book-cycle news

HURRAH!

WAITROSE is banning its suppliers from using systemic neonicotinoids on produce destined for the supermarket.

Waitrose said the restriction on use is a ‘precautionary measure and will remain in place until scientists can demonstrate conclusively whether or not the formulations are adversely affecting populations of pollinator insects’.

The new approach will also be rolled out progressively to commodity crops such as oil seed rape on the Waitrose Farm at Leckford in Hampshire and ‘as soon as practicable’ to other areas of the arable sector which supply Waitrose.

In addition, the supermarket chain has announced it will fund a ‘significant’ research project with the University of Exeter into the effects on pollinators of multiple pesticide use.


VIEW WAITROSE ARTICLE

Great video! Time to dig up the front garden...

A Keyhole Garden is a raised bed, lasagna garden, composting, and recycling system all rolled into one. The design creates a garden that uses recycled materials, less water and maintenance, and can be made handicap-accessible!

The Keyhole Garden concept is brilliantly simple. A circular raised bed has a center compost basket that distributes nutrients to the surrounding lasagna-style garden bed. A small pie-slice section of the bed is used for easy access to the center compost basket forming the keyhole design.

Kitchen and garden waste, along with household gray water, are added to the center basket. The soil bed layers are slightly sloped away from the center to aid water and "compost tea" distribution. As the materials decompose, soil, composting materials, and amendments are added to the bed in later growing seasons.

Vanishing of the bees is an eye-opening account of the shocking truth behind the decline of the bee population.

Bees polinate a third of the food we eat, and this contributes to £200 million a year to the UK economy.

WATCH VANISHING OF THE BEES DOCUMENTARY

Explore if you will, the imaginary world in this book...

Codex Seraphinianus, originally published in 1981, is an illustrated encyclopedia of an imaginary world, created by the Italian artist, architect and industrial designer Luigi Serafini during thirty months, from 1976 to 1978.The book is approximately 360 pages long (depending on edition), and written in a strange, generally unintelligible alphabet.

Originally published in Italy, the book has since been released in a number of different countries.

The word "Codex" in the title means "book" or "code" (from Latin caudex), and "Seraphinianus" is derived from the author's last name, Serafini (which in Italian, refers to the seraphs). Literally, Codex Seraphinianus means Serafini's code

The book is an encyclopedia in manuscript with copious hand-drawn colored-pencil illustrations of bizarre and fantastical flora, fauna, anatomies, fashions, and foods. The illustrations are often surreal parodies of things in the real world: bleeding fruit; a plant that grows into roughly the shape of a chair and is subsequently made into one; a lovemaking couple that metamorphoses into an alligator etc.

VIEW CODEX SERAPHINIANUS IN PDF COPY

"Water is the driving force of all nature." - Leonardo da Vinci


Water is the most amazing yet least studied substance.

From times immemorial, scientists, philosophers and theologians tried to understand its explicit and implicit properties, which are phenomenal, beyond the common physical laws of nature. Witness recent, breathtaking discoveries by researchers worldwide from Russia, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Israel, the USA, Britain, Austria, Japan, Argentina, China and Tibet. The arguments expound upon unexpected and challenging assumptions enlightening many years of research to open humankind to new horizons, such as the applications of structured water in agriculture, or the use of water in treatment for the most serious diseases and more.

The Geography of the film spans the globe. The implications go beyond the solar system, suggesting that water has the ability to convey messages faster than light, perhaps linking water with the absolute. Water is so unique, and so profound, its miraculous properties are still awaiting to be discovered.

WATCH WATER THE GREAT MYSTERY DOCUMENTARY

Our newly designed website has received some praise for the use of media plugins!

The tireless efforts of Recoil Web Design and two of our dedicated volunteers over the last 2 years (yes, it took that long to bring it together!) has seen the repotted Book-Cycle website redesigned and updated.

We hope you like the new aspects within our website as we put the finishing touches to it for you to enjoy and share =)

VIEW WEBSITE ARTICLE

** GET INVOLVED!! **

Three days of unexpected Art experience in Exeter: 22nd-24th March

'Not Open Studios Exeter 2013' is a fringe event, Arts festival, exhibition and celebration. As its title suggests, the focus is on artworks and Artists working outside of the confines of studio-based practice. It will take place alongside Exeter Open Studios [21st – 24th March].

The non-geography of NOSE2013 serves as a perfect foil to the location-specific Artists’ studios and seeks to frame the entire City as a spectacular event, albeit at times elusive and surreptitious.

http://nose2013.wordpress.com/

State-owned forests in England will not be sold off and the government will create an independent public body to hold them in trust for future generations.

Environment secretary Owen Paterson announced in January 2013 that a previous policy of selling off 15% of the public forest estate to raise funds was to be dropped.The plan, first outlined in October 2010, would have seen heritage woodlands such as the New Forest offered to charities and commercial forests sold to the private sector on 150-year leases.

Mr Paterson said the new body – the Independent Panel on Forestry (IPF) – will own, maintain and safeguard England’s forests, working alongside the Forestry Commission.“Our forests and woodlands will remain secured in public ownership for the people who enjoy them, the businesses that depend on them and the wildlife that flourishes in them,” he said.

The U-turn was a victory for campaign group 38 Degrees, which collected more than 538,000 signatures protesting the original proposal.


READ THE POSITIVE NEWS ARTICLE

"The seed is in the tree, the tree is in the seed."


This website hosts an array of useful information and resources on sustainable gardening, food rights, water conservation, pollinator habitat, riparian ecology and community organisation; supported by seed saving and seed sharing.

Healthy seed rests on the shoulders of healthy water, bees, soil and a healthy community.

This information is compiled with much help. This is a people's library. It is simply a glimpse into what exists and dreams for the future. You are encouraged to use their logo with respect and in the giveaway tradition; organise free seed swaps, free libraries and free events.....

Our kind of website!!

VIEW LIVING SEED LIBRARY WEBSITE

In the depths of northeastern India, in one of the wettest places on Earth, bridges aren't built - they're grown....

The living bridges of Cherrapunji, India are made from the roots of the Ficus elastica tree. This tree produces a series of secondary roots from higher up its trunk and can comfortably perch atop huge boulders along the riverbanks, or even in the middle of the rivers themselves.

Cherrapunji is credited with being the wettest place on earth, and The War-Khasis, a tribe in Meghalaya, long ago noticed this tree and saw in its powerful roots an opportunity to easily cross the area's many rivers. Now, whenever and wherever the need arises, they simply grow their bridges.

VIEW LIVING ROOT BRIDGES WEBSITE

Back in June last year we sent a pallet of books to African Rural Volunteers (ARV) to help one of the schools that they are working with. We hope to be able to send the some more books this year ♥

http://www.africanruralvolunteers.org/


VIEW ARV'S PHOTO ALBUM

What a great way to end the year! Last week Mark and Sue collected several hundred maths books to take over to Ugandan children in a few days time...

HAPPY 2013 YOU LOT. HOPE IT'S A CORKER!