Advertise on podcast: Trowels and Tribulations

This was recorded live at the Harrogate flower show.  In this episode with talk to Anna from The Urban Worm CIC.  https://theurbanworm.co.uk/ Urban Worm is a social enterprise committed to raising the profile of worm farming as the ecological and economical solution for organic waste management and organic agriculture. We support schools, communities, businesses, farmers and families harnessing the power of the humble earthworm to build the foundations for food production to flourish, and for societies to thrive in the face of adversity. Why Worm Farm? The reality of climate change, natural resource depletion and mass urbanization present unprecedented threats to global food security and the survival of humanity. Worm farming provides solutions to help us meet and address these challenges, as individuals, communities, institutions and businesses. The process particularly lends itself to the urban environment with small scale indoor, low tech and low cost systems. With 83 % of the UK living in cities an urban worm farming movement is essential for future food security and provides easy solutions for our kitchen waste. Food waste emits the green house gases (GHG) methane and nitrous oxide that are 31 and 310 times stronger than carbon dioxide, respectively. On an individual and grassroots level, worm farming has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by significantly reducing the volume of food waste directed to landfill, and in turn alleviates the necessity for fossil fuel-powered collection vehicles. Worm farming enables us to regenerate the earth, producing nutritionally rich fertiliser and compost from our waste to support the production of nutritionally rich food. With less than 40 years of topsoil left in the UK and less than 60 years globally we must act accordingly if we wish to thrive in the face of adversity and avoid mass famine. Worm farming offers the opportunity to rebuild the earth in our homes, within our communities and on our farms. The paradigm of industrial chemical-dependent agriculture has taken precedent over farming for more than a century, with disregard for the health and life of the soil and for those who work the land. Consequently the health of humanity and the earth has suffered beyond measure and we are now faced with feeding the world when our source of food production is diminishing rapidly. Investing in advanced agrotech is not the answer, investing in the earth, and the earthworm, is. Worm farming, otherwise known as vermiculture (vermis from the Latin for worm) is the process of harnessing earthworms to convert organic waste into the world’s most nutrient-rich fertiliser; worm manure. Worm manure – also worm castings or vermicompost – is teeming with minerals, nutrients and beneficial micro-organisms essential for healthy plant growth, root development and disease suppression. Due to the nutritional superiority of worm manure, farmers and gardeners often refer to it as ‘Black Gold’, with one tablespoon enough to feed a small plant for three months. Among the 4000 known species of earthworm seven are suitable for use in worm farming, all belonging to the epigeic category. Epigeic earthworms are red in colour and are surface dwellers, thriving in fresh rotting organic waste. Throughout the world the most commonly employed species is the Tiger Worm, sometimes referred to as the Red Wiggler or Californian Red (Eisenia Fetida). Native to Europe, the Tiger Worm has exceptional adaptability and tolerance to a range of food sources, temperature variation (10—30°) and moisture content (60—90%). Possessing both male and female sexual organs their hermaphroditic biological nature enables earthworms to reproduce very quickly. The Tiger Worm in particular has the capacity to double its population every 60 days and consume up to half its body weight a d Support the show

This was recorded live at the Harrogate flower show In this episode we talk to Megan and Linda from  https://www.aquaticfinatic.co.uk/ #gardening #trees #gardening-podcast #horticulture #nature #flowers #podcast #herbs #vegetables #herbs #pondplants  Support the show

This was recorded live at the Harrogate flower show The group was formed in November 1995 by a group of like-minded people with a passion for fruit growing.  Our membership has since grown to over 400 in number with a wide range of expertise from novice to professional  growers.  Geographically the group covers a large area, along with our members in Yorkshire, our membership spreads as far as Scotland, west Wales, northern France and the Netherlands! The aims of the group are: to promote knowledge of growing fruit of all varieties, particularly those suitable for growing in the north of Englandto raise awareness of fruit growing through exhibition of fruits at shows and other meetings open to the publicto register old fruit varieties and orchards of the North and advise on orchard care and maintenanceto take part in research projects concerning the growing of fruit#gardening #trees #gardening-podcast #horticulture #nature #flowers #podcast #herbs #vegetables #fruit Support the show

This was recorded live at the Harrogate flower show In the episode we talk to Richard Fenwick Richard Fenwick studied horticulture at Askham Bryan College qualifying at Level 5 and specializing in Micropropagation and plant science. Richard has worked in horticulture for over 15 years in a range of sectors including; commercial nursery work, garden maintenance, retail and design. In 2012 Richard became a tutor/course manager at Bishop Burton College teaching a range of subjects at levels 1 to 6.  He has been a STEM Ambassador for 15 years promoting the STEM subjects in schools and colleges in partnership with NYBEP. #gardening #trees #gardening-podcast #horticulture #nature #flowers #podcast #herbs #vegetables #Micropropagation #flowershow  Support the show

