the first time we took part in Today's Flowers which is such a nice idea that we think we'll make it a regular post.

Another first was the rather ludicrous photograph of one of our Silkie Bantams
over at The Chicken Daily and talking of firsts our eldest son exhibited some of his photographs in a gallery for the first time. There is a photograph of his photographs on the website www.renaissanceshop.co.uk in the What we are doing section.

Whilst we are on the subject of photographs isn't the one above adorable?
It's of Charles the baby red squirrel who fell from his nest.

Red squirrels aren't the only wildlife in need of a little help so we were pleased to be able to use the Renaissance Newsletter to help promote a WDCS Walk for Whales in nearby Hunstanton.

Over at Renaissance Vintage Notebook we seem to have spent quite a lot of time at the V & A looking at vintage inspired quilt fabrics and enthusing about the Grace Kelly exhibition.

We're always on the look out for beautiful ways to display vintage books, we are vintage book sellers afterall, and we found a rather lovely photograph whilst blog hopping which of course lead to the discovery of lots of new, to us, blogs

Maybe you'll find the time to visit them?

Meet Charles, a six-week-old red squirrel who had a very lucky landing when his nest was blown out of a tree.

2010-04-15T22:25:00.002+01:00

You can find the full story at CBBC news

along with some truly adorable photographs.

Grape Hyacinth

2010-04-14T13:05:00.002+01:00

A grape hyacinth from our garden

this is our very first Today's Flowers post

find out more here.

Can you help Sally Page of Flower Shop Stories?

2010-04-12T21:08:00.002+01:00

Sally Page, author of The Flower Shop series of books is asking for assistance with her new book

"I would really appreciate a bit of help from flower loving bloggers, so please spread the word!
I am working on the final pages of my new book and need just a few more messages. The book, which is due out at the end of August, is packed with masses of flowery photographs and the messages that people send with flowers. From the wonderfully romantic, to the friendly and funny, and at times, very sad - it really shows that you can say it all with flowers!
If you have ever sent or received a great message I would love to hear about it.
The book will be hardback, 128 pages, priced £9.99
And I absolutely love it!
(not very modest I know)"

If you can help please leave a message on her blog Flower Shop Stories

Happy Easter (& a weekly roundup)

2010-04-02T11:26:00.001+01:00

It's been a busy week getting ready for the Easter hols at Renaissance HQ
with little being uploaded to the website www.renaissanceshop.co.uk.

It didn't start well with the news of Elspeth Thompson's death, so sad.

But we've had a reminder of new life with our quail starting to lay again, very seasonal.

We went all Eastery over at Renaissance Childrens Notebook with Easter Gift Bags,

Flowering Bulbs for Easter and How to Make an Easter Chick.

And all wistful over at Renaissance Vintage Notebook with a sort of if we had a real bricks & mortar shop we'd stock:

Flowers in vintage containers & Crochet Blankets, Bags & Cushions.

And now of course it's April ,we had to mark April Fool's Day with a little joke or two,
and Easter is upon us.

We'll be spending it together, the whole family is home this weekend, bliss.

Wishing you all a very happy Easter.

Happy April Fool's Day

2010-04-01T17:04:00.003+01:00

From our garden -

but not today, did we fool you, no of course not.

Happy April Fool's Day!

Seed Bombs

2010-03-31T10:30:00.003+01:00

I expect we've all heard about the folk who go around "seed bombing"

there's laods of interesting information on the Guerrilla Gardening site

Seed Bombs a Guide to Various Forms and Functions

Amazing stuff like blowing eggs and filling them with seeds as well as the

"tradional" mud balls.

Elspeth Thompson 1961 -2010

2010-03-29T10:19:00.006+01:00

With great sorrow this weekend we heard of the death of Elspeth Thompson ,a lovely lady who we had only been blogging about a week or so ago.
Our hearts go out to her family,friends and colleagues, especially her husband Frank and her young daughter Mary.

BLESSING
On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.
And when your eyes
freeze
behindthe grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.
John O’Donohue

Weekly Roundup

2010-03-28T12:40:00.003+01:00

It's been a wet, wet week here at Renaissance HQ causing endless frustration with pruning and animals.

As for animals our little menagerie has increased by two Silkie bantams who are now settling in nicely with our tiny Seebright and Nankin bantams.

Of course the weather has given us plently of time to enjoy vintage film : The Innocents , look at books : The Flower Shop and wonder what to do with all those books we've read but know we'll never read again , maybe the answer is Green Metropolis. But I rather suspect they'll go to the charity shop as usual.

We've watched The Delicious Miss Dahl on TV and spent quite some time looking at the kitchen Sophie Dahl used. We even found a seller of vintage items whose wares would fit wonderfully into the kitchen: Jolie Trouvaille.

