MG 26/9 RBE – ART FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD – Michael Green BACK UP WEBSITE

26/9 RBE – ART FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD – Michael Green BACK UP WEBSITE

As the executors of the late Michael Green’s will and final testament, We have inherited and been entrusted with Michael’s property. Due to a series of system access issues in recovering data from damaged operating drives which held the security access to Michael’s website and social media, we are creating back up’s of his online media work to ensure, as domain names expire, that his work is not lost.

This page is a back up of Michael Green’s website ” Art for a sustainable world” which was created in 2013 and linked to the Zeitgeist festival of 2013.

Where better quality imagery or related images of Michael’s art work around the project “Art for a sustainable World” exist, we have added these to this back up version of the website

All work is still highly relevant and inspirational for RBE activists and thinkers, hope fully by backing up the site here we will ensure his message is still accessible to the public

 

As part of the Global Zeitgeist Media FestivalAug. 2nd-4th 2013, Michael Green was displaying work on Eastbourne Seafront, near The Lifeboat Museum.

Michael featured work advocating a Global Resource Based Economy, on “canvasses” that are examples of our waste of resources.

http://zeitgeistmediafestival.org/

“The way we use technology is completely wasteful.   We duplicate many vacuum cleaners, tools; In the future we will make the best of equipment and make it available to everyone.”

Words: Michael Green

Welcome to Art for a Sustainable World ! Hello and a warm welcome, this is “Art For A Sustainable World”, a site that expresses an artistic viewpoint to some very interesting visions of a saner, safer and exciting new world.

I hope you find the artwork here thought provoking and inspires you to create and consider an open approach to helping the current world dilemmas we’re facing.

Many of the materials I use as canvasses are “thrown away”, “consumer waste”. As I learned how little I actually knew, and the effect of this waste has on our environment, I set about using it as an example to show just how unthinking, we as a species have become, in our quest to own and have more & more consumables…….. A big thank you goes to Ben Murray for helping in such a big way for putting this site together, and Christie for some great photos of Jessie May and Joey with me, reminding me of how children are so much, to use the words Christie used, “in the moment”.

The following poem was written by Christine Rbe Thindi in early March 2014, and is being turned into a global collaborative video.

Thanks to Christine for such a powerful, inspirational and positive piece of writing, and the 100 or so people involved, in 50 countries, for making the video.

There is a Way (to make this world a great place for all)

Financial troubles everywhere
give you no time to be aware
of what it is that causes it
and it all seems so legit
indoctrinations keep you caught
in a state of fearful thought
Money makes the world go round
It’s what keeps the food abound
keeps us clothed and in a home
without it, streets we’d have to roam
sleep on the pavement, starve to death
feel misery till our last breath
We bear the drudgery we hate
because we think that it’s our fate
We have to keep a job or two
enough banknotes will see us through
will pay the taxes and the bills
bliss awaits beyond the hills
make more money to get by
but guess what? It’s all a lie!

We could feed 12 billion souls
if markets didn’t block the flow
Money causes suffering
destroys your soul and everything
the planet is about to die
economic growth has to be high
exploitation is a must
if profits are not to go bust
What is the use if very soon
Earth will look like its own moon
your children will not have a future
just because your lifestyle suits ya
but look at it, does it make you happy?
Or do you feel stressed and rather crappy?
Our offspring raised by institutions
no time and strength for resolutions
families are ripped apart
and so is everybody’s heart
Suppressing who we really are
spreads depression near and far
You are a slave to this whole thing
full of worry and suffering
Half the world has it even worse
they always have an empty purse

But did you know, there’s a better way
where no one can be led astray
where everyone on planet Earth
lives healthy, happy right from birth
no stress, no force, no crime, no war
where all our spirits are free to soar
Technology will do the jobs
robots won’t turn into mobs
most work’s already automated
so why not call the rest outdated?
Let’s just end the reign of money
and we’re not trying to be funny
Without it we will all be wealthy
happy, free and very healthy
Follow our passions every day
with no pressure of earning pay
Saving the planet in the process
that is what is called REAL progress
All we need to set us free
is a Resource-Based Economy!

Words: Michael Green

Mission (2013)……

My mission, simply put, is to find good homes for my art work. I’m aiming to spread awareness of our social and economic issues by artistically creating a talking point with using thrown away objects.

Whether the message be on an old T.V, mobile phone, plastic toy or anything for that matter, the message is clear…….we can begin to embrace a positive movement of change whatever our age,sex,race,nation or belief system.

How would you feel if you had a piece of art that expressed a deeper understanding of our current world problems and solutions?  Enabling you to help spread positive ideas and invite others to investigate our possible future further.  

Mission (2019)……

Excepting around 20 TV screens, “the tears of the world” office chair, and, a small number of paintings which we have keep for the ongoing art displays and RBE awareness campaigns, the rest of the remaining art has been shared, mostly by Michael leading up to the Costa Rica Trip.

We invite people to photograph and share as much as possible, the art displays in detail, to continue to raise awareness and we will continue to work for the RBE Network , now and in the future.

Thinking outside “the box”

Televisions are probably one of the biggest examples we have of our continuous consumption of the earth’s finite resources, constant advertising imploring us to “buy this or that product”. As David Attenborough once said ” Anyone who believes in infinite growth on a physically finite planet is either mad or an economist!” I have painted on many things and I currently focus most of my attention on painting old discarded tv’s and computer monitors.

“Whenever you make a law, “Thou Shalt Not Kill,” some jackass thinks that by making a law, you can control human behavior.  Conditions that exist control human behavior, not the laws.”

As you will see I paint on a variety of “canvasses” and deal with many subjects.

Other artwork projects from 2013 – 2014

Having made some busts from plaster and painting on them, I was also given some mannequins. On one i painted my version of some Jack Vettriano pieces. Another i painted one of the planets after I read that astronomers apparently said “Pluto was no longer a planet.” references to orange in my artwork depicts images of various other species that share this planet with us. None of these are available.

TV’s and Computer monitors:  that have been thrown away, and more than likely those who threw them away went and bought new ones. Ah, the power of advertising, especially on television. And people say it has no effect on our “thinking”! I have given them “names” to make it easier for anyone who would like one .There is the “Eye and Puma”, “This Shit’s Got To Go”, “Amazing No Borders”, “Free World Charter”, “Liverpool” (not available) , “Costa Rica” (not available), “Zeitgeist” None of these are available.

Link to TV sets and computer screens gallery:

https://www.fishinaboxrecords.com/television-the-drug-of-a-nation-whats-on-the-box-with-michael-green/

Again, having fallen for the planned obsolescence of buying a walkman music player that stopped functioning a very short while after purchase, I decided to paint it and a, (found in the street) cd. The camera was another aspect of this.

I painted a telephone as a way to pass on the concept of Resource Based Economy, of which The Free World Charter is one of many organisations advocating this direction.

