The Trough

Andrew and the homemade fig tool

On my way to the studio this morning I noticed a man holding a stick to the crown of a tree, gently twisting it. Andrew was harvesting gorgeous, bloated and ripe green figs.

His stick was a home made and well used length of timber with a securely tied fig sized plastic cup at one end. You place the cup under the fig and twist until it comes loose.

fig tool in action

I wasn’t convinced that these would be unlike the milky and unripe nuggets I usually come across, but I persevered in asking for a taste. The Cypriot way is to snap off the top and break it in half before inhaling it. They were sweet and heavenly and completely distracted me from Andrews detailed description of their annual harvesting ritual. He could see that the fig had transformed my day. He knew that I understood his passion for the edible jewel he’d given me and gave me another for the journey.

In March, after the snow and the winter, we found some of last years beans still wrapped up in their pods. These magic beans are now growing along the southern bank of the Thames, strengthened by the wind and looking rich and green.

Beans and Boats

Besides the chilled (and often strong) breeze, there are far fewer slugs to compete with here. From all the  boat yard bits and bobs there are vibrant shoots coming up beside the orange life buoys.
(more…)

On the out skirts of London

(more…)

So. Here is the spot that could be transformed into a aromatic haven of food growing.

Get your shovels and seeds!

I met the man who knows from Hackney Council today. So good to meet the people who help make these things happen and strangely also great to hear about the projects that don’t work (so we can avoid that happening), and the fact that more people want to grow their own.

I hope with a spot like this in the centre of the estate everyone will look after it.

This looks ace. I will be going.

Here are some picks from Farmadelphia by Front studio. Dare I forget the importance of designers in visioning the future and giving people an idea of what’s in store (and how they can do it). Front Studio also share their daily diet here. Its good to reflect on what we consume and even better to take the time to consume and celebrate it.

Images by Front Studio

Main Gallery, 9 April – 30 May 200.

The Building Centre, 26 Store Street, off Tottenham Court Road.

A science barge on the Hudson River, New York, has been working with hydroponic systems to grow food. There are some pretty incredible plants growing in the video and some examples of Aquaponics really growing food. It was only over the weekend that I was discussing the need for plants to be rooted and in some way connected to the soil to grow rich and strong and nourish the earth as well. The tomato plants in this are over-flowing with stalks and leaves from such a tiny root system in a bucket a tenth of its size.