Latest update from Sweet Pea

Exciting times for allotment growing

If you think that the season is all over then you are wrong. We are just getting started. The mild autumn means that we can really get an early start for improved crops for the early start of next year.

Jobs

Clear as much of your ground as possible. Don’t leave any hidey holes for slugs and pests to overwinter. Old beans can be kept for drying to give you some free seed or used in the kitchen. It is a good time to dig or rotavate whilst there is not too much moisture in the soil and it is still very friable. That’s the hard bit done, now for the pleasure.

Planting – It is getting to a perfect time for planting the following.

• Broad Beans – buy from the Chinnor Allotments and Garden Association (CAGA) shed
• Onions, garlic and shallots as sets (nearest for sale is Haddenham)
• Chard and Perpetual Beet – buy from the shed
• Last sowings of lettuce such as Winter Density – buy from the shed 

Some of the sowings will benefit from a covering of fleece and you know where you can get it cheaply

Finally the seed catalogues are dropping through the door. These are best perused with a glass of wine or beer. Suttons are selling an exciting dwarf mulberry.

Happy Gardening

Sweet Pea

Film Night - Demain (Tomorrow)

'Tomorrow' comes to Chinnor Community Pavilion, Tomorrow. If you ever wondered what other communities are doing to improve their environment come along and watch this amazing film. Tickets still available £4 in advance from the Parish Office or £5 on the door.

An acclaimed feel-good documentary which is both thought provoking and inspirational. The film ‘Demain’ (Tomorrow) tells the story of communities who have found positive ways to make their world a better place.

It is a hugely positive, affirming and inspiration film, exploring creative solutions in the fields of food, energy, transport, economics and education. It visits permaculture farms, urban agriculture projects, community-owned renewable projects, local currencies, creative schools, ambitious recycling projects.

Ticket price is £4 in advance from Chinnor Parish Office, by contacting Greening Chinnor at greeningchinnor@gmail.com or by calling 01844 352753. Tickets will be available for £5 on the door. Ticket price includes light refreshments.

Autumn Community Litter Pick

It's back - both Autumn and our marvellous Community Litter Pick. Mark Sunday 15th October in your diary and as usual we will meet up in White's Field car park at 10:00 for a prompt start. We aim to finish no later than 12:30 and many of our walks finish much sooner (depending on the area being picked).

As an addition, we thought we would include some of the public access areas at Old Kiln Lakes. This lovely area is now in good use and unfortunately, as with most popular areas, it is popular for litter louts as well. If you are interested in litter picking this area, join us at White's Field and we will put together a party to work there.

There are no refreshment available on these litter picks so bring some water or light refreshments and garden gloves if you have them All other equipment will be supplied on the morning.

French film phenomenon ‘Tomorrow’ comes to Chinnor

Greening Chinnor is delighted to announce that it will be showing ‘Tomorrow’ (known as ‘Demain’ in France) at the Chinnor Community Pavilion, Station Road, Chinnor, OX39 4PU 6:45 pm for 7:00 pm on Thursday 19 October.

Tomorrow has been a phenomenon in France. Launched December 2015, it has been watched by over 1.5 million people, won ‘Best Documentary’ at the Cesar Awards (the French Oscars), and been shown to communities, schools, at the United Nations, the European Parliament, in board rooms and local governments. A recent European study 'Generation What?' found that the major concern of people between 18 and 34 years old is now ecology, rather than employment, a shift attributed largely to the film.

The film tells the story of its co-producers, Cyril Dion and Melanie Laurent. Cyril Dion is a French activist, author and journalist, who has led an NGO for seven years. In 2012, he discovered a study that was the most alarming yet: ‘Approaching a state shift in the Earth’s biosphere’ published in the journal Nature. It said that humankind could disappear between 2040 and 2100 if we don’t drastically change our way of life. He shared his worries with his friend, actress and filmmaker Mélanie Laurent, who for several years has been involved in his NGO and Greenpeace. Cyril has two children, Mélanie has just had a baby, and they don’t see how they can remain idle faced with this information. With a small film crew, the pair then set off on a road trip around the world in search of solutions.

The film is arranged in 5 chapters, food, energy, economics, democracy and education. Three initiatives are visited in the UK. In 2014, the production team launched a crowdfunding campaign on KissKissBankBank in order to raise €200,000 to finance the film. In just 2 months, the contributions of 10,266 contributors meant that they actually raised €444,390, a record for a film crowdfunder. The film premiered in Paris during COP21.

Dion and Laurent start the film by visiting Totnes, meeting Rob Hopkins and Ben Brangwyn of Transition Network. They also go to Todmorden to learn about Incredible Edible from Pam Warhurst, Mary Clear and Nick Green, and to Bristol to meet Mark Burton and Ciaran Mundy of the Bristol Pound. The rest of their journey takes them to places such as the US, India, Finland, and Denmark.