Talking of vintage we continue to add new items to the shop and there is now a rather nice selection of vintage prints there.

We've also continued to post over at Renaissance Childrens Notebook.

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

Unwanted paperbacks - Green Metropolis

2010-03-24T19:41:00.002Z

Some books you want to keep forever.

But most of us just don't have the room to keep them all.

Some quite simply have to go.

What do you do with all those unwanted paperbacks?

You know the sort, the ones that keep you entertained but you'll never read them again.

Well Green Metropolis offers one solution :

"Books can’t be recycled in the same way as newspapers and magazines, however, they can be recycled in a very sustainable way! You simply need to ensure that they stay in circulation by finding them a new home. By doing this you're not only helping the environment, you're also increasing the pleasure a good book can give and doing your bit for charity - for every book sold, we donate 5p to the Woodland Trust!"

Take a look at the Green Metropolis website.

2010-03-19T12:12:00.001Z

So this week we have had the sad demise of Hetty the ex battery hen, now of course we are contemplating additions to our little flock.

Inevitably after joining Lovefilm we've been watching films Kinky Boots and Mr Blanding Builds His Dream House.

Outside by the sea we've been walking on Cromer Pier and the joys of country living continue with pruning in the orchard. After a hard days work outside it's nice to come into a supper of something warm and filling like Pork & Bramley Apple Bake especially when you've grown the apples yourself.

This week in the books to read and keep section of Renaissance Newsletter we've looked at a book you're all bound to love, Home by Anita Kaushal in fact we bet some of you already have it on your book shelf.

We must have spent a long time browsing the internet this week because we've found several blogs new to us, all well worth a visit:

Elspeth Thompson's Gardening Against the Odds
The Flower Shop Stories written by Sally Page
and
Charlie and Caroline's Blog written by the owners of Pedlars

Browsing blogs has given us a date for the diary with Donna Flower's Open House Sale definetly one for lovers of all things vintage.

We've also been inspired by Alicia Paulson and Cherry Menlove to start posting over at Renaissance Children's Notebook for the first time since January.

It hasn't just been browsing on the internet we've also manage to load some new items to the Renaissance shop .

By the way we'd still love to hear your opnion on the Shovel Birdhouse

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

WWF Press Release - Atlantic bluefin tuna trade ban fails

2010-03-18T18:42:00.002Z

Such a shame when things like this are not even properly discussed:

"Discussion of a long-awaited proposal to ban international commercial trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna was cut short today at the largest wildlife trade convention when an immediate vote was pushed through.

Member governments of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) chose to vote today on the proposal. 72 out of 129 CITES members voted against the trade ban, 43 voted in favour, with 14 abstentions. WWF will proactively call on restaurants, retailers, chefs and consumers around the world to stop selling, serving, buying and eating this endangered species. Already a growing body of the global seafood market sector is choosing to avoid Atlantic bluefin tuna to give the exhausted fish stocks a chance of recovery – including such groups as Carrefour Europe.

“After overwhelming scientific justification and growing political support in past months – with backing from the majority of catch quota holders on both sides of the Atlantic – it is scandalous that governments did not even get the chance to engage in meaningful debate about the international trade ban proposal for Atlantic bluefin tuna,” said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean and observer at the CITES Conference of the Parties in Doha.

Once the Principality of Monaco had tabled the proposal this afternoon and a number of countries had given brief interventions, Libya called for an immediate vote on the proposal.

“The regional fisheries management organization in charge of this fishery – the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, ICCAT – has repeatedly failed to sustainably manage this fishery,” said Dr Tudela. “ICCAT has so far failed miserably in this duty so every pressure at the highest level must come to bear to ensure it does what it should.”

“It is now more important than ever for people to do what the politicians failed to do – stop consuming bluefin tuna,” Dr Tudela said.

The Principality of Monaco – the CITES member country that submitted the proposal for a CITES Appendix I listing of the species – became last year the first country in the world to be entirely bluefin tuna free. WWF is urging other countries to follow suit."

Did you know that Monaco was the first country to become bluefin tuna free?
Wouldn't it be grand if the EU followed?

Seed Cards

2010-03-17T14:15:00.005Z

Just spotted these seed cards over at Tracy Mathieson's Foxtail Lily blog,

@ £3.25 each they are available from her barn shop Foxtail Lily

What do you think about the Shovel Birdhouse?

2010-03-17T12:35:00.002Z

I found this image whilst browsing Di Overton's blog Designers Block,

curious I clicked the link and discovered that:

"the design is a deliberate one. A bird's diet consists of seeds and worms. As children, we gather worms for fishing by wiggling a shovel in the ground. With this birdhouse, the bird can wiggle his own worms out of the ground by simply landing on the house and letting the subsequent momentum do the work."

