ABBOTSWOOD ACTION GROUP
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Aims And Objectives
    • History
    • Policies >
      • Constitution
      • Equality And Diversity
      • Safeguarding
  • Meet The Team
  • What's On?
    • Events
    • Projects
    • Activities >
      • What's On Weekly
      • Photography Competition
      • At Home Easter Hunt
      • Puzzles
      • Printables
    • Community Consultation
  • Gallery
  • Our Partners
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

REGROW YOUR SCRAP VEG...

10/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Another short and sweet one for you... We're loving the community tips so do keep them coming!

​What better way to save money than eat the same vegetable twice? And no... not just eat onions more than once in your life... we literally mean eat the same onion twice!

Like many of us, the lockdown boredom got to Alex and Jo and a few too many hours were spent on youtube… They learnt a few new tricks though, including how to regrow veggies on the windowsill to keep eating again and again. In their experience leeks and spring onions work best. The regrown leek and spring onions went into their homemade green tomato chutney... check back for the recipe!

Here's the video that got them growing...

Alex and Jo experimented with this quite a bit during lockdown. They found the best way for leeks and spring onions was to keep a fairly chunky base back and pop it in water in the windowsill. Watch the roots develop and then when you've got a reasonable size green regrowth remove from the water and pot up in fresh compost, making sure not to cover the whole thing. If you're able to you can eventually transplant them into the garden to keep merrily growing until you're ready to harvest.

Maybe we should start a competition going, who can eat one vegetable the most times? You might start getting deja vu though...

​See you next time!
0 Comments

SAVE YOUR JARS

6/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Question time. How many jars of chutneys, jams and pickles do you get at Christmas? You know the ones, all the fancy flavours that you find at the Christmas markets... Jars of special somethings in stylish hampers... The cute layered cake mixes you might get as a gift from the cousin you see once a year...

Now add in all the jars you buy during the year to keep your store cupboard well stocked. That's a fair few jars collected right? Now what are you going to do with them? Stick them in the recycling?

Well that is one option but it's far better to repurpose and reuse them in some way. With a little creative thinking a plain boring old jar could be just the thing you need around the house. Or maybe you could fill them up with goodies, pretty them up a bit with some ribbon and make beautiful homemade gifts for loved ones. 

Here's a few ideas...

Make sure to give them a good clean before you repurpose them and you're good to go! If you're going to use them to store foods make sure you sterilise them before each use.

Sterilising is easy. Pop your oven on to 150 - 160 degrees C. While your oven is heating up give the jars and lids a wash in hot soapy water, then rinse, leaving upside down on the draining board. When the oven has reached temperature place them on a baking tray and 'bake' for about 10 minutes. Providing they are dry fill them as soon as you can so you don't risk contaminating the freshly sterilised jars.

That's it for now. Make sure to check back as we've got some great community tips and recipes on the way!
0 Comments

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

4/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Yate Library - librarytechnology.org
With the world turning more and more to technology and our happy habits for 'retail therapy' libraries need our support now more than ever... Once you're in the door they can support you just as much as you support them!

Libraries and book swaps aren't exactly a new concept so why aren't more of using them? Save your pocket by reading a book that someone has already read, then pass it along to someone who hasn't. 

Chances our your local library is offering a lot more than just a few thousand or so books to browse. Yate Library is a fantastic community resources just waiting for your visit. Pre lockdown you could use their computers, bring your little ones to story time, be part of the poetry group or speak to Bevan Evemy for some free legal advice. And that's just a small fraction of the list! They're in the process of reopening some of their services so make sure you take a look!

Summer Reading Challenge...

We're proud to be supporting the summer reading challenge!

This is a fantastic annual event to get your kids enjoying reading! Challenge bags include reading suggestions, even e-books count, and some fun arts and crafts. Perhaps you would like to join Mason and accessorize your silly squad giraffe... 

For your summer reading challenge bags or pyjamama bags if you've got pre-schoolers, you can pop over to the library, see Alex at our community drop in or join is near the Abbotswood play equipment on Friday 11th September from 2.30pm.

​What will you be reading?
Picture
pickpic
See you again tomorrow!
0 Comments

bug hotels

25/9/2019

0 Comments

 
Summer is sadly officially over and we're into Autumn. Sigh. The garden might be starting to look a little worse for wear and the trees are starting to change colour...

