a tree for a landlord, a tree for an office

We should all be so lucky.

what an english sheep farmer has to say about rural america

“But for my entire life, my own country has apathetically accepted an American model of farming and food retailing, mostly through a belief that it was the way of progress and the natural course of economic development. As a result, America’s future is the default for us all.

It is a future in which farming and food have changed and are changing radically — in my view, for the worse. Thus I look at the future with a skeptical eye. We have all become such suckers for a bargain that we take the low prices of our foodstuffs for granted and are somehow unable to connect these bargain-basement prices to our children’s inability to find meaningful work at a decently paid job.”

– James Rebanks in the New York Times op-eds last week explaining why the stakes are so high, but missing all the reasons to hope… (This is the part where we say, YOU, Greenhorns! From your draft-powered farms to your new resilient corporative models, there are a lot of new energy in rural America. And, thank you!)

Disillusioned by a cultural story of consumption and alienation, a newly married couple are called to action. Carrying with them their unborn child, they embark on a year-long journey around the UK, searching for the seeds of an alternative culture and with it hope for the future.

we the uncivilized: A Life Story resonates deeply with our sick and nagging sensation that our world of strip malls, fossil fuels, and convenience is not nourishing– in any sense of the word– to the people who live in it. The film is a “grassroots documentary project” that speaks to and with activists, artists, permaculturalists, and others seeking alternative ways of living with each other and within nature.

The film has just wrapped up a year-long tour, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have a chance to see it! Organize a screening in your own community. We’d LOVE to see this come to the US.

crowdfunder: the pig revolution

Farms Not Factories is a small UK-based nonprofit that advocates for ethical farming practices and meat consumption. With 15 days to go, they hope to raise £10,000 “to create and publicise a series of short films featuring celebrity chefs making a delicious pork dish while explaining why serving high welfare meat is so important.” Farmers who provide the pork explain how they raise their happy and healthy pigs. Donate to their campaign here!

 

 

can you learn to fish for free?

These are pretty cool programs subsidized by the british government. Participation is open to anyone willing to go to the UK.

It leaves us with one pertinent question. What if the USDA provided free jobs training for young farmers?

know someone who knows someone in London that wants to save a farm ?

OgranicLea, a very awesome workers collective near London in the Lea Valley put out the following call for help on their blog:

“A coalition of growers is working with Haringey Council to explore taking on Wolves Lane, a 2 acre former plant nursery in north London. The goal is to turn the site into a centre/hub for community food enterprise and prevent the loss of the extensive rare urban glasshouse infrastructure.

The lead partner is Organiclea, an award winning and internationally renowned workers’ co-operative with over 15 years of experience doing similar work in a neighbouring London borough. They have a 12 acre site nearby and are currently supporting new groups of growers to take on sites under their farmstart program.

The aim is for an initiative that grows and distributes sustainably produced food to local residents and businesses; engages a wide range of people in learning and skills activities, and health and well-being benefits; establishes itself as a centre for promoting healthy eating; and offers space for community groups and social enterprises to run activities that benefit the community.

A presentation is being given to the council on 10th October and the pitch would be greatly enhanced if we could find seed funding of £20k. Given the tight turn around of this bid, we are seeking this from private donors and trusts; this money could be given as a gift or a ten year loan, if preferred.

Please contact Brian Kelly on 07816 930585 or brian@organiclea.org.uk if you want to find out more.”

funeral for an extinct species

A cool theater group called Feral Theatre produces rad-eco-theater pieces, and maybe they hit pretty close to home…

position at cooking school in shanagarry, county cork, ireland

Position Vacant

Ballymaloe Cookery School is looking for a new staff member to join our team in a varied, exciting role.   The successful applicant will be expected to be flexible, willing to pitch in wherever necessary, though they will have defined duties.

We are looking for someone who ideally has attended our 12 Week Certificate Course or a number of our short courses and therefore has an understanding of how the school works, its ethos and its staff.  However any applicant will be considered.

This is a varied role consisting of

• some general office work including answering the telephone, dealing with queries and contacting potential students for bookings.
• Social Media participation.  Taking an active interest in our presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and anything else that might arrive!
• Writing on our blog.  We have lots and lots of things happening which need to be written about on our website.
• Some marketing duties selling cookery courses and team building packages.
• Getting out and about to take photographs of what is happening with the farm, gardens, students and staff.
• Dealing with Students and Members of the public in a hospitality role.
• Some evening events as needed.

We will be very interested in working with an applicant’s prior experience to put it to full benefit.

Some of the following criteria would be helpful.

• Experience managing and communicating over multiple Social Media channels.
• Experience of general office administration.
• Some experience in a Marketing / Sales Role
• Proven ability to write and find different styles.
• Hospitality experience in Hotel or Restaurant.
• Experience working at an open estate where public are welcome
• Bachelor Degree or Similar.
• Some experience working in a kitchen
• Experience working in a horticultural environment

Ballymaloe Cookery School is a world class brand, teaching students from around the globe how to cook and how to treat the food they eat and produce for others with respect.

We are continuing to strengthen our position as a innovative and leading cookery school but also continue to branch out into other areas making the Ballymaloe Cookery School a must visit destination for anyone interested in Food who is travelling to Ireland.

Most likely you will need to already have visa to work in the EU before applying.

Help can be given to find accommodation in the area for the successful applicant.

Please send CV / Resume with cover letter explaining why you would be interested in the position to Toby at toby@cookingisfun.ie or by return email.

We will try to respond to everyone who applies but may only be able to contact successful applicants.

Toby Allen
Ballymaloe Cookery School

UK folks: screening of the solution to pollution is life in cambridge, uk on august 18

The really fabulous feminist film buffs over at Reel Women host a monthly short film night that promotes the work of female filmmakers. On August 18, they are showing a night of films about food, and as part of this event, will be screening the Greenhorns’s own The Solution to Pollution is Life.” We are psyched and honored to be a part of this. If you’re in the Cambridge area, come see us at the Cambridge Art House on the 18th from 21:00-23:00!

awesome HERB MAYONNAISE farmer entrepreneur

hot stuff: from timber to tide

From Timber To Tide from Pixillion on Vimeo.

street goat: an exemplary crowd-funding campaign

Street Goat – Crowd Funding Campaign Film from Joanne Barker on Vimeo.

The money’s all been pledged and raised, but this sure was a great idea and a fabulous video.

farm hack UK

Farm Hack 2015 from Sylvie Planel on Vimeo.

a fast food alternative

The Local Food Takeaway Project needs your help to make their ethically sourced and nutritious fast food alternative a reality. The Project is Crowdfunding to raise the necessary funds to re-purpose an old catering vehicle into a space for educational workshops and pop-up restaurants. Forget supersizing your fries, put that money toward adding local food to the takeaway menu. Find out more HERE.

keeping orchards alive and well

Check out the rad folks at the Urban Orchard Project, based out of the UK. They are an organization devoted to creating, restoring, and celebrating fruıt orchards in London and beyond. The video above provides a quick lesson on pruning old fruıit trees, and they provide more invaluable advice on their webpage.

Remnant Orchards, or what remains of traditional orchards, are valuable and often overlooked resources. They often have high genetic and bio diversity; can serve as food sources to urban populations; foster local character; and help make city spaces more pleasurable to inhabit. The Urban Orchard Project works wıth communities and activists to restore the health of these orchards by extending the life of old trees while newly-planted trees become established. This has the compound effect of providing continuous and long-lasting habitat for wildlife and producing food for human consumption.