I’m working for the council in Nottingham. “Here take this”. Jim, the foreman of the local parks gardening team throws me something shiny. “It’s a golden key”. He says with a smile. “With this key you can get access to any padlocked council owned area in the town, look after it well”.

This was a big responsibility for me. From my first days there the foreman dished out responsibilities, some of which I rose to, others made me crumble.
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Statement from leader of the Green Party John Gormley introducing the Government’s Capital Review Programme. Location:  National Convention Centre in Dublin.  Minister Gormley says:

This Capital Review takes a strategic, long-term view of what we need to do now to get the maximum return on capital investment into the future for jobs and economic growth.  State infrastructure investment is not merely about sustaining building sector jobs, although these are of course welcome. It’s about a fundamental move to the create a more sustainable economic and social future. We will encourage the development of a smarter and greener economy with real, lasting jobs. This programme makes definitive commitments to investing in research and development and to targeted supports for foreign and indigenous enterprises. We are confident that these measures will contribute to the realignment of Irish economic life. The strategy recognises the natural limits imposed on us – most importantly by peak oil and climate change – and meets the fundamental challenge of moving to a greener, more sustainable future.
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Hearing of the “world’s first eco-friendly tattoo parlour” last week almost brought on my first tattoo. But then I realised it was, predictably, in LA, and that while the studio’s architectural values sounded fully sustainable (passive ventilation, green roof, etc), there wasn’t much that was eco friendly about the actual body art.
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I’m driving along the road listening on a beautiful Sunday morning listening to Sunday Miscellany on RTE Radio 1. Usually I just let the voices drift over me but today I’m taking notice as a woman reminisces about how their parents used to grow vegetables. She was pondering on how they managed to find the time to garden without having two cars, a dishwasher, microwave and other modern day devices to save precious time, as she can barely have time to cut her grass.
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New EU rules on organic food labelling including the requirement to display the new EU organic logo, have come into force since 1 July, 2010. The so-called “Euro-Leaf” will now be obligatory on pre-packaged organic food products that have been produced in any of EU Member States and meet the necessary standards. Other private, regional or national logos will continue to appear alongside the EU label. The logo stays optional for non-packed and imported organic products. In addition to the logo, the new labelling rules also include the compulsory indications of place of farming of the products’ ingredients and code number of the body that had been in charge of the controls. Operators have a two-year transition period to comply with these new labeling rules. Another change is the introduction of EU rules for organic aquaculture for the first time.
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The UN body on climate change, accused of ignoring critics and allowing glaring errors into its work, today declared a broader range of experts will write its next report on global warming.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change included more women and scientists from developing countries, but also selected authors with a wider range of backgrounds than previously – partly in response to recent criticism that earlier groups refused to address dissenting views.
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Yea Butt No Butt yea Butt….
“It’s nothing really, just an old wheelie bin and a downpipe”. I’m talking to Mickey Donaghay from Carry Garden Sheds in Fallask on the outskirts of Buncrana and he’s being very modest about his inventive water butt design.  The idea is simple enough. When he needs water from the butt, he lowers a six-foot long pipe from the top of the bin to the floor and “gravity does the rest” Mickey says, demonstrating how the flow of water starts when the pipe gets lower. It’s so practical, why didn’t I think of that?
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Two Acupressure Mats worth €35*to be won

Gardening.ie have joined up with Shakti.ie and have two Acupressure Mats to win.

What are Acupressure Mats?

Acupressure Mats have thousands of tiny spikes on a soft cotton base that release endorphins in your body when you lie on them. They are a great way to relax and ease the muscles (especially after a hard day in the garden)

Are they just for Gardening?

The mats can be beneficial when you feel low in energy, experience high stress levels, suffer from insomnia, have muscular tension, lumbago, sciatica, migraine, digestive problems, and depression. Research also claims benefits for people with: Back and neck pain, sciatica, insomnia, digestive problems, poor circulation, fatigue and excess weight.

To be in with a chance of winning register or sign up to Gardening.ie now…
We have a new Business Section on the site so you can find suppliers.  And there’s also a forum and FREE Classified section.

*includes postage

Closing date: August 15th 2010

Green Party Minister for Sustainable Transport Ciaran Cuffe has welcomed new statistics showing a large increase in people taking part in the Cycle to Work scheme. A survey carried out by www.bikescheme.ie shows:

• Cycle to Work Scheme participation has increased by 125% since 2009

• Bike shops report average of 43% of bike sales coming through scheme

• Just under half (49%) of bike scheme sales are coming from the public sector

• Over four fifths of bike shops report a positive effect on their business or cycling in the area
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Zero Carbon is to some people a consummation devoutly to be wished and for others such stuff which dreams are made on. For me, it is a foolish fallacy that stands in the way of real climate change action.

In the UK the Centre for Alternative Technology has provided a blue print to enable the United Kingdom to become “zero carbon” by 2030. I have not studied the report but its substance has been reported and I can comment on the Zero Carbon route that the Centre points out for us.
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