I still have one large bed to turn over. Tomorrow's little chore. Then I will rake the earth smooth ready for planting and sowing. It sure beats the hell out of stabbing a keyboard and staring blind minded at a flat screen.
Wednesday 17 February 2010
Another good bit done...
I still have one large bed to turn over. Tomorrow's little chore. Then I will rake the earth smooth ready for planting and sowing. It sure beats the hell out of stabbing a keyboard and staring blind minded at a flat screen.
Meanwhile back in the Izdom of Iz...
PHEW!!! My oath that was strenuous. A moment or two for recovery will see me right. The ground is in good heart but still is in need of improvement. More seaweed, more manure and compost as well as heavy mulching. The blackcurrant bushes are budding well I reckon they can smell the Spring coming. The work is a long way from completion. Many tonnes of stone must be got to build retaining walls. Eventually, pointless to work beyond one's elastic limit. All the empty tomorrows to be filled with wholesome memories. Worth to work carefully without frenetic rush. If I can transfer a little of the hope I gain from my home field to Haiti. It will have been time well spent. I have heard a pile of words on the subject of permaculture over past years. It would be easy to get a crystalline picture from all the data pumped out in the media. Every garden site is different. Topography geology location and climate. The risk to the site of flooding fire and erosion. Haiti's true permaculture was destroyed along with the Carib Indians. The best one may do is resurrect what there is of it to serve mutually the needs of the land and the essential basic needs of the population. I hope readers will be able to recognise the difference between horticulture and agriculture. The former is what I am about. Organic gardening, utilising sustainable traditional practices, rather than petrol driven chemical agriculture.
Disasters come in all shapes and sizes...
The question was posed,"What good could you possibly do?" A little more than might be contained in a well intended word, I would say. I am not asking for a paid job. I don't feel it is necessary to present C.V.'s to all and sundry. I am a carpenter and a gardener, wih one or two more skills I've tied on to my belt over my lifes journeying. I have tried to raise the cost of a ticket in London, the small milking pail came away with the contents resembling a waste bin. Disaster. Most occasions that I attempted to busk I was faced with officials and security "Jobs worth " syndrome. "You can't do that here". So where?
Arty Party Squat land? All promises turned to dust the moment I arrived. They don't do what they say on the tin. Clubland failed. It wouldn't have taken much to make a small announcement on the stage and pass the bucket around. They don't seem there to cater for that. A week of speaking to clubbies made me feel glad I don't do that.It would take something akin to an earthquake to shake London out of it's torpor of indifference.
Haiti is in crisis. Port au Prince has just lost over a quarter of a million people. The survivors are traumatised and need moral support as well as practical assistance.
Reconstruction needs skilled people. I watched as two well meaning lads set about hanging a new firedoor for the Passing clouds club. I am glad I took the time to learn.I left them struggling, at least one of them I dare to venture was getting paid for the work. I was making ready my return to France neither enough time to tutor them nor do the job myself. I would feel better placed as one unit of experienced manpower in Port au Prince @Zero % commission than jobbing and begging in the crumbling pleasure domes of Britain. Britain is I am informed short of 2500 workers for it's Olympic village. It is a real pity it trained it's youth to be hair dressers and pop stars. Hardly a world priority.
By next week I will have completed my winter digging here in Le Breil. I will be some way forward on the planting and sowing. The round house can wait. My son Toby tells me he will be here in a few days with his amp and "Triangla", it is hoped we will do a little better on the streets of Renne than I did in London. Regardless of the results of my appeal for funds I am assured that I will be going, even if it means sponsoring my ticket from our part time minimum wage. My food budget whilst I am there will also come out of our own domestic income.
My son informed me of the Google page that was set up after my departure from London. A well meant piece of electronic scribble. It blows my modest trumpet a little too hard methinks. I would rather blow my own.
This is a demure action ,not intended to displace anyone from their own executive responsibilities with what may at first glance seem to be imported grandiose gestures.
What can one person do in the wake of so much damage and heart break. The first few weeks will be spent fact finding. Barring my food that part will cost nothing. Photos and reportage of any good news on the ground will be transmitted to the web.