The leaves were something I used in Costa Rica. Interesting that they were flexible enough to allow me to do this. And as I learned at “school” that paper comes from trees this was a way to use paper in the simplest form, without the manufacturing process. None of these are available.

The leaves shown below are the last

This vacuum cleaner was found in the street. Yet another example of the phenomenon known as “planned obsolescence.” Thought I would have fun with the obsession with “cleaning.”

Taking action, with colours

Having been introduced to the ideas of planned and perceived obsolescence and the inefficient waste of our resources and learning about sustainability, I have been doing what I can, through art, to introduce others to these ideas and the people and organisations (far more knowledgeable and practical than I) behind them, some of whom you will find links to on this site.

“If nations join together now, before the big collapse and share their resources, they can maintain a level of sustainability. Sustain the people that is, and not banks and businesses.”

Words: Michael Green

About Me:

PictureHello my name is Michael Green and thank you
for taking the time to stop by this website.

I was born in Cyprus and have traveled far and wide through the years and am currently  in the South East, UK.   I got a very big wake-up call in 1999, being given a book to read entitled,”A Reasonable Life” by Ferenc Mate. It prompted several personal changes.

The chapter called “Television” had the following … “Setting television loose in America was like carpet bombing the continent with Valium…daily”.  I took up painting late 2002 and quickly discovered acrylics and whilst on a “business” course saw a whole pile of computer monitors that were going to be thrown away, because they no longer functioned.

Quickly discovered the adaptability of acrylics and started painting on old tv’s and computer screens.  Not quite certain exactly how many I have done so far, but it’s 50 or so, in the UK, Spain and Costa Rica.

I have a distinct passion to express  views and visions on anything man or nature can muster! Primarily I focus on obsolete T.Vs however I also paint  on leaves, old toys, most electrical items etc as well as walls and furniture.

I really enjoy being able to help spread the incredible benefits we could all one day experience, of a Resourced Based Economy, and my love for painting has grown more and more knowing this.

Costa Rica is where I learned of  The Venus Project and the concept of a Global Resource Based Economy through a series of Zeitgeist documentaries, specifically “Zeitgeist Addendum” and “Zeitgeist Moving Forward” in 2011.

Since then I have become an advocate for this concept and have connected globally with others promoting this. To get a better understanding my suggestion would be to watch Zeitgeist Addendum.

“In a decaying society, art, if it is truthful, must also reflect decay. And unless it wants to break faith with it’s social function, art must show the world as changeable and help to change it.”

Words: Michael Green

Art and the pleasure of the aesthetic must never be underestimated as to it’s the power to change the world. We can see this throughout the ages from the renaissance to the enlightenment and beyond.

The fact is that if we are to avert the challenges that lie ahead and live in a more peaceful and sustainable world then art will play a major role in bringing about that change.

I have certainly not started on this road for my work to sit in my living room. It will not change the world that way. I want it to spread  far and wide, to all parts of this beautiful planet, to  share and light it up and inspire change.

If you appreciate my work and it’s message then please do get in touch and I will get whatever piece you are interested in from my gallery section sent to you, some are no longer in my possession, or I can create a piece that you specifically have in mind.

All I ask is that you cover all the costs from materials to postage. On top of that I would appreciate a donation for my time as this is all I do and all I want to do but I can not do that without your help. Any support I receive will help me to free up more of my time and create ever more socially conscious art to bring about the change we all want and that future generations deserve.

Thank you so much for your kind support. x

“As long as superstition and ignorance prevail, humanity will fall short of eradicating war, poverty, and hunger.”

What Motivates Me?…..

Picture

Below are a few links and short videos that have become the backbone and driving force behind my artwork. This is what inspires me to share my understanding of the world and help  spread the awareness of a more sustainable and safer world for all of Earth’s inhabitants. We have now an Eastbourne Website that incorporates all of the principles and visions presented here, as well as current projects and events.

Please Click Here To visit: http://zeitgeisteastbourne.weebly.com/

My attempt to have a little fun while explaining the ideas and concepts of an “RBE”. The full version of the “Resource Based Economy / Zeitgeist Movement Game” is just under two hours. This edited version is 50 minutes, and covers most of the “questions”, but with less detail. If you’re interested in seeing the full version, the playlist begins here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqTrKSMxhq4&list=PL2D0E366802CD7E1B

Jacque Fresco coined the term “Resource Based Economy” and goes into detail with this train of thought on his website. Please visit, and check out the “Paradise or Oblivion” video on the homepage. “The Venus Project” : http://www.thevenusproject.com/

The Zeitgeist Movement supports this train of thought… http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com … and Peter Joseph does a great job of explaining this stuff. If you haven’t seen his videos, here are a few for starters. “Arriving at a RBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVPz7uXLZtI

“Where Are We Now?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O67AZfUMXw

“Where Are We Going?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxPPnCW6sMo

His two documentary-films related to the RBE are Must See!

Zeitgeist Addendum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gKX9TWRyfs

Zeitgeist, Moving Forward: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9WVZddH9w

Many other sites are supporting the ideas and concepts of a Resource Based Economy, such as
The Freeworld Charter: http://www.freeworldcharter.org/en

and A Resource Based Economy http://www.theresourcebasedeconomy.com/

Jacque Fresco (born March 13, 1916), is an American self-taught structural designer, architectural designer, concept artist, educator, and futurist. Fresco writes and lectures his views of sustainable cities, energy efficiency, natural resource management, cybernetic technology, advanced automation, and the role of science in society. With his colleague, Roxanne Meadows, he is the founder and director of The Venus Project.As an outspoken social critic. Fresco advocates global implementation of a socioeconomic system of social cooperation, technological automation, and scientific methodology, which he refers to as a ‘resource-based economy.’

Jacques Fresco and the VENUS Project: https://youtu.be/bwJaLFMf7IA

The term and meaning of a Resource Based Economy was originated by Jacque Fresco. It is a holistic socio-economic system in which all goods and services are available without the use of money, credits, barter or any other system of debt or servitude. All resources become the common heritage of all of the inhabitants, not just a select few.

The Zeitgeist Movement

Founded in 2008, The Zeitgeist Movement is a Sustainability Advocacy Organization which conducts community based activism and awareness actions through a network of Global/Regional Chapters, Project Teams, Annual Events, Media and Charity Work.

The Movement’s principle focus includes the recognition that the majority of the social problems which plague the human species at this time are not the sole result of some institutional corruption, scarcity, a political policy, a flaw of “human nature” or other commonly held assumptions of causality.

Best Speech You Will Ever Hear!

Gary Yourofsky’s entire inspirational speech held at Georgia Tech in summer of 2010. Listen to this amazing speaker who will blow away the myths, fill your mind with interesting facts, and help you make ethical choices for a healthy heart and soul. His charismatic and straightforward style is one of a kind – a must-see for anyone who cares about nonhuman animals or wishes to make the world a better place: https://youtu.be/es6U00LMmC4

EARTHLINGS is the single most powerful and informative documentary about society’s tragic and unforgivable use of nonhuman animals, narrated by Joaquin Phoenix with soundtrack by Moby. Directed by Shaun Monson, this multi-award winning film by Nation Earth is a must-see for anyone who cares about nonhuman animals or wishes to make the world a better place.