Tomorrow is a hugely positive, affirming and inspirational film, exploring creative solutions in the fields of food, energy, transport, economics and education. It visits permaculture farms, urban agriculture projects, community-owned renewable projects, local currencies, creative schools, ambitious recycling projects. It has been a huge boost to community-led projects, and is currently on release in 29 other countries, regularly receiving standing ovations, and leading to the formation of many new community projects. It is the perfect antidote to the current sense of global despondency. It also has a great soundtrack, which was released in its own right.

To find out more about the film, see the film’s own website at https://www.demain-lefilm.com/en. You can see a trailer of the film here.

Film Night

Greening Chinnor are pleased to announce their first ever community film night. We are delighted to be able to show an acclaimed feel-good documentary at the Chinnor Community Pavilion, Station Road, Chinnor, OX39 4PU on the 19th October at 7:00 pm. 

This extremely thought provoking film has already been watched by over 1.5 million people, the film ‘Demain’ (Tomorrow) tells the story of communities who have found positive ways to make their world a better place. Hailed as an international phenomenon, the film won France’s prestigious César Award for ‘Best Documentary’ in 2016.

It is a hugely positive, affirming and inspiration film, exploring creative solutions in the fields of food, energy, transport, economics and education. It visits permaculture farms, urban agriculture projects, community-owned renewable projects, local currencies, creative schools, ambitious recycling projects. It has been a huge boost to community-let projects, and is currently on release in 29 other countries, regularly receiving standing ovations, and leading to the formation of many new community projects.

Ticket price is £4 in advance from Chinnor Parish Office or by contacting Greening Chinnor at greeningchinnor@gmail.com or by calling 01844 352753. Tickets will be available for £5 on the door. Ticket price includes light refreshments.

Food Waste

Great news Oxfordshire County Council have announced that you can now use plastic bags to line your food caddy.

You can line your caddy with:

• supermarket carrier bags
• ordinary pedal bin liners
• any other plastic bags, such as those which have contained food items i.e. bread bags, salad bags
• compostable bags
• newspaper
• nothing - the food waste can be simply put into the caddy with no liner at all

What can I put in my food recycling bin?

All your raw and cooked food waste such as leftovers and spoilt food, and including:

• meat and fish - raw and cooked including bones
• all dairy products such as cheese and eggs
• raw and cooked vegetables and fruit
• bread, cakes and pastries
• rice, pasta and beans
• uneaten food from your plates and dishes
• tea bags and coffee grounds
• cooking oil, lard and fats (do not put cooking oil in plastic containers)
• old cut flowers

What cannot go in your food recycling bin?

• Please don't put in any food packaging into the caddy, unless its being used as a liner e.g salad bag, bread bag or cereal packet. For example, if you are removing out of date food from your fridge, please remove the bacon from its packet, or the fruit from its punnet.

To find out what happens to Oxfordshire's food waste after it's collected check out Oxfordshire County Council website.

Incredible Edible Chinnor

Announcement of our new project.

Greening Chinnor wish to help increase local food production by encouraging as many people as possible to grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs. The aim is to encourage our community to grow ‘food for free’ to be picked by everyone by making use of unloved/unused pieces of land.

The initiative has already started with the Seed and Plant swaps and we would like to introduce community herb beds around the village and encourage sponsorship and community ownership.

The intention is to start small but to scale up the project by looking for small pockets of land where ‘community food’ can be grown and shared and where we will have a sizeable output of crops. We would include elements of learning, growing and sharing. The plan is to eventually have a community orchard and allotment or garden.

This project is open to everyone in the community and we would encourage the collaboration of local groups, churches, schools and businesses in this exciting venture. We are in the early stages of the planning and more details will be announced shortly.

If you know of any small 'unloved' areas or would like to get involved in this exciting project, please contact us at greeningchinnor@gmail.com.

Chiltern Society Walk

Alan and Linda will be leading a Chiltern Society Walk on Sunday 25 June. 

Start at 10:00 am – Finish 1:00 pm latest. Meet at Chinnor Hill at point on the left where footpath Chinnor 31 leaves Chinnor/Sprigs Alley road opposite Drifts House on right (OX39 4BS). This will be an easy 5/6 mile circular walk with some moderate climbs. Approximately 100 yards to be walked on a minor road. Explorer Map 171 GR 757991. Come and enjoy some of the best views in the Chilterns.  Please ensure that you bring your own refreshments as there are no cafes/pubs on route.

Plant & Seed Swap

A huge thank you to everyone that supported our 3rd Seed & Plant Swap that we held at the FoE Giant Swap Shop and Green Event on the 6 May.

