FOOD from the SKY

The roof’s life in May in photos for your enjoyment and ours! :-)

azulvaleriethome — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:38:38 +0000

Our Bees have died last winter…

azulvaleriethome — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:03:12 +0000

Sadly, the colony on the roof is no longer there. It wasn’t big when the winter started, making its chances for survival small. However, I am still not sure what actually happened and what are the causes for the collapse. One of the reasons could be connected to the varroa mite infection. The colony was infected as the majority of the colonies worldwide. The infection, however, did not seem to be significant. As a precaution, in summer I had sprinkled them two or three times with fine sugar. It is one of the methods used in natural beekeeping to keep the mite population low. Bees will rub with each other to get rid of the sugar powder and in doing so parasites would be removed from the other bees’ bodies. In September, however, it seemed more evident that the treatment hadn’t worked. The mite population had increased and some worrying collateral symptoms could be seen on some bees. A stronger natural treatment was given to them in December and the colony was monitored to make sure that mite population would not grow further. In February the colony had shrunk dramatically and probably already gone, or gone short after. I didn’t open the hive until recently because of the cold weather, in the event that some bees were still alive. What I saw when I eventually opened the hive made me think that the bees may have died for starvation. The honey still in store was far from the place the small colony had occupied. If it’s too cold bees may not move from where they locate within the hive in winter even if they are hungry. The lesson, I think, is that warning signs must be carefully interpreted. It may not be sufficient to wait and see what happens and respond to it. In order to help bees getting through their difficulties, beekeepers must look at clues and plan well in advance strategies to support the colony’s livelihood. I would like to start a new colony on the roof, hoping that this experience has sharpened my skills. There are a few difficulties that need to be addressed. So let’s keep fingers crossed.

swarm in June

Our next Seed2Seed workshop – all about Bees and other urban pollinators…with #Brigit Strawbridge

azulvaleriethome — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:09:51 +0000

We’re very excited about the next Seed2Seed Urban Food Growing session with #Brigit Strawbridge!

On Saturday 11th May, on the rooftop of Thornton’s Budgens Crouch End,… Brigit will be talking to us about bees and other urban pollinators, how to identify them and their habitats, and we’ll also learn how to create a wild urban flower meadow.

Brigit is a writer, campaigner and leading voice on the importance of biodiversity. Her workshops are inspiring, informative and very popular! http://beestrawbridge.blogspot.co.uk/p/talks.html

We have 10 places left – so please email katie@foodfromthesky.org.uk if you’d like to come.

Time: 10am – 3pm

Price: £60 (concessions available for 2 people involved in urban community projects and who can pass on the knowledge to others)

More info and for booking: Contact Katie: katie@foodfromthesky.org.uk http://foodfromthesky.org.uk/2013/03/20/seed2seed-2013-full-programme-registration-doc-now-available/

Free workshop on Non Violent Communication Tuesday 16th April

azulvaleriethome — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:05:56 +0000

What do you want to experience in communication?

Do you want to live in criticism and blame of self and/or others or do you want to identify needs and longings in self and others and communicate from there?

The challenge is the same for all of us and it consists of this:

We tend to criticise and blame others when things are not as we wish; and

We tend to hear critcism and blame in what others say which stimulates pain in us

Our intention for the next few workshops we are offering here at FOOD from the SKY (more dates coming soon) is to grow our capacity to communicate from a compassionate place rather than a defensive or attacking place.

We are very excited to offer a Free Non Violent Communication workshop on the roof for apprentices, volunteers and local people. It is part of growing our People care ethic at FOOD from the SKY and create a ripple of good will.

Join us for a 2pm start on Tuesday 16th April. We will aim to finish by 4pm.

We will explore NVC and compassionate communication, practice in pairs and learn together the art of Non Violent Communication.
Facilitated by Azul founder of FOOD from the SKY. Please le me know if you would like to come by emailing me your name and phone number: azul@foodfromthesky.org.uk

Seed2Seed 2013 FULL PROGRAMME & REGISTRATION DOC now available!

azulvaleriethome — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:03:16 +0000

Yes we are excited to be running our third year of Seed2Seed 2013 – Foundation course in Urban Life&Food Growing starts this Saturday 23rd!