PLEASE: don’t run from reality, watch the film and share your thoughts with other viewers in the comments section. Thank you.

Lets Make Everything Free!

The Free World Charter is a statement of principles that has the potential to optimise life on Earth for all species, eradicate poverty and greed, and advance progress.

Neither political nor religious, these ten short principles could form the foundation of a new, advanced society that uses no money, is free, fair and sustainable. They are based solely on nature, common sense and survival.

https://youtu.be/rvDKTRgoSS8

The Story of Stuff is a short polemical animated documentary about the lifecycle of material goods. The documentary is critical of excessive consumerism and promotes sustainability.

Filmmaker Annie Leonard wrote and narrated the film, which was first launched online on December 4, 2007.

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GorqroigqM

In the mid-1800s, corporations began to be recognized as individuals by U.S. courts, granting them unprecedented rights. The Corporation, a documentary by filmmakers Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott and author Joel Bakan, delves into that legal standard, essentially asking: if corporations were people, what kind of people would they be? Applying psychiatric principles and FBI forensic techniques, and through a series of case studies, the film determines that this entity, the corporation, which has an increasing power over the day-to-day existence of nearly every living creature on earth, would be a psychopath. The case studies include a story about how two reporters were fired from Fox News for refusing to soft-pedal a story about the dangers of a Monsanto product given to dairy cows, and another about Bolivian workers who banded together to defend their rights to their own water supply. The pervasiveness of corporate influence on our lives is explored through an examination of efforts to influence behavior, including that of children. The filmmakers interview leftist figures like Michael Moore, Howard Zinn, Naomi Klein, and Noam Chomsky, and give representatives from companies Burson Marsteller, Disney, Pfizer, and Initiative Media a chance to relay their own points-of-view. The Corporation won the Best Documentary World Cinema Audience Award at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

HUMAN

HUMAN the film REDUX is a refined, shorter version of Human the film that has been cut down where possible yet still maintaining the message of the original film. It has been compiled using youtube, news archive and other footage sources, it looks at the different aspects of the system we live and work in including the government, politics, money, war, healthcare and other social issues. this film is about the world in which we reside and the systems that govern it.

We are all Human and this film is for you: https://youtu.be/VPF4C8e8fLA

Cancer is Big Business

The very first time that I saw this video, I actually shed tears just because this show how we so called human are wicked than the Lion preying over a poor cattle kid. The worst is we are preying over ourselves. We turn our beautiful world to survival of the fittest.

I don’t know how long this video will be here for but if you can Download it and I will post a direct link that you can get this video if you can’t get it from here or you can simply email me pleasuredrink@hotmail.co.uk and I will be glad to send you the link

TROM the reality of me

The TROM documentary is trying to present, in a simplistic way, the world in which we, human beings, live. The world discovered so far, not some idea or personal choice. Moreover we tried to present alternative solutions to current problems and took into account the future, which promises to be more than interesting. An informative documentary, perhaps shocking and disturbing to many, depending on how you digest the information.

The documentary is divided into chapters and sub-chapters due to documentary’s excessive length (13 hours). Also all the parts are connected.

The documentary and website are concentrated, so it is essential to read additional information which can be found in descriptions beside each section and the video player.

Equilism: 21st Century Economy

If Equilibrium is the vehicle for change, then Equilism will be its engine. Equilism will provide the gradual transition from our current system into a Resource Based Economy, with humanity working together and the limitless resources/technology available it will give us the platform to explore and colonize space, the final frontier.

Equilism has one goal, to advance humanity to the next level, to break out from this primitive system that promotes self importance, divide, corruption, poverty and war, it’s a path towards self destruction and we do not want humanity to be remembered as a civilisation that destroyed itself.

We are one human family living on thi

s planet we call home, the barriers we have created between each other have been man-made, which also means we can knock them down. Imagine what we can accomplish with the combined wealth of the world going towards projects, concepts and ideas that can benefit and advance humanity?

The decisions and actions we make today will effect tomorrow, Equilism will better position ourselves towards the next big step for humanity and the ground work we have laid will be ready to be built on by future generations. For Humanity to become a ‘Type 1 Civilisation’, to begin space colonization, exploring new star systems and galaxies, there is no ‘final frontier’ to what we can achieve as it is limitless, and its about time we start putting our potential to good use.

https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/mind-control/

https://youtu.be/njSV5LtVmR4

so here I am
standing alone in the open. i’m here with a message
hoping to repair what’s broken. nature is struggling
humanity’s not on track. we’ve got our heads in the sand
and our pride intact. we seek fulfillment through wealth
but do we achieve it? we want prosperity through consumerism
but is it worth it? have we actually found freedom?
or have we lost it? because all we do is follow a system
and never really challenge it. can you relate to that?
or is the world too blind to see? i’d always seek the truth
but care what my peers thought of me. i saw a different perspective
and struggled by the hour. see i knew ignorance was bliss
but knowledge could give me power. so now i call for humanity
not just for one nation. i’m opposing separation and standing up to segregation
whether religious or atheist, in essence we’re the same
stereotypes are man-made, and it was man who created the game
but are we actually ready to accept this and wake up?
can we put our naivety on the line, or are we always going to collide?
are we ready to make a difference? do we venture into the unknown?
or do we stay in our comfort zones and keep on taking the easy ride?
because at sea it ships that are safest at shore
but no, that’s not what ships were made for. so ask yourself this:
why are you really here? you may find that deep
but my question really is sincere. for my generation
are we mislead as a youth? do we rub off our true purpose due to false misleading truth?
are we prone to propaganda? are we prone to wrong information?
are we taught to judge each other based on religion
sex, race, culture, class, nation
the list goes on. the moral of this poem
may be hard to grasp. I know it’s not something usually heard
and it’s not your average task. but the point is to stop damaging what we cannot re-create
we shouldn’t prioritize selfish desires, and let them decide our fate
however let me tell you, in no way am i perfect and in no way am i better than you
I mean yea i wrote this message myself, but it applies to myself too
so it’s time to start improving and it’s time to start speaking
because resources are lowering and poverty is increasing
we allow cities to get larger, buildings to get taller
but trees to get shorter and forests to get smaller
we’re an ingenious species, we could easily change everything
but we’re made to think different due to decades of conditioning
we conform to education to confirm our own security
yet it’s a biased institution that makes wisdom hold obscurity
is it actually correct? and does it actually judge intelligence?
or is it just listening to our elders, and improving our obedience?
are possessions an illusion of worth? are we tricked in our thinking?
are we trying to buy wholeness and are we trying to buy meaning?
do they always give joy? do they distract us from reality?
do they determine our identity and do they alter our morality?
I mean what are our goals? this really isn’t a joke
can happiness be superficial and our routine a hoax?
do we live for the wrong things? whilst the right things choke?
is mainstream tv legit or can it dictate our attractions?
does it actually bring us together or does it separate us into factions?
we categorize each other via a social hierarchy
but status is made by humans, so who really are we?
is ego destroying eco? are the real problems disguised?
do we really know the truth or does our society feed us lies?
are we actually filling our voids? and does money hold any true weight? could we drop our
precious comforts
to renew our planet’s state? it really is time to stop living our lives in a shell
because doing nothing for others, is the undoing of ourselves
we’re all from the same source, so let’s see it for what it’s worth
we only have one home and that home is planet earth
So are our laws actually just? or can power avoid the prison?
are our governments really innocent or are they flawed in their decisions?
do they actually care for all life? or only for their own health?
do their motives come from morals? or do they just want power and wealth?
they try to justify a war on terror but it’s lasted for over a decade
it’s caused a million deaths so don’t you think they’ve overstayed?
is patriotism necessary? can’t we see it’s prejudicial?
have we forgotten our common grounds and have we forgotten what’s artificial?
I mean am I truthfully British? am i really european?
am i actually a western person? or am i just a human being?
see the media highlight the smallest of tragedies in first world countries
but fail to cover that over 90 million worldwide have died from hunger in 12 years
so where do our priorities lie?
Britain, China, Russia, America, France. Syria, Iran
Israel, Jordan, Iraq. whether western or middle east
everyone deserves peace. no more national wars
no more bodies deceased. let’s come together as one and keep humanity in one piece. so are we going to be responsible?
are we going to take a stand? are we going change our ways and play our cards on the other hand?
I’m not saying I have all the answers and I’m not forcing any suggestions i’m just saying it’s about time we see differently and it’s about time we ask some questions so what will you do? how much will you allow? this is my call for humanity, to create a change and the time to start, is now