I haven't met "D's" Mam and Granny yet. I have yet to see if my own offer of help will be well recieved. If there is land fit for cultivation, I am told there is, much can be done with a hoe and a spade. If there is more than one body available for manual work I can't see much beyond the arduous rigours of labour that could impede the proposed work. It is not my land I merely respond to the needs , "D" has familial interest, I will not be moving unless after consultation she is smiling in approval.
I hear there is a food shortage. The cynical response I got from folk in London that "They don't need people like you, they need nurses." I nearly laughed. Whether sick or healthy everyone needs food or no work is possible. For best economy, home grown over imported.
My onion bed is ready for planting now. I will take time off from this typing to prepare a bit more of my own mud patch. But first a well placed egg sandwich and a steaming mugga.
I will be bringing vegetable seeds to Haiti, they too will be provided from our own meagre funds. I wont be waiting for a Geldof or Bono style aid circus.
What's to do here? Innoculations ,I will have to pay for them privately, the rest of my ticket and seed money. Not an impossible task. I am halfway there. I have my spade and my hoe. Whatever else good may come of this action will have to get in line I have yet to hit the ground running. I have the will. I will find a way.
Arty Party Squat land? All promises turned to dust the moment I arrived. They don't do what they say on the tin. Clubland failed. It wouldn't have taken much to make a small announcement on the stage and pass the bucket around. They don't seem there to cater for that. A week of speaking to clubbies made me feel glad I don't do that.It would take something akin to an earthquake to shake London out of it's torpor of indifference.
Haiti is in crisis. Port au Prince has just lost over a quarter of a million people. The survivors are traumatised and need moral support as well as practical assistance.
Reconstruction needs skilled people. I watched as two well meaning lads set about hanging a new firedoor for the Passing clouds club. I am glad I took the time to learn.I left them struggling, at least one of them I dare to venture was getting paid for the work. I was making ready my return to France neither enough time to tutor them nor do the job myself. I would feel better placed as one unit of experienced manpower in Port au Prince @Zero % commission than jobbing and begging in the crumbling pleasure domes of Britain. Britain is I am informed short of 2500 workers for it's Olympic village. It is a real pity it trained it's youth to be hair dressers and pop stars. Hardly a world priority.
By next week I will have completed my winter digging here in Le Breil. I will be some way forward on the planting and sowing. The round house can wait. My son Toby tells me he will be here in a few days with his amp and "Triangla", it is hoped we will do a little better on the streets of Renne than I did in London. Regardless of the results of my appeal for funds I am assured that I will be going, even if it means sponsoring my ticket from our part time minimum wage. My food budget whilst I am there will also come out of our own domestic income.
My son informed me of the Google page that was set up after my departure from London. A well meant piece of electronic scribble. It blows my modest trumpet a little too hard methinks. I would rather blow my own.
This is a demure action ,not intended to displace anyone from their own executive responsibilities with what may at first glance seem to be imported grandiose gestures.
What can one person do in the wake of so much damage and heart break. The first few weeks will be spent fact finding. Barring my food that part will cost nothing. Photos and reportage of any good news on the ground will be transmitted to the web.
I haven't met "D's" Mam and Granny yet. I have yet to see if my own offer of help will be well recieved. If there is land fit for cultivation, I am told there is, much can be done with a hoe and a spade. If there is more than one body available for manual work I can't see much beyond the arduous rigours of labour that could impede the proposed work. It is not my land I merely respond to the needs , "D" has familial interest, I will not be moving unless after consultation she is smiling in approval.
I hear there is a food shortage. The cynical response I got from folk in London that "They don't need people like you, they need nurses." I nearly laughed. Whether sick or healthy everyone needs food or no work is possible. For best economy, home grown over imported.
My onion bed is ready for planting now. I will take time off from this typing to prepare a bit more of my own mud patch. But first a well placed egg sandwich and a steaming mugga.
I will be bringing vegetable seeds to Haiti, they too will be provided from our own meagre funds. I wont be waiting for a Geldof or Bono style aid circus.