Which means our littlest friends will be starting to think where to overwinter. This is where you come in, yay! You can help build the perfect little warm hiding spots with all the rubbish that has mysteriously appeared in the garden shed. A broken plant pot, a few split bamboo canes, a bucket of leftover gravel, the tile that fell off the roof. It's all good.

First up, think of size and location. If you're going big, it's probably best to build your hotel in position. Where you build is pretty much up to you, someone is bound to move in eventually. If you are hoping to attract a certain species do your research, as different creatures like different conditions.

Start your creation with a sturdy base, old pallets are great for big structures. If you're saving space, maybe try a disused bird box or wooden crate. Now simply get filling. Aim to make as many nooks and crannies as possible. Think of them like hotel rooms... the more rooms you've got, the more guests you can have. Go mad, dead wood, sticks, stones, straw, tiles, corrugated card... The only thing holding you back is your imagination. Once you're happy, pop on a roof. We wouldn't want any guests getting cold now would we?

Maybe your little ones will end up looking like this:
Picture
https://pixabay.com
Or if you're going big maybe you would like to take some inspiration from Abbotswood and Wapley Bushes. Hotel Abbotswood is a rather rustic affair, blending into the wider landscape. Whereas a local Brownie group took the themed approach, Wapley Bushes even has a coffee bar and rooftop garden...
Don't forget, when working in hospitality you can never really be sure who your next guest will be. The right venue could attract more than just insects... Done well you could have the cast of the Wind In The Willows coming to stay!

References:
​RSPB
0 Comments

Savvy Shoppers

24/9/2019

0 Comments

 
Shopping. It's a very marmite thing isn't it? In one camp you have everyone who finds shopping a necessary evil... And in the other you have the retail therapy lovers. Whichever side you fall on there are a few ways of shopping that are kinder on your pocket and kinder on the planet.

Online swaps...

Picture
https://www.flickr.com
Social media is a great place to start as their are plenty of groups set up specifically for swapping items with others in their area, often for free or next to nothing. If social media is not your thing, then there are specific sites such as freecycle set up for the same purpose.

Charity shops...

Picture
https://www.flickr.com
Always a thrifty shoppers favourite. It saves you money, stops preloved goods going to waste, all whilst supporting a worthy cause. Need we say more?

Jumble sales...

Picture
https://www.flickr.com
They may be going out of fashion a little, which is a great shame. You never know what bargains you might find rummaging around a good jumble or car boot sale. You might find something perfect for that upcycling project you've got going on (cough cough, PLANTERS, cough cough). 

Supermarket reductions...

Picture
https://pixabay.com/
We all love a yellow label! Get to know your local supermarket and find out when they put out their reductions. You can grab yourself some great bargains while stopping perfectly good food going in the bin. Just watch out for those pesky 2 for 1 offers, if you won't use it, don't but it! No waste on our watch, thank you very much.

Outlet stores...

Picture
https://commons.wikimedia.org/
OK, so probably not the best option for saving the planet, but it's still an option. Plenty of big name brands will have an outlet store where they send all their products that are not perfect after manufacture. In most cases you won't even notice the defect. Luxury products at low prices, and you're helping to reduce waste.
Happy shopping!
0 Comments

Small Space Growing

22/9/2019

0 Comments

 
The growing season might be nearly over, but that doesn't mean we can't start thinking about next year. 

There is something special about growing your own, well, anything. Flowers, veggies, the odd few herbs, and small space growing is a great place to start. No matter where you live there is always something you can grow.

The nights are starting to draw in and the evenings are getting chilly. Why not use some of that sofa time to start thinking of what you might like to grow next year. Then when you're stuck for something to do on the weekends turn your attention to crafting a fancy planter all of your own. Pretty much anything can be turned into a planter, just remember a few key points:
  • It must have drainage holes.
  • It may need a liner.
  • Depending on material it may need a protective finishing coat. 
Once you've got your planter, you can start planning your plants! If you're growing from seed, toilet roll tubes make excellent compostable seed trays. Fill your toilet roll  tubes with compost and pop your seeds in. Once seedlings are ready to be transplanted just reposition the whole tube in the desired pot. As you water your plant the tube will break up allowing for root growth.

Small space inspiration...

