The next work day at the Community Orchard will be on 28 January 2012, from 10 am — 2 pm.
We shall probably work for a couple of hours and then do some wassailing to encourage next season’s fruitfulness.
Unfortunately the Orchard Solstice Party planned for 17 December has had to be cancelled because of lack of available people to organise it.Posted in Orchards
Sat 29th October 2-4pmAll welcome!
If you have any apples that we could collect to juice please contact Diana as soon as possible.
Many thanks – we hope to see you there.
Donkeyfield Community Orchard is at Brunstane Road South, Gilberstoun, just opposite Brunstane station.
Poster for Apple Day 2011 to download and print out.
Saturday Aug 27th 2−30−4.30 — Local Currency Event
Join us at Old Parish Church Hall, Belfield Street, to discuss how to get an Edinburgh-wide local currency in place by this time next year (for more information, scroll down to the earlier post on the subject).
Saturday Sept 3rd — Next Organic Market in Brighton Park
This will be the 1st anniversary of the market and — as well as the wonderful stalls — will include:
- a series of brief inspiring films from 10.30 and an organic picnic (bring your own food or buy at the market) from 12.30 as PEDAL becomes one of 12 communities across Scotland hosting a ‘Blasta’ event celebrating Local Food. (Blasta is Gaelic for ‘tasty’).
- a Big Things On The Beach public art event from 10 called TOXME which you are invited to participate in, an event which highlights the toxic chemicals we are exposed to in our daily foods and lives.
Sunday Sept 4th — POD’s Portobello Village Fair (2−5)
As well as contributing to the light-hearted home grown vegetables competition, PEDAL will have two stalls: one for the Orchard and bee keeping group, and one to enable people to ask questions about our proposed community-owned Turbine.
Saturday Sept 24th — Car Free Day (set off at 2)
- Meet at 2pm at the Cake Stand at the bottom of Marlborough Street to cycle along the Prom to the beach below the proposed Turbine site at Seafield, or join us at the orchard anytime after 10 for the monthly work day and Equinox celebrations and then cycle down to join everyone for the 2pm start.
- This year kids are going to need to persuade their parents to help them dress up their bike beforehand, and we will be encouraging rowers, canoests and sailors to join us in demonstrating fossil fuel free travel! We may even stretch to a time trial: seeing how well a car, a bike, a skateboard, a skiff do racing against each other if none of them are fossil fueled!
Posted in Community, Food, Local Economy, Market, Orchards, PEDAL, Transport, Wind Turbine
Unfortunately we have decided to postpone tonight’s solstice party at the orchard due to the wet weather.
You are all invited to come and celebrate midsummer at the orchard next Saturday 25th at our monthly workday 10 — 2 instead. We plan to have a fire (weather permitting!) and BBQ around lunchtime so do come along. Please bring food and drink to share. The orchard is looking fantastic after it’s recent mowing — so come and see!
Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust is offering a free community orchards management course on Saturday 26th March, 10am — 4pm
Aimed at people already running or thinking about setting up a community orchard, for more details see ELGT’s website
Please see information about the Scottish Orchards Fife/ East Coast Gathering
They are looking to roll out this training and networking to other parts of Scotland so even if you cant get to this one, they are open to ideas.
Dear AllHappy New Year!This is to let you know that the next orchard work day will take place this Saturday, 29 January from 10 am — 2 pm.
We are expecting a large consignment of trees next month so we need to prepare the ground and dig holes for them, which will make our task next month much faster and easier.Hope you can come along. Don’t forget to bring something to eat and drink and wear appropriate clothing.
For your diary — the dates for the rest of the year are as follows:Saturday 18 February — this is provisional at the moment, depending on when the trees are delivered. We’ll let you know nearer the time.Saturday 26th February from 10 am — 2 pmSaturday 26th March from 10 am — 2 pm– Spring EquinoxSaturday 30th April from 10 am — 2 pmSaturday 28th May from 10 am — 2 pmSaturday 25th June from 10 am — 2 pm Summer Solstice CelebrationSaturday 30th July from 10 am — 2 pmSaturday 27th August from 10 am — 2 pmSaturday 24th September from 10 am — 2 pm Autumn EquinoxSaturday 29th October from 10 am — 2 pmSaturday 26th November from 10 am — 2 pmSaturday 17th December from 10 am — 2 pm Winter Solstice Celebration
It would be really helpful if you could sign up to a few sessions in advance (if you are able) so that we can have a reasonable idea of how many people might be at each session and plan accordingly.
Look forward to seeing you soon
Diana
At the last Local Food Links get together we talked about what we wanted to to achieve in a years time…now we want to get things moving!
We want to bring together as many people as possible who have been involved in PEDAL’s food projects, and people who are interested in local food but haven’t yet managed to get involved. Folk will be able to choose the topic they’re most keen on and work with others to plan what can be done over the next year.
There are existing projects like Fruitful Porty or the Portobello Organic Market, which has been incredibly successful, but is only funded until the end of March, so it needs volunteers if it is to continue being the great community event it is. As well as ideas for new projects raising local food awareness or setting up a community shop.
So, if you are interested in the future of local food in Portobello, come along!
We hope to see you there!
For more information on the first local food links meeting see our earlier posting and food page
On Saturday 18th of December, 2 — 4pm, PEDAL held a Winter Solstice Celebration at Donkeyfield Community Orchard. Around 40 people came along to celebrate this most seasonal of events, including several folk who had never been to the orchard before — not bad for sub-zero temperatures. The trees were wassailed in fine fashion (thanks to Gordon for the local cider, and Mairi for the song from the Winter’s Night concert), Peter brewed up some fine mulled wine and created a fantastically warming fire, Beth told a great story and some lovely lanterns were made.
