Sprig » Nadia

Air plants

Nadia — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 07:16:58 +0000

We have 2 lovely air plants (Tillandsia bergeri from the Bromeliad family) growing off our super productive lemon tree. After a quick google i learnt that air plants come from the same family as pineapples and the leaves are used as a herbal supplement to treat pollen allergies

Our plants are home to a multitude of other species including a massive furry caterpillar that looks identical to one of the leaves. These plants seem to have been connected to the lemon tree for many years and are happily growing and floating over the lemon tree branches. We are moving house soon and will miss the air plants in our new home. Does anyone know of a way we can take a small cutting without harming the parent plant and ensuring the cutting survives?

Sustainable futures

Nadia — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:10:28 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of taking part in a week’s course on Sustainability run by the Sustainability Institute (SI) just outside Stellenbosch.

“The Sustainability Institute, established in 1999 by Eve Annecke and Mark Swilling, focuses on learning for sustainable living and is based within the Lynedoch EcoVillage Development, Stellenbosch. The focus has been combining practice with theory in a way that integrates ecology and equity in support of a sustainable South Africa, with special reference to ways of reducing and eradicating poverty.”

The mornings started early with half an hour of meditation, followed by a group reading and stretch run by SI staff, then an hour of community work in either the SI veggie garden, or on the adjacent farm, sorting waste, composting, preparing/cooking food for their Farm to Fork initiative, cleaning their guest house, helping with the gardens/grounds….all before lectures started at 9:30.

The week was truly inspiring and gave a fantastic overview of the current sustainability crises South Africa faces and how if we all act quickly and responsibly, we can ensure a more sustainable future for all. Just imagine if every municipality in South Africa had sustainable initiatives!!!

For more information on the institute have a wander through their site , and make sure to have a look at partner initiatives in the area. e.g.

Sustainable Stellenbosch

Lynedoch Ecovillage Development

Biodiversity and Wine Initiative

I would highly recommend anyone visiting the area to stop past and have a quick tour (even if it is just to have an amazing muffin at SI’s Green Cafe).

Climate change- countdown to Copenhagen

Nadia — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:38:56 +0000

Are you worried about changing climates? Some of you may have noticed strange weather patterns happening in your city or seen the terrifying images of melting icecaps, flash floods and barren wastelands due to prolonged periods of drought. Others may have read about the devastating effects changing climates have on food security, species extinction and infectious diseases. So the main question you may be asking is what can be done? Surely it’s too late to do anything?

Make no mistake getting the planet back to safe levels of CO2 in the atmosphere wont be easy, but with only one planet it has to be a challenge we are up for, and if everyone plays a small part, we can make a difference- (click here for some quick tips).

The world leaders are currently meeting in Copenhagen to sign a global climate deal that could very well seal the fate of this earth- if you are as concerned as I am that ALL countries sign a fair, ambitious and binding agreement then have a look at an amazing group of people around the world actively taking a stand against apathy.

www.350.org

It is not too late to get involved!!

The 350 campaign are urging people form all corners of the globe to organise climate change vigils between the 11-13^th December. You can either join an event near you or create your own.

So join a massive movement of people around the world and be part of something BIG!

There has never been a more urgent time to take action!