  • Grow herbs in a drain pipe placed on a window sill.
  • Grow strawberries out of old boots.
  • Make a succulent feature out of a tea set.
  • Make use of the ready made drainage from a colander.  
  • Grow flowers out of a brightly coloured watering can.
  • This toy wheelbarrow has been turned into a cactus arrangement...
Picture
You can experiment with colours, decorations and finding the best position around your home or garden. You may have to do a little research into what will grow best in your conditions e.g. window sill growing, shady corners or north facing gardens, but that can all be part of the fun. If you're growing edibles, make sure you choose things you will actually eat. We don't want anything going to waste, do we?

If you've got a little more space, then maybe something like this could be an option:
Picture
Jo made this planter out of old unwanted pallets that would have otherwise gone to waste. The planter was lined with leftover polythene sheeting. Gravel was repurposed from the garden to add drainage to the bottom, and then filled with compost. The herbs were saved from the clearance section of asda's fruit and veg section and replanted. With a little tender loving care they've come back strong and healthy... Just ignore the mint in the background, that's already had several months of use and is starting to give up the ghost ready for next year. By using unwanted materials, odds and ends of equipment he already had, Jo spent less than £10 on the whole project. To buy new planters of a similar size could easily cost you £50 or more. Well done Jo, that's quite the saving!
Picture
We hope Theo cheered up after you took his pallet away though... He doesn't look too impressed with your thriftiness...

A quick tip...

When reading guidance on seed packets or plant pots you're usually told how much space you should leave between each plant. To make the most of your small space growing, go a little mad and cram as much as you can fit in. Remember if your plants start to look a little cramped you can always take one or two back out... And then move them to other planters you've been busy making haha. A word of warning, once you catch the bug it can get a little addictive.

​But oh so worth it!
0 Comments

Towards Zero Waste

20/9/2019

0 Comments

 
We've only got time for a little one today folks... We've been having more than a few technical difficulties today, so please excuse us if anything looks a little odd...

But anyway, let's get to it!

We've had another case of the community coming forward with their own suggestions for Sustainable September. Keep them coming, we love to hear them all. Today's post is all about online peer support.

Who's heard of Working Towards Zero Waste - Yate and Chipping Sodbury Facebook group? Well we hadn't until the wonderful Paul told us about them. They're a growing online community group made up of local people all giving each other support with sustainable living and reducing waste. It's a fantastic thing to be part of because they value non-judgemental attitudes. You can search for advice and make suggestions of your own. Wondering what to do with your old holey tights? Just ask! Found a local group collecting bottle tops for charity, tell others! Post a comment to promote and support local campaigns and initiatives. It's that simple...

What are you waiting for? Hop on over to Facebook and take a look for yourself!
Picture
https://www.flickr.com
0 Comments

Playful Pets!

19/9/2019

0 Comments

 

A note from Alex...

The greatest thing for me about Sustainable September so far has been how involved Abbotswood residents and the wider community has been. When we decided to try the blog this year, I sat down, researched sustainability and did a rough plan of a post for every day. There's quite a few that haven't been used because of hearing great things from you folks! And today is a prime example of just that... Over to Jo and Theo with their suggestion of how to reuse an old plastic bottle...

You will need:

Picture
  • Bottle
  • Marker pen
  • Knife
  • Pet treats

Plus...

Picture
  • One curious cat...
  • Or dog if you prefer

Method:

Picture
Step one:

Mark out some holes. The more holes you have, and the bigger they are the harder your pet will have to work.
Picture
Step two:

​Cut out the holes.
Picture
Step three:

Pour in some of your pets favourite treats.
Picture
Step four:

If you want to challenge your pet some more, pop the lid back on.

Play time!

You've almost got them out Theo! Thank you Jo for sending us your how to photos and video, and thank you to Theo for your starring role. You were purrrfect!

Advisory note - Supervise your pets while playing with their treat bottles, we wouldn't want anyone chewing things they shouldn't. Have fun everyone!
0 Comments

Deck The Halls...

14/9/2019

0 Comments

 
Deck the halls with boughs of holly... Falalala lalalala! It's never too early to talk about Christmas!

Especially if you're going to get creative with your decorations this Christmas... It's time for a little bit of papercraft.