So what do you think? Would this actually work? I'm not so sure....

Anway if you want one they cost $190.00 from Areaware.

Elspeth Thompson - Gardening Against the Odds

2010-03-16T14:44:00.003Z

I've been reading Elspeth Thompson ' s Weblog, Off the Rails : From Railway Carriages to Eco Home for some time now, it is a lovely place to visit, so I was delighted to note that she has started another more gardening orientated blog, Gardening Against the Odds.

One to follow I think.

Plant Labels

2010-03-13T13:14:00.005Z

Love these plant labels available from The Modern Gardener @ £5.00 per pk of 10

Weekly Roundup and Giveaway Winner

2010-03-13T12:07:00.004Z

The winner of our Georgette Heyer giveaway is Jeanne of Tales of a Cottage Garden we'll pop the book in the post to you Jeanne next week when we have your postal details.

Gladys and Annie sorry to disapoint but we do have other Georgette Heyer books to read so look out for another giveaway soon.

So what have we been doing, well apart from the usual horsey and orchardy things we've had to give the ferrets a bath which was fun if messy.

We've found some brilliant greetings cards with little gardens and we've joined Lovefilm we've even managed to add a couple of new items to the shop.

Oh and the chickens are laying....

Whatever you are doing this weekend - enjoy!

Greeting cards for gardeners

2010-03-11T21:03:00.002Z

Love these "cardens"

which "will brighten any desktop, windowsill or sideboard" and are "enjoyable for all ages all year round"

Available from Postcarden

I think the Allotment is probably my favourite, which would you choose?

Weekly Roundup and Giveaeay Announcement

2010-03-05T12:06:00.003Z

Since the beginning of March it has felt really Spring like and we've turned our thoughts to window boxes, and displaying Spring bulbs indoors in vintage china pieces. We've also been looking at a tutorial for making floral necklaces.

Whilst in our dreams we've visited Pedlar's castle in reality we've spent some delightful time watching the boats on the North Norfolk coast.

We've also successfully rehomed (fingers crossed) our juvenile cockerel and been rather amused by a report from the Sun about chickens killing a fox , you should read it for yourselves the puns are really groan worthy.

Far more mundane but never the less worth a mention, we renewed our car tax online, it was very simple to do and personally I would highly recommend it.

There has even been time for some reading, I've been dipping into Gisele Scanlon's The Goddess Experience and I've finished the first of my Georgette Heyer dectective / murder mystery books. Which leads me nicely to the announcement of Renaissance's first giveaway.

Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer

I've finished reading it and would like to pass it on to someone else, so if you'd like to read it yourself please leave a comment over here at Renaissance Newsletter.

If there is more than one person interested in the book we'll do a little draw and announce the winner next Friday in our weekly roundup.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend and good luck in the giveaway.

Windowbox Succulents

2010-03-02T13:52:00.003Z

I saved this photograph ages ago as inspiration for windowbox planting.

I think the succulents look wonderful against the grey clapboard.

(Sorry can't credit photograph as I don't remember where it came from, if it is yours please accept my apologies and leave a comment so I can rectify matters)

Blooming Green

2010-02-25T21:18:00.003Z

Have you been watching Monty Don's My Dream Farm?

Did you watch this evening's episode?

If so you might be interested to know that Blooming Green has a blog

you'll find it here: http://bloominggreenflowers.blogspot.com/

Update on Chickens Need Your Help

2010-02-24T13:59:00.003Z

From my in box :

"Great news!Yesterday the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers rejected Poland's attempt to delay the Europe-wide ban on barren battery cages. As a result, the ban is still due to come into force as planned in 2012.Thank you to the 10,214 dedicated supporters who lobbied the UK government by sending emails, post cards and letters - once again, you have shown that we can get things done for farm animals when speaking with a united voice. This latest campaign also reiterates the need to be vigilant about the threats that remain, even when victories such as the forthcoming battery cage ban have been gained. Whatever the challenge, Chicken Out! and Compassion in World Farming will continue to take decisive action until the battery cage ban is fully implemented across Europe.Thank you for your support; we share this victory with you.Rosie, Siân, Hayley and CarolineOn behalf ofThe Chicken Out! TeamCompassion in World Farming"

Cold nights - Vintage Gardening Books

2010-02-23T18:38:00.002Z

These cold nights are perfect for the armchair gardener,

what nicer way to spend the evening than sitting in front of a fire browsing a

1925 vintage gardening book

like The Complete Amateur Gardener

full of lovely illustrations and practical advice.

Chickens need your help

2010-02-21T20:23:00.002Z

The following message is from the Chicken Out team, please read it and act upon it to help prevent the suffering caused by battery farming chickens.