By Mitchell Parsons
http://resourcemagonline.com/2014/02/jamie-dunmore-my-call-for-humanity/

Amongst all the pictures of food and nonsense on Facebook sometimes a gem will pop up and remind me why I keep using my account. Thanks to my Facebook friend, Hanna who posted Jamie Dunmore’s video saying, “Stop scrolling and watch this” … I stopped scrolling and watched it… (thanks Hanna). I immediately contacted Jamie asking to interview him…

Self-described as “an aspiring Public Figure/Speaker/Activist that’s trying to expand human consciousness.”, Jamie Dunmore’s spoken word video, “My Call For Humanity” impressed and moved me. It gave me much to think about. Things I wish more people would think about.

 “I have no notions of a perfect society. I don’t know what that means. But I know we can do much better than what we’ve got.”

Suggested Reading

The Tyranny of Words Stuart Chase

The Best That Money Can’t Buy Jacque Fresco

Designing The Future Jacque Fresco

Operating Manual For Spaceship Earth R. Buckminster-Fuller

Critical Path R. Buckminster-Fuller

Grunch of Giants R. Buckminster-Fuller

Confessions Of An Economic Hitman John Perkins

Violence (Reflections on our Deadliest Epidemic) James Gilligan

The Engineers & The Price System Thorstein Veblen

The Demon Haunted World Carl Sagan

The Grip of Death. Michael Rowbotham

The Web Of Debt Ellen Brown

A Testament Of Hope Martin Luther King Jr

Science & Human Behaviour B. F. Skinner.

The Cancer Stage of Capitalism John McMurtry

The Trouble With Testosterone Robert Sapolsky.

Drive Daniel Pink

When The Body Says No Gabor Mate

The Spirit Level Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett

Letters From The Earth Mark Twain

Christ in Egypt D.M. Murdoch (Acharya S.)

The End Of Work Jeremy Rifken

Engines Of Creation K. Eric Drexler

Nanotechnology B.C. Crandall

A People’s History Of The United States. Howard Zinn

Punished By Rewards Alfie Kohn

Why Animals Suffering Matters Andrew Linzey

Eating Animals Jonathan Safran Foer

No Logo Naomi Klein

Patas arriba la escuela mundo revés Eduardo Galeano

Stupid White Men Michael Moore

The Silent Ark Juliet Gellatley

The Algebra of Infinite Justice Arundhati Roy

Ancient Futures Helena Norberg Hodge

Wandering Herman Hesse

The Prophet Khalil Gibran

Obedience To Authority Stanley Milgram

A Reasonable Life Ferenc Mate

If You Love This Planet Helen Caldicott

Letters From The Earth Mark Twain

Christ in Egypt D.M. Murdoch (Acharya S.)

The End Of Work Jeremy Rifken

Engines Of Creation K. Eric Drexler

Nanotechnology B.C. Crandall

A People’s History Of The United States. Howard Zinn

Punished By Rewards Alfie Kohn

80/10/10 Douglas N Graham

The China Study T Colin Campbell

Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating Erik Marcus

Left in the Dark Graham Gynn and Tony Wright

The Dueling Loops of the Political Powerplace Jack Harich

The Politics of Obedience: The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude
Etienne de la Boetie


CAN YOU READ THE WRITING ON THE WALL ? NO there’s nothing left at all – THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

CAN YOU READ THE WRITING ON THE WALL ? NO there’s nothing left at all

– THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

In a World saturated in Media Marketing, and a nation, and world of people brought up from Birth with endless page posts, posters, newspaper adds, pop ups, brand icons in clothing, food, television, school the average brain can no longer decipher or separate truth form the sales pitch

A child of 8 months old in the United States recognizes the Golden Arches and associates it with a emotional response of happiness. Let that sink in for a moment…At this age they can’t actually even eat a McDonald Meal (fast food nation).

Association of Branding and an emotional can only occur when enforced through peer pressure (parenting or rather bad parenting) or marketing.

Most parents reading this information are so pre-programmed to accept that specific brand as to be completely oblivious and unconcerned on finding out this information, Yet informative websites highlight concerns in addition to, climate change, animal abuse , breeding, greenhouse, gases, 3rd world famine, consumerism, pyramid financial oppression, They look at the Normality trap and how children are exploited by branding form near birth to their determent.

http://www.mcspotlight.org/case/pretrial/factsheet.html

Street Artists, who through there art work attempt to highlight and raise awareness about our base ill moral consumerism, have been capitalised by the art-world. To the point were activists and stencil graffiti artists have been branded as resell-able, collectible, art commodities.

A recent Banksy sold for a one million pound self shredding print to the highest bidder. Street Art is no longer awareness , it is a commodity and the messages in the art have been lost in the pursuit of a new art trend.

Back in 2012-13 I used to go check and photograph a Banksy at the bottom of Kentish Town, until one day the local council removed the wall it was on. they actually removed the wall to preserve the graffiti. bridges and paving slabs have been taken up for resale.  A complete prostitution on the ethics, message and values being laid out in the paintwork.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47123606

Street art has been “sold”

What about the rest of socio-political graffiti then ?  the tags, the stickers, the leaflets ? What ever is posted on the bill boards gets pulled down in the endless relentless gentrification of our cities, the “Buy to Leave” elite clear waste land and public sites for high rise penthouses and corporate developments and all that is the voice of dissent goes to the skip.