What you need:

Picture
  • Paper
  • Something sticky (glue or double sided tape is great)
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • String
  • Hole punch

Method:

Picture
Step 1:
Take one corner and fold over. The top edge of the paper should line up neatly with the side edge, creating a diagonal fold. If you are using origami paper the folded shape will make a right angled triangle.
Picture
Step 2:
Cut the excess paper from the bottom, leaving the folded paper. If you have origami paper you can miss out this step.
Picture
Step 3:
Fold the triangle in half, along the longest edge, creating a smaller triangle.
Picture
Step 4:
Leave the longest edge uncut. Using the other two, make parallel cuts from the open edge towards the folded edge, stopping a short distance before the end. You do not want to cut all the way along. About 5 cuts works well dependant on the size of your paper. If you want to be precise, you can measure with the pencil and ruler, Alex was feeling lazy...
Picture
Step 5:
​Unfold. 
Picture
Step 6:
Take hold of the centre cuts, and stick together creating a tube like effect. The pencil is optional, it gives you something to push against, helping the adhesive stick effectively.
Picture
Step 7:
Turn the whole thing over.
Picture
Step 8:
Repeat step 6.
Picture
Step 9:
Repeat steps 7 - 8, once you've finished folding it should look something like this.
Picture
Step 10:
​Make a hole at the top.
Picture
Step 11.
Add string. If you're happy with the spiral shape you can hang it like this. If you're feeling fancy, there's more you can do...

Bonus steps:

Picture
Bonus 1:
Repeat steps 1 - 9. You're going to need 6 spirals.
Picture
Bonus 2:
Take three spirals and line them up. Stick the right edge of one, to the left edge of the next, and repeat until you have a chain.
Picture
Bonus 3:
Stick the bottom corners together so that they make a point. Repeat bonus steps 2 - 3 with the remaining three spirals.
Picture
Bonus 4:
Stick together the edges of the two halves so they create a star shape. Stick together the two  centre points so that it creates a neat join in the middle.
Picture
Bonus 5:
​Hang. Yay!!

And don't forget...

Picture
Make the most of your paper! Don't forget the offcuts, you can make miniatures to hang on the tree. During stage 6,  if you keep the corners flat when you stick them, they will create the pointed star instead of the spiral.

Here's the sustainability bit!

We know Christmas is exciting and on the big day you can't wait to rip into your presents. But please try not to do this:
Picture
Try to keep the paper in reasonable condition. You can then reuse it to make next year's decorations! You can get as creative as you like, experiment with different coloured papers and patterns. You could even create multicoloured designs: Stick the plain side of one paper, to the plain side of another. The folds will then display the different colours. If you can, avoid papers that have glitter on, as in most places glitter is a non-recyclable substance. If you can encourage your friends and family to use recycled wrapping paper for their gifts, even better!

Merry Christmas folks!
0 Comments

Save Money With Plastic Piggies

8/9/2019

0 Comments

 
Plastic piggies might have been a teeny fib... How about plastic bottle piggy banks?

OK, so you're off to a good start, you've treated yourself to a fancy reusable bottle. Yay! But now you've got a recycling box full of plastic bottles waiting to be collected, right? Well let's put them to good use and have some fun with the kids. You get to give the bottle a new life and start teaching the little ones good saving habits at the same time. Win win!

What you need:

Picture
  • Plastic bottle
  • Scissors
  • Whatever decorations you can find
  • Imagination

Method:

Picture
Step 1:
Cut a coin slit.
Picture
Step 2:
Go wild with your decoration!

We know, oddly cute right?
Picture
Step 3:
Raid your wallet and start saving!
Who said recycling had to be boring...
0 Comments

    Author

    Our current author is our AAG Committee member Pen Bailey.  If you would like to be a guest blogger please do contact us here at AAG 

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    September 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019

    Category

    All
    Abbotswood
    Activities
    Arts And Crafts
    Community Spirit
    Community Tips
    Easter
    Events
    Foraging
    Fun And Games
    Grow Your Own
    Guest Blog
    Motivational Monday
    Nature
    Penny Savers
    Recipes
    Recycle
    Reduce
    Reuse
    Sustainability
    Sustainable September
    Volunteering

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Aims And Objectives
    • History
    • Policies >
      • Constitution
      • Equality And Diversity
      • Safeguarding
  • Meet The Team
  • What's On?
    • Events
    • Projects
    • Activities >
      • What's On Weekly
      • Photography Competition
      • At Home Easter Hunt
      • Puzzles
      • Printables
    • Community Consultation
  • Gallery
  • Our Partners
  • Blog
  • Contact Us