Help protect the 2012 battery cage ban!

The EU barren battery cage ban is under threat, and we need your help to lobby Defra to protect it.Barren battery cages present serious animal welfare problems and prevent hens from carrying out their natural behaviours, such as dust-bathing and perching. Yet, last week, Poland proposed a delay to the EU ban on conventional battery cages to 2017. This would allow Member States to continue keeping hens in these cages for a further five years.The EU Agricultural Council will address this proposal when they meet on 22 February and Jim Fitzpatrick MP, the Defra Minister responsible for animal welfare, will be present. We need him to vigorously oppose Poland’s suggestion and for the Council to reject it.Help us oppose the Polish government’s proposal. The EU Agricultural Council meets on 22 February so, if you’ve not already done so, please click here today to urge Jim Fitzpatrick to protect the ban.

2009 in pictures

2010-01-13T18:48:00.003Z

I've been sifting through old photographs and posted a remembering 2009 in pictures over on the website renaissanceshop.co.uk . Looking through I'm amazed to find that our "family" increased dramatically this year with the addition of quail, more chickens, ferrets, another dog, a jackdaw and two horses. Maddie was my Christmas pressie.

You'll find Remembering 2009 in pictures in the What we are doing section of the website.

Icicles

2010-01-10T18:38:00.002Z

At least they are bginning to melt now,

or they were earlier today,

who knows what tonight will bring.

Remember the birds

2010-01-05T18:04:00.003Z

Just a little reminder, please remember our feathered friends in this freezing weather:

Bird seed mixtures

There are different mixes for feeders and for birdtables and ground feeding. The better mixtures contain plenty of flaked maize, sunflower seeds, and peanut granules.
Small seeds, such as millet, attract mostly house sparrows, dunnocks, finches, reed buntings and collared doves, while flaked maize is taken readily by blackbirds. Tits and greenfinches favour peanuts and sunflower seeds. Mixes that contain chunks or whole nuts are suitable for winter feeding only. Pinhead oatmeal is excellent for many birds. Wheat and barley grains are often included in seed mixtures, but they are really only suitable for pigeons, doves and pheasants, which feed on the ground and rapidly increase in numbers, frequently deterring the smaller species.
Avoid seed mixtures that have split peas, beans, dried rice or lentils as again only the large species can eat them dry. These are added to some cheaper seed mixes to bulk them up. Any mixture containing green or pink lumps should also be avoided as these are dog biscuit, which can only be eaten when soaked.
Black sunflower seeds
These are an excellent year-round food, and in many areas are even more popular than peanuts. The oil content is higher in black than striped ones, and so they are much better. Sunflower hearts (the husked kernels) are a popular no-mess food.
Nyjer seeds
These are small and black with a high oil content. They need a special type of seed feeder, and are particular favourites with goldfinches and siskins.

Peanuts

These are rich in fat and are popular with tits, greenfinches, house sparrows, nuthatches, great spotted woodpeckers and siskins. Crushed or grated nuts attract robins, dunnocks and even wrens. Nuthatches and coal tits may hoard peanuts. Salted or dry roasted peanuts should not be used. Peanuts can be high in a natural toxin, which can kill birds, so buy from a reputable dealer, such as our online shop, to guarantee freedom from aflatoxin.

Bird cake and food bars

Fat balls and other fat-based food bars are excellent winter food. If they are sold in nylon mesh bags, always remove the bag before putting the fat ball out – the soft mesh can trap and injure birds. You can make your own bird cake by pouring melted fat (suet or lard) onto a mixture of ingredients such as seeds, nuts, dried fruit, oatmeal, cheese and cake. Use about one-third fat to two-thirds mixture. Stir well in a bowl and allow it to set in a container of your choice. An empty coconut shell, plastic cup or tit bell makes an ideal bird cake ‘feeder’. Alternatively, you can turn it out onto your birdtable when solid.

Live foods and other insect foods

Mealworms are relished by robins and blue tits, and may attract other insect-eating birds such as pied wagtails.
Mealworms are a natural food and can be used to feed birds throughout the year. It can become quite expensive to constantly buy mealworms, and many people want to grow their own. You can culture your own mealworms (click on the link to the left). If you cannot face this performance, buy your mealworms from the professionals, consoling yourself with the thought that successful mealworm breeding is even more difficult than it sounds. Click on the link to the right to buy mealworms from our online shop.
It is very important that any mealworms fed to birds are fresh. Any dead or discoloured ones must not be used as they can cause problems such as salmonella poisoning.
Waxworms are excellent, but expensive. Proprietary foods for insect-eating birds, such as ant pupae and insectivorous and softbill food are available from bird food suppliers and pet shops. Insect food appropriately offered can attract treecreepers and wrens.