Moneyrow Beans was founded by Vicky Weddell out of her passion for coffee and for coffee-loving communities around the world. Having worked in the speciality coffee industry in the Middle East for some years in training and events, she wanted to bring great coffee to her local community in Berkshire and started it all from her garden shed in Moneyrow Green during the first COVID lockdown in 2020. We now roast our coffee in small batches in our Coffee Den in the Moss End Garden Village. We are really proud to partner with some amazing local businesses including coffee shops, pubs and retail outlets. We have a growing local following enjoying Moneyrow Beans at home and you will often see us at local markets and community events. Moneyrow Beans is also proud to be the first UK Distributor for Gorilla Conservation Coffee, a social enterprise which supports coffee farmers in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda as part of Conservation Through Public Health programme. All our coffees are sourced with an ethos of traceability and care for the coffee-producing communities at origin. https://moneyrowbeans.com/ Support the show

In this episode we have a quick talk to Alan Titchmarsh. Alan has been the patron of Horticap  for over 18 years. He talked with the customers, volunteers, staff and of course the students and thanked them for the hard work over the past couple of years.  Horticap is a charity in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. Its been running for nearly 40 years. They teach horticulture to adults with learning difficulties.  We talked to him about what horticulture and Horticap means to him.  #gardening #trees #gardening-podcast #horticulture #nature #flowers #podcast #herbs #vegetables #alan #titchmarsh #loveyourgarden #loveyourweekend #ITV  Support the show (https://trowelsandtribulations.buzzsprout.com/)

Sarah talks to Demelza Lowe from Lowe maintenance  https://lowe-maintenance.co.uk/ Lowe Maintenance based in the Yorkshire Dales, has been providing high quality courses for businesses and individuals for over 16 years. From City and Guilds qualification to learning for leisure, our experienced team of industry specialists deliver engaging training to meet your needs. Lowe Maintenance deliver forestry courses and assessments on-site in North Yorkshire, UK and where possible, bespoke training at a location of your choice. Demelza is the one who runs a tight ship within Lowe Maintenance. Known also as big ‘D’ in her former teaching career! After teaching at a local college for over ten years specialising with the 14-16yr olds who weren’t interested in school (and thoroughly enjoying that challenge) decided in 2012 that it was time for the next chapter and a new challenge and joined Phill in Lowe Maintenance. Originally training at Askham Bryan College HND Horticulture (fancy a farmer going into horticulture – black sheep of the family there!) she was always interested in trees but not been brave enough in her late teens to pursue arboriculture with all those burly fellas and went into garden design and certainly regretted it. Fortunately years later got to continue that passion for tree climbing and machinery, thankfully. Specialities and favourite course to teach Demelza is not only a trainer but also a City and Guilds assessor for many of the subjects that she trains, however, can’t pick one course more than another, as she loves the variety and enjoys them all equally! [email protected] #gardening #trees #gardening-podcast #horticulture #nature #flowers #podcast #herbs #vegetables #forestry #chainsaw #ruralskills  Support the show (https://trowelsandtribulations.buzzsprout.com/)

In This episode we talk about the benefits that horticulture has to offer. We talk with Faith about forest bathing. Faith Douglas set up Forest Bathing UK to bring something back to this country that not only other cultures practice but our ancestors did too. Cultures all over the world practise a technique called ‘Forest Bathing’ – in Japanese it’s called ‘Shinrin-yoku’, in Mandarin it is ‘Sēnlínyù’ and in Korean it’s known as sanlimyok. Some countries have designated woodlands and forests purely for the purpose of relaxation and connecting within nature. Trees naturally give off something called ‘phytoncides‘ or ‘wood essential oils’, these oils when inhaled have been scientifically proven to have a beneficial impact on our nervous systems. This means that quite simply being within a wooded area we can see our stress levels reduced, mood disorders be more balanced and our overall quality of life improved. We talk with Lisa Norton about Biophilic design which uses elements of nature to provide respite and joy to people in man-made spaces Biophilia (meaning love of nature) focuses on the inherent connection of human beings to nature and to natural processes. This indicates that we all have a common connection to the natural world made up by hundreds of thousands of years of living off the land. There have been numerous studies over the last 35 years on the benefits of Biophilic design and improving our connection with nature, these are: Homes: can become more calming & restorative, with 7-8 % less crime attributed to areas with access to nature and can command an increase of 4-5% in property price. Office design: productivity can be increased by 8%, rates of well-being up by 13%, increases in creativity, with reduced absenteeism and presenteeism Hospitality design: Guests willing to pay 23% more for rooms with views of Biophilic elements Education spaces: increased rates of learning 20-25%, improved test results, concentration levels and attendance, reduced impacts of ADHD Healthcare spaces: post-operative rates of recovery reduced by 8.5%, reduced pain medication by 22% Retail: the presence of vegetation & landscaping has been found to increase average rental rates on retail spaces with customers indicating they were willing to pay 8-12 % more for goods and services. https://harrogategardendesign.co.uk/services/biophilic-design/ And Sue wood came to talk about Britain in bloom  Britain in Bloom is the largest horticultural campaign in Europe and each year it grows in size and importance and involves more people, groups and organisations creating lasting improvements to local environments. Villages through to cities in the region are judged in Spring, Summer, or both. The special categories which include public, private and charitable establishments, business premises, visitor attractions, caravan and camping sites, schools, youth environmental projects and further education establishments. #gardening #trees #gardeningpodcast #horticulture #nature #flowers #podcast #herbs #vegetables Support the show (https://trowelsandtribulations.buzzsprout.com/)