Brandalism offers resistence, and really is anti advertising at it’s best, but the target sites and the work involved are slow going, advertising spots need to be targetted and art work posted. Social Media could do better to get the images viral but the spread is too thin to challenge the mainstream.

If you have the time and drive, get a copy of “Advertising Shits in your Head” and get to work and DON’T get caught

https://www.theransomnote.com/culture/book-reviews/vandalism-in-theory-practice-advertising-shits-in-your-head-reviewed/?fbclid=IwAR2imIXTECZufgT5h0wfY6ZA5fG5m9jHwOlgzBytnoD953RdyoZj0VRMoyc

Realistically though, the Art Trend is under attack and the state have either “sold off” the Banksy trend to trendy “wanky bankies”, or pulled it down and build towers of steel and glass all over it.

The way forward is to employ the principle of all guerrilla tactics – make resistance Mobile. A rummage through the 150 plus T- Shirts of activist friend Michael Green reveals a growing form of street activism, dominated by branding since the post war 1950’s T shirt printing is now not only affordable mainstream and accessible by Joe Public, but it is now available as ethical.

T shirts – the back story: http://www.melmarc.com/history-of-the-graphic-t-shirt/

We pulled images of each and every one of Michael’s T-shirts, painstakingly sorting and compiling a summary of around 1/5 of the total for the purpose of this post

STOP – LOOK  – LISTEN then Question EVERYTHING you think you know

The average commuter sees 3500 marketing messages every day on their 45 minutes journey to and from work. How many of these marketing messages are information only, i.e with no commercial end benefactor ?

Take the test and count as you travel, my experience was that only one being a poster about awareness over the “rise” that being offending is being re-branded by the state and authorities as “offensive” and as such a crime.

The reality though is that it is NOT illegal to be offended, nor is it unacceptable that people are offended, I am personally offended every day by, the stench of cows milk in take out coffee, real fur trims, whether Canada Goose dog fur, or kitten fur pompoms, mink hats fox skins, leather form baby calves and dogs, the pollution form endless transport traffic, the disgust at copies of time out or stylist with “deliveroo” adverts for their chicken dinners, in reality just pictures of rotting body parts with glaze on, the trussed up victims of life long speciest slavery,.

it goes on.. yes, I am offended by people sitting when pregnant women stand, offended by crammed trains, travel prices, newspaper pro royalist bile.. can i get any of the perpetrators of these “hate crimes” arrested by the guardians of the state ?

Nope.. because the guardians of the state, the police officers, are financed from a central government budget (formerly police men and women and servants of the public trust sold out to “corporate policing)…

So the only advert on my journey into town the other day was an advert designed to get people to view disagreement with anything as a criminal offence, familiar ? Sounds like post war East Berlin, the rest were all about selling you product.

The distinct difference in spotting one of Michael’s t-shirts around town is that there is no product, no financial gain from reading and absorbing it, but there is personal gain, enlightenment, awareness change and in turn em-betterment of your self and your surroundings.

A recent trip to Bluewater shopping Centre (a commercial “sod’em all” and all round “Gonorrhea” of social decadence raised the following concerns yet all were completely “unseen” by the brand ./ state indoctrinated public:

Two fully armed (with automatic rifles, taser and pistols) anti terrorist police

I was under the clear impression that anti terror police were “deployed” in response to incidents, not walking around chit-chatting pushing their way though families all balloon, shopping bags and buggies. Since when did Joe public blindly accept and trust military deployment in to public spaces and find armed shopping centre guards perfectly acceptable ?

A teenager in a Nordic Arctic Fox jacket sniffing soaps in “veganish” cosmetics chain LUSH.

Nearly all the staff in LUSH chains are vegan, yet no one addressed concerns about having such a despicable peice of clothing being paraded around in store, nor had the wearer who shamelessly joked around the store in a completely unaccountable selfie culture pose, de-sentisised? Ever wonder why parents take their children to “build a bear” to get a cuddly but would never take their children to a fur farm ?

https://www.fishinaboxrecords.com/ethical-fur-farming-in-europe-expose-focus-on-norway/

There were an endless list of concerns whilst in this vast the sterile oppressive consumer warehouse – “headache” strip lights, to perfumes being sprayed in the air to stimulate food purchases.. the trick for you is to look for them and actually see them.

Emotionally disconnect and blind obedience are core features in Michael’s activism, whether it is looking at money slavery, elitist overlords both over humanity and the animal kingdom or ritual normalised destruction and slaughter, the challenge is there, the challenge is for the Public, in their drone like state, to read and “consume” concepts to stimulate them to ask questions and in asking those questions , change and seek to work towards a better and balances existence.

From the historic role “the streets” have played as a meeting point for revolution since the 19th Century we have seen a campaign commodifying the voice of dissent.

From the pop tart pot heads of the “swinging 60’s, the hate branding of the Hippies, the buy out then the sell out of the Punk generation, the oppression and dismantling of the traveler movement, the doping of the rave generation, and the watering down of the vegan movement from an anti speciest activism to a diluted commercial brand plug and diet fad over the last few decades the street has become a place, where the medium and the message is controlled and pre-packaged for the consumer.

Tactics change though, and the T shirt is a mobile engaging form of activism that as yet is not under the thumb of the powers that be. There are countless “personalized printing services to get T Shirts made up thouh one of the questions we should rasie is , if we are trying to drive change, real ethical change is the method of delivery also ethical ?

T shirt inks – usually “plastisol”

T Shirt inks until recently are in places ethical questionable, the PVC life cycle results in the release of toxic, chlorine-based chemicals which end up as by-products such as carcinogenic and highly toxic dioxin and PCB.

The major health concern about  inks is not that they are PVC-based but that they contain phthalates.

Plastisol does not “dry”.

UNITED KINGDOM PRINTERS:

We found this little UK based ethical dream T Shirt printer that is platisol free – http://idressmyself.co.uk/vegan-screen-printing/

CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES:

We have done great work with Concussion Theory, who can meet your ethical bespoke needs, to get your design work into print if you are in North America inbox:  https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/ConcussionTheory/items

 

All images taken from Personally printed and privately owned T-Shirt prints

The street is and always will be a place to advocate social and political opinions.

When thinking on WHY we need to work towards awareness , truth and breaking the cycle of indoctrination the following words come to mind:

“Bigotry, racism, nationalism, jealousy, superstition, greed, and self-centered behavior are all learned patterns of behavior, which are strengthened or reinforced by our upbringing. These patterns of behavior are not inherited human traits or “human nature” as most people have been taught to believe. If the environment remains unaltered, similar behavior will reoccur. When we come into the world we arrive with a clean slate as far as our relationships with others are concerned.

