Improving your Ish in 2010

[sleepyowl]

I'm hoping to set up a project for the West Midlands LGBT community creating awareness of green issues. So far so good as I have managed to get on board the assistance of a very helpful ally in Rev Chris Dowd (t'is a strange concept that the leaders of the Christian & Pagan groups get on but we do). I do have plans on what I want to do, what events & workshops I want to put on but have to see how it goes. Watch this space I shall update as the plans evolve.

[ElizabethBinary]

I'm hoping to set up a project for the West Midlands LGBT community creating awareness of green issues. So far so good as I have managed to get on board the assistance of a very helpful ally in Rev Chris Dowd (t'is a strange concept that the leaders of the Christian & Pagan groups get on but we do). I do have plans on what I want to do, what events & workshops I want to put on but have to see how it goes. Watch this space I shall update as the plans evolve.

I don't see why pagans and christians can't get along as leaders but I'm amazed you're able to have a large enough community for LGBT, Pagan AND green awareness. Heck, just trying for LGBT in this area I found a whopping once a month party and a lesbian tennis night. I bet if I tried for Pagan and LGBT, the Venn diagram of that wouldn't even touch. I'm impressed, though. I hope to read more.

[Flo]

Looking at the weather, one of my ish improvements for 2010 should include getting a camping stove. No power cuts so far but if there are - I have a problem. No - can't do wood or coal here as it's council/social housing property so I'd better do something about it.

[Milims]

Hi Cesar - why not pop into the introductions bit and tell us something about yourself

[sleepyowl]

I don't see why pagans and christians can't get along as leaders but I'm amazed you're able to have a large enough community for LGBT, Pagan AND green awareness. Heck, just trying for LGBT in this area I found a whopping once a month party and a lesbian tennis night. I bet if I tried for Pagan and LGBT, the Venn diagram of that wouldn't even touch. I'm impressed, though. I hope to read more.

There are only 2 LGBT Pagan groups in Britain, I just happened to be badgered into running one of them 5 years ago. The green thing thing was just that I know of cooking groups, knitting groups, outdoor groups & people with allotments on the LGBT scene. If you can't find any groups like that, I really recommend starting your own, advertise in any local LGBT venues or local LGBT press, try creating a facebook group, you could end up with a pleasant surprise & make new friends with similar interests.

[ElizabethBinary]

I don't see why pagans and christians can't get along as leaders but I'm amazed you're able to have a large enough community for LGBT, Pagan AND green awareness. Heck, just trying for LGBT in this area I found a whopping once a month party and a lesbian tennis night. I bet if I tried for Pagan and LGBT, the Venn diagram of that wouldn't even touch. I'm impressed, though. I hope to read more.

There are only 2 LGBT Pagan groups in Britain, I just happened to be badgered into running one of them 5 years ago. The green thing thing was just that I know of cooking groups, knitting groups, outdoor groups & people with allotments on the LGBT scene. If you can't find any groups like that, I really recommend starting your own, advertise in any local LGBT venues or local LGBT press, try creating a facebook group, you could end up with a pleasant surprise & make new friends with similar interests.

Hmmm not a bad idea. :D There's no real local LGBT scenes, as far as I know. One pub that has gay night and, like I said, lesbian tennis night... and no magazines. Boo. I'll see what I can dig up, though. I could just be very blind.

[Harasimow]

Well ive taken the first big step to ishness by getting an allotment back in oct. Ive also bought myself a few books on selfsufficency namely seymours complete book, seymores garden book and the bible. Also recorded the entire 1,2,3 series of the "good life" off GOLD which is giving me inspiration. In 2010 my main aim is to grow as much veg as possible, to eat my own produce right through the winter months (and of course the other 3 seasons), and to do more foraging. This selfsufficency lark is more addictive than nicotine.

Whats the next BIG step to take i wonder? Either purchasing a field, learning to make clothes or making energy I think. Will be a while before I do them things though.

Belatted happy new year may 2010 be more ISH to everyone!

[indy]

I have the field but those of you that have kept up with me klnpw that I'm clearing 5 acres of brambles, its such a backbreaking job it feels never ending. Am hoping to have finished clearing the brambles by the winter of 2010. Thats my goal anyway.I have so many plans and its very frustrating sometimes not to be able to do what I want yet. However, I come on here for a bit of escapism when I'm sick of the sight of brambles

[Flo]

Indy you need a friendly goat to help you. That will clear the top growth leaving you just to dig out the roots. Get a goat or three on loan for a while.

Thinking on from being self sufficient in herbal tea, I'm going to see if I can do more herb growing as it seems silly to have an allotment and a shelf of shop bought containers of dried herbs. Something not right somewhere there.

[Harasimow]

I have the field but those of you that have kept up with me klnpw that I'm clearing 5 acres of brambles, its such a backbreaking job it feels never ending. Am hoping to have finished clearing the brambles by the winter of 2010. Thats my goal anyway.I have so many plans and its very frustrating sometimes not to be able to do what I want yet. However, I come on here for a bit of escapism when I'm sick of the sight of brambles

How did you go about getting a 5 acre field and how much did it cost if you dont mind me asking?

[indy]

It is the remains of my grandparents farm and it is my lifelong restoration project, 'the phoenix is rising from the ashes' albeit slower than I would have liked. Has cost me a lot of money, blood, sweat and tears literally but wouldn't change it for the world

[indy]

I did think about goats but thought the brambles might be a bit much for them, they are very thick and very tall, we are looking at 15 years unchecked growth in some parts, i'm 4'11 which I know is small but most of the brambles tower over me. Would goats cope with that?

[Flo]

The goats I knew could eat the household washing off the line (sheets, woollies, trousers) so I don't think it would hurt to try some not too gentilely raised ones on your patch Indy.

[bonniethomas06]

I will second the goats - I have personally witnessed a goat chew off the entire soft top of a (very expensive and sadly not mine) sportscar.

[Keaniebean]

I'm going to try desperately hard on the buy nothing new this year, I've not done too badly, although I have bought socks, as its been hard trying to find good second hand ones and I'm not sure I'd really want them .

i also want to get more out of my garden replacing unuseful hedging with things like filberts and dwarf fruit trees. It's only a tiny garden but I want it to work as hard for me as I do for it.

making clothes is another thing I am determined to do more of this year. The youngest is off to nursery now so I will have more time on my hands