In this episode we explore the wonderful green spaces we have and what they mean to us. We talk to Faith and about Thorp Perrow The Arboretum covers 100 acres and is currently home to 5 National Plant Collections and 51 Champion Trees (recorded and designated by the Tree Register of the British Isles). Situated in the Yorkshire Dales, not far from the historic town of Bedale, Thorp Perrow is an exciting place to explore offering something for everyone, and is home to some of the largest and rarest trees and shrubs in England. The Arboretum also embraces the Milbank Pinetum planted by Lady Augusta Milbank in the mid-nineteenth century, and the medieval Spring Wood dating back to the 16th century. We talk to Neil Hind about Pinewoods of Harrogate Pinewoods is about 96 acres of semi-natural woodland located approximately 1km south-west of Harrogate. The original Scots pines, from which the site takes its name, were planted in 1796. The pines are still in evidence today, although it's unlikely any of the originals still exist. The site offers informal recreational areas and sites of conservational interest. As such, the woodland is managed by ourselves and local volunteer groups to try to balance the recreation and conservation aspects of the site itself. We talk to Shipley College https://www.shipley.ac.uk/courses/categories/horticulture/ Shipley College is a small, friendly place that really cares about every person that comes through the door and we pride ourselves on giving every student the individual support they deserve. Situated in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, it is a great place to study and easy to get to by bus, train and car. Whether you are a school leaver, mature student or employer, they confident to provide excellent opportunities to develop skills and qualifications.  #gardening #trees #gardening-podcast #horticulture #nature #flowers #podcast #herbs #vegetables #festivals #college  Support the show (https://trowelsandtribulations.buzzsprout.com/)

Sorry for the poor sound quality at the beginning . In this episode we walk around Thorp Perrow and see the amazing autumn colours and a walk around the famous Halloween Trail.  Thorp Perrow is the most important Arboretum in the North of England and is unique to Britain, if not Europe, in that it was the creation of one man, Colonel Sir Leonard Ropner (1895-1977). His son, Sir John Ropner (1937-2016) and his wife, Niki, then went onto develop the Arboretum into the visitor attraction you see today. Sir Henry Ropner and his family are the current custodians. The Arboretum covers 100 acres and is currently home to 5 National Plant Collections and 51 Champion Trees (recorded and designated by the Tree Register of the British Isles). Situated in the Yorkshire Dales, not far from the historic town of Bedale, Thorp Perrow is an exciting place to explore offering something for everyone, and is home to some of the largest and rarest trees and shrubs in England. The Arboretum also embraces the Milbank Pinetum planted by Lady Augusta Milbank in the mid-nineteenth century, and the medieval Spring Wood dating back to the 16th century. The Arboretum is laid out in Sections, and identified as Section A to Section Z, plus Milbank Pinetum, and Springs Wood. Each Section inter-connects with its neighbour via paths, grass walks, glades, bays, or avenues. A walk around the Arboretum can be a journey of plant discovery that takes you around the continents of the world; with many of the tree and shrub genera and species planted having origins in China, Japan, North America, Chile, and Europe. Support the show (https://trowelsandtribulations.buzzsprout.com/)

In This episode we talk to 3 places that recycling is one of their top priorities. We all try are best to recycle and do are best but what can businesses  do, to do they part.  Ahead of COP26 we talk about some of the ways for us all to recycle. Recycling makes sense and saves you money... Its a no brainer Chris Powell from https://www.coneexchange.org/ The cone exchange is the charitable side of Bettys and Taylors. No rubbish is thrown unless its been cleared by Chris. Cone exchange turn rubbish into  items for sell in the shop and raises money for other charities like Horticap and saving money for them ... #winwin www.horticap.org  Sam Glassup representing https://www.jll.co.uk/ and  https://group.legalandgeneral.com/ When companies leave rubbish and items, instead of ordering a skip he calls charities that he knows to see if they can use it And Neil Hind representing the https://www.nhs.uk/ The NHS is a massive organisation and waste is a big expenditure for them. So working with other companies to create waste free products. Plus we the public can help too.  --- #gardening #trees #gardening-podcast #horticulture #nature #flowers #podcast #herbs #vegetables #recyling #cop24 #sustainable  Support the show (https://trowelsandtribulations.buzzsprout.com/)

In this episode we talk to Aaron Hickman the president of the  Yorkshire Sweet Pea Society. Sweet peas are perfect for picking, fragrant sweet peas are easy to grow and come in a range of beautiful colours. It is an annual climbing plant, growing to a height of 1–2 metres (3 ft 3 in–6 ft 7 in), where suitable support is available.  #gardening #trees #gardening-podcast #horticulture #nature #flowers #podcast #herbs #vegetables #sweetpeas  Support the show (https://trowelsandtribulations.buzzsprout.com/)