Cooking fat

Fat from cooking is bad for birds. The problem with cooked fat from roasting tins and dishes is that the meat juices have blended with the fat and when allowed to set, this consistency makes it prone to smearing, not good for birds' feathers. It is a breeding ground for bacteria, so potentially bad for birds' health. Salt levels depend on what meat is used and if any salt is added during cooking.
Lard and beef suet on their own are fine as they re-solidify after warming and as they are pure fat, it is not as suitable for bacteria to breed on.

Polyunsaturated margarines or vegetable oils

These are unsuitable for birds. Unlike humans, birds need high levels of saturated fat, such as raw suet and lard. They need the high energy content to keep warm in the worst of the winter weather, since their body reserves are quickly used up, particularly on cold winter nights. The soft fats can easily be smeared onto the feathers, destroying the waterproofing and insulating qualities.

Dog and cat food

Meaty tinned dog and cat food form an acceptable substitute to earthworms during the warm, dry part of the summer when worms are beyond the birds' reach. Blackbirds readily take dog food, and even feed it to their chicks.
Dry biscuits are not recommended as birds may choke on the hard lumps. It is sometimes added to cheaper seed mixtures for bulk. Soaked dog biscuit is excellent, except in hot weather as it quickly dries out. Petfood can attract larger birds such as magpies and gulls, and also neighbourhood cats. If this is likely to be a problem, it is best avoided.

Milk and coconut

Never give milk to any bird. A bird's gut is not designed to digest milk and it can result in serious stomach upsets, or even death. Birds can, however, digest fermented dairy products such as cheese. Mild grated cheese can be a good way of attracting robins, wrens and dunnocks.
Give fresh coconut only, in the shell. Rinse out any residues of the sweet coconut water from the middle of the coconut before hanging it out to prevent the build-up of black mildew.
Desiccated coconut should never be used as it may swell once inside a bird and cause death.

Rice and cereals

Cooked rice, brown or white (without salt added) is beneficial and readily accepted by all species during severe winter weather. Uncooked rice may be eaten by birds such as pigeons, doves and pheasants but is less likely to attract other species.
Porridge oats must never be cooked, since this makes them glutinous and could harden around a bird's beak. Uncooked porridge oats are readily taken by a number of bird species.
Any breakfast cereal is acceptable birdfood, although you need to be careful only to put out small quantities at a time. It is best offered dry, with a supply of drinking water nearby, since it quickly turns into pulp once wetted.

Mouldy and stale food

Many moulds are harmless, but some that can cause respiratory infections in birds, and so it is best to be cautious and avoid mouldy food entirely.
If food turns mouldy or stale on your birdtable, you are probably placing out too large a quantity for the birds to eat in one day. Always remove any stale or mouldy food promptly. Stale food provides a breeding ground for salmonella bacteria, which can cause food poisoning. At least one type of salmonella causes death among such species as greenfinches and house sparrows. Large quantities of food scattered on the ground may attract rats and mice. Rats can carry diseases that affect humans

Excellent info taken from the RSPB website ad don't forget the birds will need water.

Paper Trees - Inspirational Recycling

2009-12-30T21:45:00.004Z

Turn recycled magazines into paper Christmas trees

instructions here

A little late for this year maybe unless you are lucky enough to have youngsters at home for the holidays, a whole forest would be a delight.

I'm rather afraid that our Christmas greetings are a little late too, hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that 2010 brings you all that you hope for.

(For a gorgeous recycled Christmas Tree fairy take a look here)

Yet another press release hits my inbox...

2009-11-30T09:06:00.003Z

AMY AND APE FALL IN LOVE OVER CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE

Amy Winehouse joins a list of world-class recording artists to support ARTISTS PROJECT EARTH – otherwise known as APE – with an exclusive new version of Sam Cooke’s seminal track ‘Cupid’.

Recorded for APE - the internationally recognised climate change and natural disaster support charity - this sublime cover follows hot on the heels of The Killers ‘Hotel California’. It is hoped the track will drive awareness and raise funds for the charity ahead of COP15, the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, December 7-18, where APE will have a strong presence, representing the concerns and contributions from the world’s leading musicians over the issue of Climate Change.

Recorded earlier in the year, ‘Cupid’ has received huge radio support in recent weeks, especially from Steve Wright / Radio 2 and is set to become one of the surprise hits of the year.

And all for a really great cause!

Inspirational Recycling - Toilet Roll Art

2009-11-22T22:38:00.002Z

Looks stunning in the photograph doesn't it?

Not so sure that it would look so good if I tried to do it

but

if you fancy having a go yourself take a look at Design Sponge.

Is Tesco really a 21century Scrooge?

2009-11-19T13:28:00.002Z

The checkout lady at my local supermarket tells me that this morning staff were told that they could have Christmas overtime but not for pay. Time off in lieu could be taken after Christmas.

