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New farm subsidy scheme declared a win for wildlife
A trial subsidy scheme that rewards farmers for boosting biodiversity on their land has been extended after yielding positive results for nature.
The two-year pilot was carried out on farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and Yorkshire. According to Natural England and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, which led the trial, participating farms had 43 per cent more seed-bearing plants than nearby sites that claim existing subsidies. Such plants provide a rich food source for birds in winter.
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Pesticides are turning gardens into toxic environments
Pesticides pollute the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we consume.
Gardens are for growing in, but also for picnics, games, sunbathing and sipping drinks in. Why would you want to use anything that is sold with instructions to ‘Keep out of reach of children, wash hands thoroughly after use, wear protective gloves and eye/face protection’?
Gardens should be places where people, pets and wildlife can exist without being exposed to toxic chemicals. The risks associated with pesticides are far too plentiful, meaning that the products we buy from our supermarkets are doing more harm than good. We are backing the call for large supermarkets to end the sale of pesticide products. We want to ensure gardens remain natural habitats where life can thrive and garden users are not exposed to potential harm.
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FUNDRAISER FOR TREES & LAND
We were shocked a week ago to read in the media that the Govt had reneged on its promise to support a huge national tree planting scheme. Tree nurseries have raised an extra native oak pendunculate (quercus robur) 750,000 saplings on site for the scheme but given the circumstances may now be forced to incinerate them. The saplings which are up to two years old require care to grow.
The news of potential environmental destruction on this scale is abhorrent.
We at XRR, the rewilding wing of Extinction Rebellion, want to raise funds to buy as many saplings as we can and ultimately find land to plant them in the Autumn, when the tree planting season begins again. This follows an unprecedented response from individuals and groups who have already pledged to buy small batches and are finding land.
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Community Food Gardens
Grow Where You Are is a team of veganic farmers and food justice activists in Atlanta doing revolutionary work in the areas of food security, ecological restoration, vegan outreach, and animal-free growing techniques. Since 2009, Grow Where You Are has been empowering individuals and families to improve their personal food security by planting backyard and community food gardens. These gardens can drastically increase families’ access to fresh fruits and vegetables in urban food deserts.
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As humans continue to rapidly expand the scope of their domination of nature – bulldozing and burning down forests and other natural areas, wiping out species, and breaking down ecosystem functions – a growing number of influential scientists and conservationists think that protecting half of the planet in some form is going to be key to keeping it habitable.
One of the major reasons for adoption of these extreme preservation goals is a 2019 report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which found that more than 1 million species are at risk of extinction. Conducted by hundreds of researchers around the world, the study is considered the most comprehensive analysis of the state of the world’s biodiversity ever.
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Windowsill Gardening
Don’t worry if you haven’t got a garden or allotment! For a surprising amount of food can be produced indoors, vegan organically, either on your windowsill or on a well-lit kitchen surface. The following plants will all do well indoors.
Salad greens
These are easy to grow and can be produced all the year round indoors, ever so cheaply. So, the next time you buy fruit and vegetables, save any empty plastic punnets as these are ideal for this purpose. You will need to line the base of the punnet with several layers of paper kitchen towel and this should be dampened with water before sprinkling on the seeds. Try using rape, mustard or cress seeds which should all grow well.
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Veganic Gardening Tips for April
- Wait for the soil to warm before sowing outdoors
- Add a spring feed of homemade compost to boost the soil
- Remove weeds, keeping a few to flower for pollinators
*We are referring you to Garden Organic's excellent growing know how but please be aware they recommend techniques that are not always veganic in regards to fertility or pest and disease.
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Comfrey, the wonder herb
Many years ago Lawrence Hill wrote a book on Comfrey which led to a new appreciation of this herb. Long used medicinally and known colloquially as “Knitbone”, his research showed that it is an invaluable aid to soil fertility.
A comfrey bed will last about 20 years. It should be in a sunny position, and will benefit from a dressing of compost in winter, although mine seems to do well and thrives on neglect. Once established, you may cut it down to about five centimetres above the ground about three or four times a year.
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The world has 60 years of topsoil left
Topsoil is the layer of soil that contains the greatest concentration of nutrients, organic matter and microorganisms. It is vital for maintaining a healthy root base and plant growth, enabling farmers to till and produce their food crops. To generate only 3 cm (1.2 in) of topsoil requires between 500 and 1,000 years through natural processes.
"Soils are the basis of life," said Maria-Helena Semedo, deputy director general of natural resources at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). "Ninety-five percent of our food comes from the soil."
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The Maine Farmer Saving the World’s Rarest Heirloom Seeds
On the top shelf, Bonsall said, were more than 1,100 varieties of peas. On the rows below were barley, beans, carrots, cucumbers, melons, squash, sunflowers, and more. At one time, Bonsall told me, he had what he believed to be the world’s most diverse collection of rutabaga seeds, along with the second-largest assemblage of Jerusalem artichoke varieties and world-class caches of radishes and leeks. He has donated specimens from his collection to researchers at the USDA-administered National Plant Germplasm System, sold them to seed companies like Fedco, and distributed them worldwide through print and online platforms, some of which he’s been instrumental in launching. His work, which he calls the Scatterseed Project, has been covered in multiple books and one Emmy-nominated PBS documentary, and it’s earned him something like icon status within the seed-saving subculture.
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Back issues of Growing Green International Magazine now freely available
In the last few weeks there has been a surge in interest in ‘growing your own’ both on social and in mainstream media. In response to this VON has decided to make all of the back issues of Growing Green International Magazine freely available to the public (rather than just members) until the end of June 2020, to help encourage more people to grow fresh fruit and veg during this challenging period.
Here is link to the back issues: https://veganorganic.net/free-download-of-all-issues-of-growing-green-international/
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The Vegan Organic Network is the only organization in the UK working for vegan food to be grown the veganic way.
Registered charity no. 1080847
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Please give us feedback and let us know if you would like to include anything in the next newsletter.
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