In the final analysis, any judgment regarding undesirable human behavior serves no purpose without an attempt to alter the environment that creates it. In a society that provides for most human needs, constructive behavior would be reinforced, and people who have difficulty interacting in the community would be helped rather than imprisoned.

Aspiring to a particular ethical behavior has to do with human aspirations and ideals. Functional morality is the ability to provide a process level to achieve a sustainable environment for all people. By this, we mean providing clean air and water, goods and services, and a healthy and innovative environment that is emotionally and intellectually fulfilling. It is difficult to conceive of any solutions that would serve the interest of the majority in a monetary-based system. None of this can be accomplished without a comprehensive redesign of our social system and eventual replacement of the monetary-based system by a resource-based economy.”

~ The Best That Money Can’t Buy – Beyond Politics, Poverty, & War (book)

https://www.thevenusproject.com/store/c/books/

Be part of the change you would to see in the world.

Do not , in your apathy, allow Financial Leprosy to spread unchallenged. You’ve seen the soft drink adds, the diet pills, the animal slaughter, now wear the T Shirt and stop all means to attract and distract from the Truth. If you do, there is HOPE for real change

DISCLAIMER:

Links to information on sites other than those operated by FISHINABOX RECORDS are for your convenience only and are not an endorsement or recommendation of those sites. FISHINABOX RECORDS does not control or provide any content or information at these sites, makes no representation or warranty of any kind with respect to these sites or their content, and does not maintain, operate, or take responsibility for information provided. Any Liability or copyright lies in the user content provider from where the content has been sourced. All sources are Public Social Media Feeds.

Any request for take down needs to be directed to the content provider.

FISHINABOX RECORDS does not endorse and is not responsible for the uploading, maintenance, reproduction, accuracy or reliability of such content or information and any use thereof is solely at the user’s risk.

 

Urban Vegan Permaculture Project – Credit Crunch Living outside the BOX

Urban Vegan Permaculture Project – Credit Crunch Living outside the BOX

Are you running to stand still and paying a heavy interest Inherited “Mortgage for life” Debt ? Working 9 to 5 …and the rest? Don’t Drink ? Don’t Smoke ?… sick of politics and can’t be bothered to Vote (and why should you ?). Can’t keep up with the Jones’es and sick of the sight of them ?

There is half a nation like you out there, financially crippled by the lies and small print of the monetary system. Sold the Reality Asylum “Dream” but more like a cell where no one can hear you scream.

If Austerity has not yet reduced you to “I Daniel Blake” then there is a way to start turning the tide. Regardless of whether you even know about the concept of a Resource based Economy or a Vegan Lifestyle this post may open your mind to selling your square wheeled life for a new set of rubber treads and some more.

Free Thinkers have been engaging the Public in, discussing, theorizing debating the benefits of Ethical Monetary free living for decades. We have seen Communes and housing projects, ECO villages, even whole city programs like the Venus Project. What is missing will all of them is mass engagement. Access for  large groups of people to engage with change systems.

Whilst advocating a resource based Economy, the frustration we are left with on the daily is in still paying , living, being locked into the rat race and the money trap which burns down our pitiful financial resources and our time and head-space.

With that in mind we looked closer to how at a three step strategy to getting breathing space from the System. Our focus for this project fell in three  main steps:

1 – Food (shift to Home Grown) to cut costs of £600 – £900 (all food and drink – family of 4 average) all in a month

2 – Power (shift to Home Produced) to cut costs of £200 (Water Gas / Electricity / Fuel  – family of 4 average) all in a month

3 – Self Sustainability (shift to Self Funding) , barter and trade with the increasing network of other people achieving the same, zero financial cost living, (that’s everything else we pay on from taxes to toilet paper)

Like 24 million other home dwellers in the UK, We are Stuck in the bog standard Urban / Suburban House, a 3 or 4 bed, the usual, some crubby semi or an end of terrace scenario with a slap-on under delivering box extension and a 100 – 120 foot garden of wilderness and bare lawn pressed in between two rows of decaying council fences, a collection of old pots, marigolds and tomatoes a potato here and there and a general lack lustre pair of unkempt fruit trees.

Gearing this up into an all year round pesticide free and ethical home grown supermarket seemed like a mammoth task.

Visualising and implimenting the change (Step 1 FOOD)

Rather than lead you up the garden path, a few good connections can see you straight to an organised satisfying home farming solution. On a lazy afternoon up at Dial House I raised the issues, Penny Rimbaud forever thoughtful on who needs who and why seemed to know the right person to get in touch with and be able to see why long before you do yourself,  dropped in to the conversation “Do you know of a chap called Graham Burnett” (Spiral Seeds)…

Graham was the enabler to our “Step 1” and for those who don’t have the all solving connections in their daily trudge and want to get out of the mud and clean up their “trench foot”, this post is your short cut guide to getting home farming up and running fast.

If you need any background into why this only works as  a Vegan Permaculture Project, then before you cut your power off so to speak, tune in to Netflix and watch COWSPIRACY…

specifically the below 1.22 Minute section which points out your biggest enemy as an urban home grower, lack of space…

Step 2 is tied into knowing what you need power wise, not just a case of a solar power upgrade and sell back to the grid, or finding bio gas home generators that generate the right consistency of gas to power your car or home appliances or whether and how to set up a grey water system….

Step 3 is the final stage where you apply the wishful thinking “If I can’t grow it or get it through shared home farming network or barter it, then I do without it” to the rule.

Then step out of your job, resell the overs on the power supply to cover insurances and taxes and in true Felicity Kendall Style, embrace the good life.

THE KNOWLEDGE:

There’s an endless list of self sustainability stories , dreams, ideas, vegan this and that, anti capitalist this that, so we are just going to spoon feed you with what you need for an “urban” change and walk you through our project.

You will need to understand your space, be able to grow, harvest and eat from it all year round and make sure you can protect what you grow naturally to make this work.

The best hand books we found and used were Graham Burnetts “Guide to Vegan Permaculture “combined with the “beginners guide” along with “ecology of the self” and “top of the crops”. They cover the basics and inspires all sorts of environment improving ideas that ensure success and yield.

We are shamelessly plugging those titles as “The Knowledge”

Free sample page download 

https://spiralseed.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Vegan-Book-of-Permaculture-lowres-extract.pdf

Here is the sales plug:

https://spiralseed.co.uk/product/the-vegan-book-of-permaculture-and-permaculture-a-beginners-guide-offer/

Get the book ,

Get reading NOW.

You are due to plant for summer in the next 2 – 6 weeks !

INFASTRUCTURE:

This again you can find and build low cost low stress from the guide. We wanted NO cost and NO stress so we took building composters and planters a little further.

Stone paving crates. They are dumped everywhere. All you need is a large vehicle to haul them. Line them with 1 ton sand or gravel haulage bags, again, these are found literally lying about everywhere and you have a dual purpose composter and planter ready to put together.