I think she felt a little downhearted, as she said she works for money not time off.

Is this the way Tesco reached their record breaking £3.1bn profit - the highest on record for a British retailer earlier this year?

Will chief executive Mr Terrence Leahy be getting visits from the ghosts ofChristmas Past, Chrismas Present and Christmas Future because let's face it Tesco employee's aren't looking forward to a very Happy Christmas this year. But Ho Ho Ho they can have time off next year - but no extra money to go anywhere or do anything with during that time off.

Inspirational Recycling - Sneakers

2009-11-17T17:50:00.004Z

We've seen welly boots now we have tatty old sneakers.

Plants can improve just about anything can't they?

(image via Microwalrus)

Another Press Release this time about Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

2009-11-16T11:46:00.004Z

Tuna commission fails to take action to save Atlantic bluefin

WWF is renewing its calls for an international trade ban in Atlantic bluefin tuna, after the commission responsible for managing stocks, failed to agree on measures that will ensure the recovery of the species.

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas endorsed a proposal from its chair, the EU, Japan, Morocco and Tunisia to drop the 2010 eastern bluefin quota from 19,500 tonnes to 13,500 tonnes, still far too high to enable stock recovery.

A key study presented to ICCAT in Recife showed even a strictly enforced 8,000-tonne quota would have only a 50 per cent chance of achieving a recovery in eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna by 2023. Another ICCAT study showed only a total fishing halt yielded significant chances of the bluefin population recovering enough to no longer qualify for high-level trade restrictions by 2019.

Sally Bailey, Marine Programme Manager at WWF-UK said: “Now, more than ever, WWF sees a global trade ban as the only hope for Atlantic bluefin. ICCAT’s reduction in quota is not based on scientific advice, and is entirely unacceptable.”

WWF had lobbied the meeting for a fishing suspension and determined action against illegal fishing, estimated to considerably inflate the most recent (2008) catch estimates of 34,120 tonnes. During the Recife meeting almost all harvesting countries were formally identified by ICCAT as breaking its rules – like EU tuna fattening farms accepting fish without proper documentation. The massive overcapacity of industrial fleets in the Mediterranean also continues to hamper conservation efforts, yet the problem remains insufficiently addressed by the tuna commission.

The season for industrial fishing for bluefin tuna with purse seine fleets was reduced from two months to one, but remains open during the peak of the spawning period of 15 May to 15 June when the tuna are most vulnerable. ICCAT also continued to ignore long-standing calls to establish sanctuaries in key bluefin tuna spawning grounds such as the Balearic Islands off Spain.

It is now vital that member countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to line up behind global trade restrictions on Atlantic bluefin tuna. CITES is to consider a Principality of Monaco proposal that Atlantic bluefin be listed for the highest level of trade restrictions at a meeting in Doha next March.

(image from http://oceana.org/europe wo are also running this story)

National Trust says Urinate on the compost heap to save the planet

2009-11-13T22:31:00.003Z

20 male staff at The National Trust's Wimpole Hall are being encouraged to use a straw "pee bale" when answering a call of nature.

"The Trust, which actively campaigns on climate change, said answering the call of nature outside saves both on water and the energy used in flushing the lavatory. " - read the complete Daily Telegraph article by clicking here.

Unseasonal Butterfly

2009-11-08T19:21:00.004Z

Feasting on Sedum Autumn Joy on a sunny Remembrance Sunday.

A Tree A Day Keeps the Doctor Away

2009-11-04T19:43:00.003Z

"A tree a day keeps the doctor away" is the title of an interesting little article by The Woodland Trust about woods and health,

read it here

The photograph of urban trees is borrowed from The Woodland Trust as well, apparently research show that people are more likely to walk in urban locations if trees line the street.

Oh and if anyone wondered why the lack of posts take a look here - we're all so excited.

From my inbox - KILLERS GO APE TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

2009-10-28T11:39:00.003Z

NEWS, REVIEWS & FEATURES EDITORS!
PLEASE COVER THIS RELEASE ABOVE ALL ELSE! THE CLIMATE DEMANDS IT!

Strange the things that pop into your inbox, don't know why I received this but heyho I'm happy to oblidge:

The Killers
And Rhythms Del Mundo
‘Hotel California’
Taken from the album ‘Rhythms Del Mundo Classics’
Artists Project Earth (APE) / launched 30 Nov 2009

KILLERS GO APE TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

THIS IS THE EXCLUSIVE NEW TRACK FROM THE KILLERS, RELEASED TO SUPPORT THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL DISASTER SUPPORT CHARITY ARTISTS PROJECT EARTH (APE).