You can come on the full 9 months journey or book individual sessions – seats are limited to 15 for each session:

CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROGRAMME: —> seed2seed 2013 – Programme and tutors

CLICK HERE FOR BOOKING®ISTRATION: —>seed2seed reg form2013

Azul-Valerie Thome
Mobile: +44 (0)7765 257 517

Jack our urban food grower on the roof will be teaching the next session: Here is what he says:

“The first Seed2Seed course this Saturday will be focused on understanding how to create the right conditions for our beloved plants to grow and flourish in urban gardens, balconies and windowsills. We will be reflecting on how the natural elements of sun, water and wind manifest themselves in our growing space and how this can be worked with and celebrated through our choice of plants and growing design. We will be delving deep into the world of soil and understanding how to nurture soil life to promote strong and healthy plant growth as well as beginning our seed journey by exploring germination and sowing a variety of seeds to take home and grow.”

Jack the Grower!

We’re selling plants… for you to harvest and eat at home!

azulvaleriethome — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:57:06 +0000

Plants for sale grown on the roof of Thorntons Budgens of Crouch End

We are very excited to let you know that we are selling plants that have been grown on the roof. They are on sale in Thornton’s Budgens of Crouch End for you to take home and harvest your self!

A full list of future available plants will be shared very soon so you can order from Jack what you need.

Happy eating and growing and eating again….:-)

Azul and Jack and team…

FREE TASTER for Seed2Seed on Sat 2nd March 2pm :-) !

azulvaleriethome — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:30:30 +0000

Exciting News! We are offering a FREE TASTER session to give you a flavour of the whole journey of Seed2Seed, visit the roof and meet some of the tutors:

Sat 2nd March.

Start at 2pm , finishing at 4pm, on our roof!.

Please let me know if you are coming: azul@foodfromthesky.org.uk

We look forward to meeting you and answer your questions. You can enrol and book on the day as well if you wish. Azul

Information abour Seed2Seed course on Urban Food Growing: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4983076516

A warm welcome to Chrissy and Ed the new apprentices!

azulvaleriethome — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:28:33 +0000

Jack and I are really excited to welcome Chrissy and Ed, the new apprentices of FOOD from the SKY! Chrissy and Ed will learn and grow with Jack and all the directors for the next 9 months. They will be on the roof 2 days a week and will join some of the Saturdays as well as some of the sessions of our course Seed2Seed. Our intention here at FOOD from the SKY is to share our knowledge and experience, questions and growth with them so they can bring to the world their gifts and desires as a budding urban food grower. I would also like to thank all the other many applicants who we hope to see and grow with on the roof this year. The great response we had for these positions are a real sign that there is a need for more urban food growers in London which is a very encouraging and reassuring evidence!

And now Chrissy and Ed introducing themselves in their own words.

Chrissy – 2013 FOOD from the SKY apprentice

Azul and Jack asked me write a few words about why I want them to help me gain
all the skills and knowledge I need to be a successful urban farmer. Given that
the wealth of opportunity provided by the FFTS apprenticeship programme has
virtually been my sole topic of conversation lately, I thought this would be a
fairly easy task. However condensing thoughts that could easily fill an entire
dissertation into something website and facebook friendly is no easy feat. Most
importantly, I think our lives should be geared towards the pursuit of personal
health and happiness, as well as that of our loved ones, that of their loved
ones, and that of future generations to come. And I feel that how I spend my
days, many of which are dedicated to ‘work’, is how I spend my life. It follows
then that what I choose to do for work should actively serve this pursuit of
health and happiness, rather than serving as a means to an end, as has been the
case with many of my previous jobs. For me, growing food on roofs in the middle
of London meets these requirements. Rain or shine.

Ed – FOOD from the SKY apprentice 2013

Ed a very warm welcome to you:

My first plant was a chili grown in a empty frying oil can pinched from outside
a chicken shop on the Walworth Road. When it grew bright red fruit I got the bug
and started scavenging empty cans, boxes and tetrapaks everywhere I went. Soon
I’d filled my house and garden full of planters, made a home for my worms and
started building a plastic bottle greenhouse. I’ve grown pea shoots in packing
crates, spinach in pallets and a tomato in a trumpet.

Last summer I saw Azul speak at Embercombe about her project Food From The Sky and was
immediately inspired to join in and help make London a more self-sufficient
city. I love the simplicity of putting old green potatoes, spat out pips and
discarded seeds out in the mud and watching them grow into food. I’m really
excited to join the team as an apprentice grower and am dreaming about one day
starting my own project in South London.

It feels good to see the FOOD from the SKY community grow in health and strength!