Cut the bag to fit the frame but leave the flaps, as initially you will need to wrap the whole planter  with the additional Canvas and secure whilst using as a composter. This protects and keeps the heat in. Composting will take a minimum of 12 months.

SEEDLINGS:

We use Steel racks, and a little potting compost. (Yes the ones you see in your local large grocers or corner shop.)

They are on wheels  so you can move them around, have adjustable levels so you can create or remove space depending of the height of your seedlings as they grow (or don’t  – forgot to water ? over-watered ? too hot too cold wrong soils, too rich, not rich enough, rich or poor sand or stone mixed soils ?… oh dear…………its death death death death – how to avoid “death” – read the guide to Vegan Permaculture)

Dead heading…

Eaten something you want to grow ? Never ever want to pay for it again but want to eat it forever ? then dead head it.

Our experience –  it was great for salads, celery, herbs, spring onions (cut to bottom of stem let it grow back up, do not dig up, use when season regular onions run out… ) poor success with root vegetables but don’t let that stop YOU ! We just had too much on to keep on top of the deadhead root veg.

Conservatory or garden ?

Ginger, Chilli’s and Peppers thrive inside or in a sun trap or conservatory. Our experience is that all these did much better inside rather than outside buy hey try you luck split your seeds and compare.

Planting directly into planters, this means less work transferring seedlings or plug plants into planters later on though if you are planting early you will need to use plastic / poly tunnels to keep in heat and protect against any last frosts. We plant straight in and the results are very good all year round.

COMPOSTS / SOILS:

Except for potting compost, we prepare our own soil through composting. Ours mostly came from our rescue work with Chickens, recycling our “crops not shops” lifestyle and a few adds such as seaweed to make rich ever giving compost.

Cook on an open fire –

There are some controls to observe in Urban Areas when cooking on an open fire A guide from the department of the environment food and rural affairs is included below.

https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/sites/northherts-cms/files/171204open_fires_wood_burning_stoves_FINAL.pdf

When done correctly, and, by the guide, with the correct fuel, wood burning is environmentally friendly, cost-effective and produces very little smoke pollution . Done incorrectly with wet wood , treated wood it is not.

Burn Clean Fuel, Eat well, Compost well.

We use seasoned (dried) wood which we have collected or dried from tree cutting. Make a space to store and dry your wood. Wet wood gets smokey which is unpleasant as well when cooking.

Use the wood ashes. They do not contain nitrogen and will not burn plants, they can be useful in the garden, especially in the compost pile. Wood ash compost can be a valuable source of lime, potassium, and other trace elements.

Composting seaweed speeds up the compost process – 

When you are next at an AV event in Southend, be sure to pick up a bucket of Seaweed from the beachfront after. Don’t wash it as when using seaweed as compost, any saltwater or clinging sand simply add to the beneficial and essential elements within the soil amendment.

Apples, don’t let them rot just compost them –

like practically all other organic waste, are ideal for composting. Even hard apples will rot and get soft very soon

Chicken Manure –

Perfect, it is very high in nitrogen and also contains a huge amount of potassium and phosphorus. The high nitrogen and nutrients are the reason that chicken manure compost is the best kind of manure to use.

Save animals  AND secure a supply:

Rescuing Chickens is your best step to excellent constant supply of high grade organic compost and fertilizer.

Chickens have a seriously hard time in a Human dominated world – Based on the rate of destruction,  http://thevegancalculator.com/animal-slaughter/ Chickens are pretty much the most hated land based animal on the planet.

They have become so objectified in mainstream society as to be seem as little more than a coveted snack food, whose value is assessed wholly on the limitation of their life, how they can be modified, abuse enslaved and com-modified planet.

The constant endless breeding, hatching, fattening processes they are pushed through has led to them being unable to ovulate normally (period is accelerated 26 times to lay an egg a day instead of once a month) to over feed and to have an artificially shortened life and excruciating painful death (cancer, tumours).

These accelerations have all been driven by human financial demand to eat them. Basically “YOU” the consumer ensures that these animals suffer and die for snack food.

So there is nothing kinder that to get in touch with your local British Hen Welfare Trust and re home some hens. Take a look: https://www.bhwt.org.uk/

There are restrictions in most councils in urban areas on keeping Roosters, though Hens do not have to registered up to flocks of 50. A usual amount for an urban sustainability project of this size, to meet your composting needs, would sit around a comfortable 6 to  8/10. Some councils have chicken coop limits on sizing though a small flock of under 10 will sit comfortably in local guidelines.

For those of you that like the idea but are new to Chickens be aware of The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 which sets out minimum standards under which farm animals (including chickens kept for domestic purposes) and try to make a couple of trips down to a Vegan Animal Sanctuary such as The Retreat in Kent, or Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norwich, Hopefield Animal Sanctuary (went fully Vegan in Jan 2019) in Essex.

More Sanctuaries can be found in the below list, though do check with them before visiting that they are 100% Vegan as to visit a sanctuary that is peddling animal products out of their rescues are just perpetrating the cycle of abuse.

https://www.animalaid.org.uk/list-of-sanctuaries/

Eggs – Got Chickens now – Eggs everywhere !!

The first question you will be asked if you keep chickens is do you eat the eggs ? What you have to take in to consideration is that the chicken is breed to have an accelerated menstrual cycle. They have a cycle (an egg) every day in stead of once every 26 – 28 days naturally.  Look at any human female and how difficult their lives are during their monthly cycle and ask your self how would their health and quality of life be if they menstruated every day ?

Feeding the Eggs, that’s ALL the eggs back to the Chickens is important for them because a large amount of the calories they are eating are put into producing the daily egg, and not into their own bodies, which, if not fed back to them debilitates them quickly hence why a free range hen only lives a life of 2 – 3 years whereas a wild hen would live for around 8 to 10 years.

Taking Eggs from a chicken with the misbegotten “ethic” that they lay them anyway and discard them shortens their life by 75% . imagine again an average Human female and limiting her life form 80 years to 20 and making her suffer every day of her adult life with a menstrual cycle.

With that in mind, It is common practice for farm animal sanctuaries to feed eggs back to their rescued chickens, as it has shown to help them live longer,combating tumours, cancer and exhaustion and lead to fuller healthier lives.

FREE RANGE EGGS ? Just say NO

https://www.peta.org/living/food/free-range-eggs/

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/30/free-range-eggs-con-ethical

http://www.foodispower.org/hens-raised-for-eggs/

In addition the consumption of eggs works against the health benefits of home growing as the single biggest cause of high cholesterol are eggs.

What about Protein ? – Eggs are high in Protein:

In our own project our Hens are living on average 6-7 years and are battery farm and hatchery rescues. Don’t take the eggs, feed it back to the Chickens, supplement a non GM layer pellet feed with Apples, Seeds, Brocolli, green vegetables Rice, Porridge, wholemeal. In short, Make sure to try and feed your chickens wholesome foods,.