The Killers recorded this cover version of the classic Eagles hit as part of their contribution to raise awareness and funds for the APE charity which, in the last month alone, has made awards of $100,000 to support both the natural disasters in Asia Pacific and the UK-based climate change group The Transition Network. Recorded with the APE house band, Rhythms Del Mundo, ‘Hotel California’ has been given an Afro-Cuban treatment and is already a smash radio hit all over Europe.

The song will be heavily promoted in the run up to COP15 – the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, December 7-18, where it will be the soundtrack to the conference (there’s even talk of a performance – but more on that in due course). Killers fans will love the unexpected foray into Cuban-style-west-coast-LA-rock from Brandon and the boys; and anyone else interested in Climate Change will be sure to pay attention and purchase!

APE & Rhythms Del Mundo

Artists Project Earth (APE) is the vision of a Music Industry Legend: Kenny Young may not be a familiar name to most, but few would not immediately recognise his biggest song, the 1964 classic ‘Under The Boardwalk’. It’s one of the most played and covered songs in pop history, made famous by The Rolling Stones, The Drifters, Sam and Dave, The Beach Boys and many other artists. Young, who wrote the Grammy Award winning song ‘Ai No Corrida’ for Quincy Jones, had spent 30 years penning hits for the biggest stars, including ‘Crew Love’ by Jay-Z and ‘Spirit of the Forest’ performed by Joni Mitchell, Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry and others.

However, the last 10 years has seen Kenny channel his energy towards the battle against Global Climate Change. His mission has been to specifically engage with the artistic community, developing musical projects that raise money and awareness. Young’s song-writing profile has enabled him to pull together the biggest artists, including U-2, Paul McCartney, Sting, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Paul Simon, REM, Peter Gabriel, Queen, Seal and others for ELF's Rainforests conservation projects. His first project, 1991’s ‘Earthrise’ was a No.1 hit album in the UK and globally. For APE he produced ‘Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba feat. musicians from the Buena Vista Social Club’ in a collaboration with Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Jack Johnson, Sting, U-2, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, and Radiohead.

The APE charity now extends across the world, with a board of internationally recognised directors and advisors. Kenny himself has been a recipient of the United Nations Global 500 Award for outstanding practical achievements in the protection and improvement of the environment for his work as co-founder of the Earth Love Fund which supported and initiated over 200 community based projects in Brazil, Africa, Asia and Australia.

The Killers ‘Hotel California’ is also available on the album ‘Rhythms Del Mundo ‘Classics’ which features cover versions from many international stars including The Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse, Keane, Editors, The Zutons, Fall Out Boy and others. All are united in raising money to support APE and its climate change initiatives. Together, ‘Rhythms Del Mundo ‘Classics’ and ‘Cuba’ albums have sold over 1 million albums worldwide, raising millions of dollars for charitable causes. Every year APE makes an award of $100,000 to one or more climate change initiatives from the proceeds of the album sales. To date APE has supported over 170 different climate change tackling causes and natural disaster relief.

For further information please visit http://www.apeuk.org/

The Illustrated Book of Garden Flowers

2009-10-19T10:52:00.002+01:00

Just wanted to share these gorgeous illustrations

by B. E. Nicholson

from The Illustrated Book of Garden Flowers

published in 1979 by Peerage Books, London.

Aren't they wonderful?

Blog Action Day - Climate Change

2009-10-15T09:31:00.004+01:00

Have you read the book?

Seen the film?

Do you believe it?

Does it worry you?

Is there anything ordinary people can do?

YES! YES! YES!

How about this for a start?

"A computer that is used for four hours a day and turned off the rest of the time costs about $70 less a year than one that is left on all day and all night. It also reduces the machine's CO2 emissions by 83%. "

Or this?

"Turn off the lights when you leave a room and turn off electrical appliances at the mains. Standby can use between 30% and 70% of the energy the appliance uses when it is on."

We can all do that, can't we?

And there are loads of other things ordinary people can do to help combat climate change, I 've quoted from 100 Places To Remember Before They Disappear where you'll find a further 98 "examples of how you, your family, companies and politicians may solve or counteract the effect of climate problems."

Take a look and if you're intending to blog today join over 8,000 fellow bloggers by posting about climate change for Blog Action Day 2009, you can find out more and sign up here.

Mrs Crosse's Weekly Housekeeping Tips

2009-10-08T11:08:00.003+01:00

Way back in April when I started this blog I stated that it would be a place where, amongst other things, I would talk about cleaning naturally. I'm very much aware that I never have but that is all about to be rectified with a little weekly feature on the website renaissanceshop.co.uk called

Mrs Crosse's Weekly Housekeeping Tips.

You can read the weekly tips here.

If you want to find out more about Mrs Crosse you'll find it here

and if you're interested Mrs Crosse has a gardening counterpart, Hobb,

his weekly tips are here

and you can find out about him here.