Azul, Jack, Sarah, Andrew and Silvio

Our fantastic urban food growing course, Seed2Seed 2013, is ready to take your bookings

azulvaleriethome — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:17:41 +0000

OUR FREE TASTER SESSION SATURDAY 2nd March

2pm to 4pm, all welcome!

Seed2Seed 2013 – Co-run and hosted by Azul, Jack and Natalie

Foundation course in

Urban Life&Food Growing

A unique opportunity to learn about food growing from seed to seed and go on a real journey from March to Nov one Saturday a Month. From Permaculture to Bioynamic…Biodiversity to Beauty…Seed saving to Preserving in very small or big growing spaces with passionate tutors in a thriving community at an amazing venue – on the roof of a supermarket!

Do you want to learn how to grow food and live in the City with a balcony or a garden? Do you want to learn how to grow organically and create an environment for bees and butterflies with other like minded people? Do you want to go on an exciting year journey learning different methods to increase your yield (Permaculture, Biodynamic) while improving the space you live in …without costing the Earth?

We are so excited here at FOOD from the SKY to offer Seed2Seed: Foundation course in Urban Food Growing in 2013 for our third year running! BOOKING: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4983076516

‘A great way to learn about the growing year-whatever your level of experience and whatever your available growing space. A wonderful overview of what you need to know and an opportunity to get a taster of different but complimentary growing ‘philosophies’. A lovely way to learn and to share with like minded people.’ ‘The way we learned through sharing and supporting each other.’ Wendy Rowan – Devine Chocolate

DATES : One Sat a month between March and Nov 2013:

March 23rd – Soil, Sun and Water, Planning and Planting by Jack Astbury (FFTS head grower)
April 13th – Growing in small containers cont from March by Jack Astbury (FFTS head grower)
May 11th – Bees and other pollinators by Brigit Strawbridge
June 8th – Intro to Permaculture by Claire White (TBC)
July 13th – Beauty&Art in Sustainability by Azul-Valerie Thome
August 10th – Plan your winter growing space
Sept 14th – Intro to Biodynamic in the City by Spencer
Oct 12th – Preserving and collecting seeds by Peter Brinch and Nicole Freris (TBC)
Nov 9th – Plan your next year by Jack Astbury (FFTS head grower)

TIME: 10:00 to 15:00

LOCATION: On the beautiful and pioneering roof top of Thornton’s Budgens, Crouch End, London N88DU.

FEES Fees include 9 sessions, course work, free organic seeds and access to a vibrant network of London food growers and seeders of change. Each course is limited to 15 people.

Full course: £450 for the full year (£50/day)

The course is a step by step journey through urban food growing and so students are encouraged to attend the full course . If this isn’t possible, a drop-in option is available:

Per module: £60/day
Capital Growth Co-ordinators: £360/year (must book for the whole year)
Concessions x 3 spaces: £270/year or £30 /day (unemployed/those earning under £20K)

BOOKINGS: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4983076516

QUESTIONS Contact Azul : azul@foodfromthesky.org.uk

FAQs We’ve answered some of your frequently asked questions at the bottom of this page.

Course Outline:

Month	Theme	Content outline
March/April	Soil, Sun, Water and Container Basics.Planning, fertilisers	Learn what makes good container soil Mix compost and sow seeds to take home Consider sun and wind and how it affects what you can grow Learn about natural fertilisers and how to make them, including comfrey tea and wormeries. Make a potting mix and learn to transplant seedlings. Find out about soil life and how to nurture it. Make a growing plan for your own space.
May	Bees and other pollinators	Learn and identify different urban pollinators and their habits and habitats Learn about how to create a wild urban flower meadows Learn about natural ways to prevent pests and disease, including rotation & companion planting.
June	Permaculture	Understand the founding ethics and principles of permaculture Discover how working with nature, you can increase productivity, while reducing work and waste. See how permaculture tools can be applied to your own life to creatively solve problems. Learn about forest gardens, as one application of permaculture.
July	Beauty in Sustainability	Create a beautiful growing space using recycled items and natural forms. Learn about structures to maximise space and yields, including self watering containers.
August	Plan your winter growing space	Review of growing year so far, analyse success/failures. Plan your winter growing activities.
September	Biodynamic in the City	Find out how biodynamic techniques can improve the quality, taste and quantity of your produce – including the influence of the moon and the constellations.
October	Preserving and seed saving.	Learn the theory and practise of seed saving. Find out about different ways to preserve your harvests, including bottling and jams.
November	Plan your next year	Content will be tailored to your group’s needs and may include: Planning your 2014 growing season. How to engage your community in your project. Ongoing support and networking.

SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED :

Are the classes aimed at total beginners? Or at people with some prior gardening knowledge?

CLASSES ARE AIMED AT BEGINNERS AND PEOPLE WITH SOME KNOWLEDGE. THE MIXING OF BOTH WILL INCREASE THE RESSOURCES AVAILABLE FOR ALL AND ENRICH THE EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS.

Is the aim to enable the participants to create a garden in their own backyard, or is it more about working/growing things in the Food From The Sky garden?

IT IS TO ENABLE PEOPLE WITH VERY LITTLE SPACES, ROOFS, BALCONIES TO GROW LOTS OF FOOD WHERE THEY ARE. THE COURSE WILL PROVIDE HOME PROJECTS SO YOU CAN DEVELOP YOUR OWN GROWING AREA WHILE DOING THE COURSE

Do you have to pay upfront, or once you’ve signed up can you pay per session?

PAYING UP FRONT WOULD BE HELPFUL. HOWEVER WE ARE AWARE THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE SO WE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO EXPLORE PAYMENT PLANS THAT MEETS YOUR NEEDS AND OURS.

Finally where do the sessions take place?

THE SESSIONS TAKE PLACE ON THE ROOF OF BUDGENS. SOME SESSIONS WILL BE INDOORS AND MANY MORE OUTDOORS. For BOOKING and ENQUIRIES: Please contact Azul: azul@foodfromthesky.org.uk

WHAT SOME OF LAST YEAR’S STUDENTS SAY ABOUT IT:

‘A lovely garden on the roof of a supermarket! That also runs a food growing course over the year to learn about how to grow food for yourself in whatever space you have . A lovely place, lovely people, inspiring activities. Highlights: All the different lovely people. The various teachers/visitors and the others in the group. Getting our hands into soil, being outside. The practical aspects that linked back to theory, in general across the sessions.’ Geraldine Gilbert, Network coordinator/Food team, Forum for the Future

‘An amazing project and group of people that care about the health of us and the planet and are actually doing something about it. The course gives you a broad understanding of how to take the first steps in growing organically regardless of the size of your growing space. It is underpinned by principles of permaculture which adds an extra dimension that makes it not only learning about growing food but also about how you want to live your life.’ Susie Gill – Personal Assistant for CEOs.

‘Inspiring, opening lots of new doors to different aspects of food growing; going at a natural pace through the growing year, great fun and opportunity to learn with lovely people, lots of practical learning for my own growing.’ ‘Being on the roof, in the middle of a city, yet close to the earth.’ ‘A journey of discovery. All you need to know to start growing your own food. Fabulous fun. Learnt so much and an introduction to many growing systems.’ Angela Hockley – Editorial Manager

‘Inspiring , informative, fun, I learned a lot easily and with very supportive teachers’. Gillian Edwards

‘Fun, informative and an incredible diverse introduction to the world of Permaculture. I liked meeting other like minded people wanting to learn more about permaculture and working through the different elements of it together.’ Ben Yeomans

‘The course SEED2SEED got me on a gardening and nature adventure. Each session revealed a new insight into soil, plants and our connection to it. It was a lot of fun nd just love being on the roof’! Julia Porter

‘Amazing! Educational, informative, inspiring, therapeutic. The quality of the teachers is great’. Sarah Tabak

‘Inspiring, thought provoking, educational, whole new world, lovely people, learning from the group. I loved every second f it, amazing!’ Lou

‘A great way to learn about the growing year-whatever your level of experience and whatever your available growing space. A wonderful overview of what you need to know and an opportunity to get a taster of different but complimentary growing ‘philosophies’. A lovely way to learn and to share with like minded people.’ ‘The way we learned through sharing and supporting each other.’ Wendy Rowan – Devine Chocolate

BOOKING for SEED2SEED 2013: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4983076516

Team effort – a practical and beautiful climber support

One of Brigits photographs of a beautiful Early Nesting Bumblebee

Join us and learn about growing food and life! Seed2Seed 2013 is open for bookings

azulvaleriethome — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 09:24:44 +0000

As we have done for the last 3 years – We are offering a FREE TASTER session to give you a flavour of the whole journey of Seed2Seed: Sat 2nd March. Arrive at 2pm , finishing at 4pm, on our roof!. Please let me know: Azul@foodfromthesky.org.uk

What is Seed2Seed?