What's to do here? Innoculations ,I will have to pay for them privately, the rest of my ticket and seed money. Not an impossible task. I am halfway there. I have my spade and my hoe. Whatever else good may come of this action will have to get in line I have yet to hit the ground running. I have the will. I will find a way.
Monday 15 February 2010
Friday 12 February 2010
A critical look at the bottom of the bucket...
It is overfull with disappointments, unfulfilled promises and undertakings. The little wallet looks full because it was designed to look fat when it's empty. I will take the bucket to Renne,results so far amount to half the price of a return ticket.I am still hopeful that I will raise enough to take a crail of tools with me as well as my hoe. Should the target not be reached I will donate the money raised to where it will do the most good.
I have done a little digging since I got back, preparing to plant onion sets and spring cabbage. I will do some more today, my body is glad to be breathing oxygen again.I have been holding my breath quite a bit this last week in London . We are not designed to breathe each others toxic exhaust.
I will finish digging the bottom circle now. I will leave the remaining leeks standing proudly against the frosty weather. Spade and hoe will create a pretty picture by this evening.
I have done a little digging since I got back, preparing to plant onion sets and spring cabbage. I will do some more today, my body is glad to be breathing oxygen again.I have been holding my breath quite a bit this last week in London . We are not designed to breathe each others toxic exhaust.
I will finish digging the bottom circle now. I will leave the remaining leeks standing proudly against the frosty weather. Spade and hoe will create a pretty picture by this evening.
Monday 1 February 2010
For what it's worth...
My old stamping grounds in London have all either been redeveloped or are now too monoxide rich to risk playing. The bucket remains empty but I am not disheartened , the ground work of organising some kind of fundraising ventures needed to be done. Positive news there, a small gig will be held in, The George, Homerton, on February 13 also at a venue"Unit Two", Clapton on February 6 as well as an appearance at"Passing clouds", Dalston on Sunday,(that's the seventh).
I will be blowing and banging outside in Spitalfields in a public space for as long as it is mutually tolerable.Brick Lane market on Sundays seems to be a favourable streetside venue. I pray my performance is good enough to touch people's generous hearts. My ooblee dooblee, "strictly kitchen" genre, going nowhere but on anon.
I have met a Brazilian man, Victor, who is keen to make a small documentary film of the progress and has intimated that he is prepared to follow it through to Paris and later perhaps to Haiti.
This is an international NGO, self sponsored voluntary community action.At present I can see no worthier cause, for the record.
The reportage is about the hopeful modest efforts towards assisting the reconstuction of Port au Prince. Little will be acheived if we can't get our able bodies and our expertise to where we can do some lasting good.
It would be well to note the debt both European and American working people owe to Haiti. The Slave Rebellion was the single most influencial cause of the transition to the abolition of the slave trade.If you can read this , you can search the web for further information. If the significance of our duty of care has eluded you, I advise you take a more active interest in the history of our over exploited planet and it's people.
Nuff sed for now.I will be in Spitalfields tomorrow with my begging bucket. I hope I see you there.
I will be blowing and banging outside in Spitalfields in a public space for as long as it is mutually tolerable.Brick Lane market on Sundays seems to be a favourable streetside venue. I pray my performance is good enough to touch people's generous hearts. My ooblee dooblee, "strictly kitchen" genre, going nowhere but on anon.
I have met a Brazilian man, Victor, who is keen to make a small documentary film of the progress and has intimated that he is prepared to follow it through to Paris and later perhaps to Haiti.
This is an international NGO, self sponsored voluntary community action.At present I can see no worthier cause, for the record.
The reportage is about the hopeful modest efforts towards assisting the reconstuction of Port au Prince. Little will be acheived if we can't get our able bodies and our expertise to where we can do some lasting good.
It would be well to note the debt both European and American working people owe to Haiti. The Slave Rebellion was the single most influencial cause of the transition to the abolition of the slave trade.If you can read this , you can search the web for further information. If the significance of our duty of care has eluded you, I advise you take a more active interest in the history of our over exploited planet and it's people.
Nuff sed for now.I will be in Spitalfields tomorrow with my begging bucket. I hope I see you there.
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