Enough links for one post I think!

Quotation

2009-10-05T13:52:00.003+01:00

"We need to grow our own food.

It's the most rational, practical response to the situation we're in now -

our food system is in as fragile a state as our financial one."

Monty Don in an interview for the Telegraph Magazine

Inspirational Recycling - More on old themes

2009-10-01T09:34:00.003+01:00

Same old themes but I just couldn't resist these lovely photographs.

(All images found via The Tao of Dana)

Harris Hawk

2009-09-29T08:47:00.004+01:00

The other day we were privileged to go for a walk with

George Duncalf of The Fenlands Bird of Prey Rescue

and his

Harris Hawk

We've posted pictures here if you'd like to see more.

We're all going on a - Mushroom Hunt - (and don't forget the plums)

2009-09-24T09:43:00.005+01:00

Today I thought I'd show you some of the fungi found in the orchard

Superstitious apple pickers beware - you won't want to go into the fairy circle.

So delicate.

And finally a giant, the 50p piece gives you some indication of the size of this puff ball.

My husband likes to slice and fry these in butter.

Our plum season is rapidly drawing to a close, so, I've posted some of our favourite plum recipes in a Renaissance Newsletter if you'd like to take a look.

Indian Summer

2009-09-21T09:43:00.002+01:00

As the days shorten and the nights begin to draw in

we're taking extra pleasure in the warmth of this September's sun.

The auriculars have surprised us with a few flowers but you can tell it's all coming to an end.

We must enjoy it while we can.

Slop Buckets, The Daily Mail, Kitchen Caddys, Whitehall and Wormeries

2009-09-17T11:34:00.008+01:00

"A Slop Bucket in Every Home"was the headline that caught my eye at the newstands the other day.

Did you see it?

Looking through the article via the web I see The Daily Mail reports that
"In a trial at 94,000 homes in 19 council areas last year, a quarter of those taking part reported terrible smells and infestations of maggots, flies and rats. They said that in the summer the stench grows worse and the slop buckets attract even more vermin. "

The Telegraph asks us - Do you want a slop bucket in your kitchen?

Thinking about it, our household don't actually have any food waste to put in the bins what with chickens and ferrets and dogs and quail pretty much all of ours gets eaten by something. ( In fact I could probably use more for the compost heap).

But could this be the solution -

A wormery.

These pictures are taken from the Wiggly Wigglers site

and I must say it seems like a jolly good solution to the problem to me.

A little pricey for the average household perhaps, but, if government are considering forcing councils to issue us with yet another plastic bin maybe they should also be looking into wormeries.

What do you think?

Inspirational Recyclying - wine bottle vases

2009-09-15T13:26:00.003+01:00

So elegant - try something similar with geberas or wild flowers or ...

(Image found via Thought for Food)

Bramley Apple Bicentenary

2009-09-15T10:38:00.005+01:00

Those of you who have had a little look around our website Renaissance Shop and read the About us page will know that although we live in town we work in an orchard.

Not just any orchard but one that has ancient trees -

Bramley Apples that are almost 100 years old.

2009 is the bi-centenary of the Bramley Apple.

In 1809 a young girl named Mary Anne Brailsford planted some apple pips in her garden in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Eventually the garden passed to Matthew Bramley and the Bramley Seedling was cultivated by local nurseryman Henry Merriweather. All the Bramley apple pies, apple sauces and Bramley apple juices you've ever eaten or drank have been descended from that pip planted by young Mary Anne and the orginal tree still stands.

We'll be picking Bramley apples for the next few weeks and if you're interested you can join us on a "virtual" apple pick, we're posting photographs from the orchard on our website over the next few days, you'll find them in theWhat we are doing section

A Jackdaw named Sparrow

2009-09-10T09:33:00.006+01:00

Whilst updating our What we are doing section of the website with

photographs of insects taken in the orchard it occured to me that I haven't shown you

Sparrow

Sparrow is a Jackdaw rescued from the orchard, he was found

on the log pile with a broken wing. Unfortunately nothing could be done

for the break, it had already healed but something could be done for the Jackdaw.

He was starving and there was no way that he could survive in the wild so he came home with us.

For more information on rescued corvids visit Corvid Aid

Don't forget you can join us on a "virtual" apple pick, we're posting photographs from the orchard on our website over the next few days, you'll find them in theWhat we are doing section

Is this the prettiest apple?

2009-09-09T09:08:00.004+01:00

Worcester Permain

Here take a closer look -

I think it's a really pretty apple

what do you think?

Don't forget you can join us on a "virtual" apple pick, we're posting photographs from the orchard on our website over the next few days, you'll find them in theWhat we are doing section