As a general rule if you can eat it so can they. EXCEPT  fatty foods or foods with lots of salt in, (Junk food). Processed food is in direct contradiction to the principle and practice of this project and also consumer chronic poison. (See Sugar the bitter truth and Fast Food Nation)

So back to our building blocks , our foundation of the project: SOIL – Our Compost rots down naturally, no odour, no additives, in 12 months.

For Year ONE we had pre-prepared 4 tonnes of ready rotted compost , supplemented with 4 tonnes of organic shop bough compost.

For year TWO we had a full 12 tonnes or high quality compost from recycling. we turned over the Year ONE compost with Year TWO and doubled the output.

Graham Burnett’s Book “Vegan Permaculture” is an excellent source on soil, “make compost not war”.

Mummy , There’s a Monster under my Bed !!

No Hunny that’s just my Mushrooms sprouting !!

To create an indoor bed for your mushrooms, fill a wooden box that’s at least 6 inches deep with your hopefully by now) good old trusty Chicken manure from your rescues.

Leave a few inches of space below the rim of the box. Spread the readied spored material from your mushroom kit on the top of the soil and mist it thoroughly so its moist, place in darkened corners everywhere.

So we finally got there on Button Mushrooms, we grew them forgot them , they died, we grew them didnt harvest them and they tirned in to massive flying saucers, still ate them. we grew them cut them and ate them perfect..

For outside growing you can grow in closed composters (fold the flaps of your planters over or use early composting to give yield before ready for regular vegetables, you can use part composted manure after about 6 weeks (if forked) or 3 months (if not). It needs to reach the stage where it has zero odour of manure or ammonia at all when exposed to the air (you can’t smell it with the flaps closed so open up and do a smell test). Chicken Manure, and their hay / straw spent bedding that has partially decomposed is perfect

Fork it over every few days, which will speed up the decomposition process. When the heat goes, it should be in the right state. Make sure there is no ammonia smell – as ammonia is very toxic to mushrooms. It also needs to be cooled to 25C, before you can use it – button mushrooms will die at 35C and composters are hot in the centre. Spreading the compost and mushroom spawn into a layer no more than about 9″ high,  on the surface of the composter block will help to cool it once the thermophilic decomposition is complete and inspire good growth.

Quantities of spawn –  60g to about every 2kg of manure/straw. We worked on scales on 1000 kg (1 tonne) selecting 100kg being the top layer and used a 250g pack. Sprinkle some on the surface and then dig it in to homogenise it.

What about a woodpile like you see in the forest ? Mushrooms grow very badly in wood bark and straw only, as it is a secondary decomposer, and needs to have the cellulose cut into smaller pieces by bacteria before it can grow. Stick to indoor or composters for success.

You can grow it in the log-pile if you like, but button mushroom doesn’t like to grow on logs, so the logs would be nothing but decorative. As the aim is to grow to eat, our recommendation is stick to interior boxes in dark corners cupboard and under beds or use a closed composter.

Apples…

Doughnut Peaches….

Tomatoes all varieties…

Plums…

Figs and Olives… (New plants, will need south facing sun spots)

Cherries, Pears…

We also put in Honey Berry, Goose Berry and Blue Berry. Strawberries, Hob Nuts…. all good essential fruits

Sweetcorn..

Squashes, Pumpkins, Courgettes, Zuccinnis. From 5 full tonne planters. We got 3 full annual yields of around 40 -55 a yield. 150 a year. after each harvest we cut back and composted dead leaf. The seeds were mixed so we were nto exactly sure what was going to come up as a apart form colour of seed (brown to blueish to red) you can’t really tell them apart. The planters were placed in full sum tray at rear and part shade in front, Leaf growth was larger in semi shade but yield only half of the rear planters.. just a pointer, root veg for semi shade and squashes, corns, tomatoes in full sun.

Potatoes…

Peas and Beans..

Cabbages..

Cabbages, We sacrificed these to slugs and snails mostly planting between spinach and chard as fodder for the garden battlefield. We picked up 5400 cabbage seeds for 1.99, of which around 600, 700 grew . our yield was very low but it kept the snails and slugs off the aubergines, chard, spinach and salads which were the more important crops.

Why not use Slug Pellets or pesticides ?

Aubergines… 8 plants, outdoor 1/2 tonne planter, yield 38 aubergines –  long (late crop) and short (early crop)

Mustard Lettuce

Spinach (Epinards) Planters 3 tonne all year round snow or dry

 

Chard all year (cut and come again, allow self seeding, never dies snow or dry) 2m sq Ground sewn

 

Chard and Spinach together delivered yield 4 carrier bags a week spring summer autumn and 1 bag a week in winter

Rhubarb…

Beetroot (seeded and early growth over packed in 1 tonne planter  cut and come again for the leaves then separated out twice and grown sewn to allow larger growth of the beetroots to continue)

Harvesting Beetroot leaves all year, beetroots constant supply from October to February. We seeded 500.

Broccoli – Autumn all through winter.. again harvest the leaves, over and over until the florets come through

 

Through the frost and any snow just shake off the poly-tunnels every day, check moisture level ensure no exposed gaps. Frost under the poly tunnel will kill your crop.

Nutrition

Vegans get up to speed on nutrition very very fast. If you are new to having to think through and plan what you need to maximise health and performance, and, also translate that to what you put in the ground here is your essential must have bible:

Get a copy here: https://www.lizcookcharts.co.uk/so-what-do-you-eat-book.html

Recycling your Materials – 

Any left over wood from planters or tree cuttings, build furniture , stools, seating..

Harvest… Whilst the main crops come in season there are constant weekly , daily collections to be done of ripened crops, even when you get to the tail ends (corn for example) you can cut away any damaged veg and feed it back to the Chickens.

    

Preserve it, Cook it , Eat it ..

Process your fresh grown supply as fast as possible, stew it, bake, it, curry it, stir fry it, dehydrate it, freeze it get your meals processed and stored as back up for Winter short supply and for any shortage fail in any type crop.

Over he Project life of 24 months, we reduced food monthly spend reduced by £600 to £150 – 200 by supplementing with an urban home grown program of vegan permaculture.

Our new spend covered all food and drink for (in our case) a live in family of 6 average and visiting additional 3 two weekends a month.

Being able to live “The Good Life” in an urban environment,the stranglehold that Austerity has on so many of us through crippling finances was pushed right back.

There is a large time and responsibility commitment needed through out the project to ensure that crops are protected, tended and watered without fail. Be proactive, don;t let the basic gardening slip and your yields will stay high.

The focus gained in understanding our immediate environment and how to maximise it for best return is highly satisfying, not only that, to be able to ensure that the majority of your food supply is free from pesticides, storage, contamination , stabilisers or other additives or processes, means that our food supply is the best we can offer our body’s and souls, the change in quality to home grown is something, from our experience, we firmly believe we can all thrive on.

With food tested and proven, our attention shifts to Power sources. We are all living in a box,. you don’t have to be told any more.. Break out.

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