We had lots of plant donations with over 600 items coming (and going) - many lettuce, tomatoes and beans.  We are pleased to say that we received £77.50 in donations which was 50% more than last year. This will be put to supporting next years swap.

Any plants that remained at the end of the event were donated to Christian Aid.  

We gave away 32 sunflower plants as part of the Children's Sunflower Growing Competition and look forward to seeing how they have grown at the end of August. Any competition entrants must send a photo of their sunflower together with the measurements of height and sunflower size along with name and age of entrant. 

Thermal Imaging 2017

Another successful Thermal Imaging Project! 22 houses and 1 public building were imaged as part of this years project.

By now all participants should have received their thermal imaging report and been asked to complete a feedback survey. This survey is important as it enables us to find out what went right and what went wrong and helps us to continue to improve this free service. Thank you to those who have already completed the survey. A reminder has gone out to any outstanding recipients.

This service is offered free to our community and takes a huge amount of our volunteers time. We estimate that each year we have spent over 180 hours working on it. Not bad for 6 people!

We have opened our list for 2018 and if you would like you house imaged early next year, please email your details to greeningchinnor@gmail.com and we will add you to the list. You will then be contacted later this year to confirm you are still interested.

Plant and Seed Swap Shop 6th May 10:00-14:00 Mill Lane School

Once more Greening Chinnor will be running a plant and seed swap at the Friends of the Earth Giant Swap Shop & Green Living Event at Mill Lane School on 6th May.

It could not be easier – bring a plant, some seeds or garden sundries and swap with something else. Or if you do not have any plants or seeds to swap a small contribution towards the cost of the plants we grow for this event would be appreciated.

After last year’s children’s Giant Bean growing competition, this year we are offering sunflowers plants to children to enable them to take part in this year’s free growing competition.

Community Litter Pick 2nd April

Our thanks to everybody who turned up and made this event another great success. Even the weather was merciful. It was really nice seeing a few new faces giving up some time to help our local community. 

Once again, the only sour note is the continued proliferation of dog waste bags hung from trees and hedges blighting our countryside. Please act like more responsible members of the dog owning community remembering to bag and bin. 

Look out for our next litter picking event which will probably be held in October.

Spring Community Litter Pick

2017 Thermal Imaging Feedback Evening

We will be holding our next Thermal Imaging Feedback and Open Evening on 1st March 2017 at the Village Centre, Chinnor. (View map)

This is the culmination of our 2017 Thermal Imaging Project where Greening Chinnor imaged 23 properties in the community. The evening is an opportunity for householders to have a one-to-one feedback session with one of our interpreters to find out how heat efficient their property is.

Once again, we are pleased to announce that Dale Hoyland will be joining us to give out information and advice.

The evening is also an opportunity for the community to find out about this free service offered by Greening Chinnor volunteers and to see how they and their property could benefit. The list for next year is now open and if you would like to put you property down for this free service, this is a good time to do so as places are limited.

Our thanks to Chinnor Parish Council for sponsoring the open evening.

Seasonal Garden Tips with an Environmental Slant - by Sweet Pea

Some environmental seasonal growing tips
Spring is well on the way but it is not too late to do those last winter jobs. Finish your pruning before the sap really starts to rise and buds start to swell. When you prune your perennial plants you are depriving bugs and pests of their safe shelter in hollow stems. Before we lose the last of the frosts make sure that the digging is finished and rubbish is cleared from your borders.

• Cover rhubarb to force some nice sweet early shoots.
• Buy your seeds so you are ready to go. Remember that you can get a good selection at amazing discounts at the Chinnor Allottment Shop, Sunday mornings from 10:00am onwards.
• Check out early plantings of onions, shallots and garlic to make sure that nothing has been dug up or blown out of the soil
• Put down some cloches and fleece to start to warm the soil ready for early planting
• Check over your seed potatoes, they should be starting to chit nicely. Old egg boxes are a good way to keep them safe.
• Pigeons are starting to get hungry so keep your tender brassicas covered

Now is a good time to think about leaving a little area clear for wildlife. This means not being too keen to mow it and particularly don't dig up those early dandelions flowers. They are invaluable food for bees at a time when they are most vulnerable. It may also be a good idea to put up a couple of 'bug hotels' which could just be a few short lengths of bamboo tied together.

Good Growing - Sweet Pea

Spring Community Litter Pick

Our Spring Community Pick will take place on Sunday 2nd April.  As usual, we will meet at White's Field Car Park, Mill Lane at 10:00, where we will split up into groups to litter pick footpaths and green spaces in Chinnor.

There are varying lengths of footpaths to be cleared so if you can only spare an hour, there will be a walk for you. We plan to finish by 12:30 latest.

For further information check out our news & events page.

Happy New Year

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all our volunteers and supporters. As always, without you, Greening Chinnor would not have been able to achieve as much in the community.