Trees Not Trash is taking part in the amazing EDINBURGH DO! 3 days of awesome workshops & actions - we are getting down & green guerrilla garden-style on Saturday and Sunday, March 23rd & 24th. Come join us for one day, or both!

SATURDAY MARCH 23

LOCATION: SUMMERHALL COURTYARDSummerhall Place, Edinburgh EH9 1QHSTART TIME: 10.30amEND TIME: 2pm

Summerhall is in need of some greening! Trees Not Trash is partnering up with some of the tenants at Summerhall to transform empty space within the courtyard and front façade into a blooming oasis! Please join us on SATURDAY for some clearing, soil turning, planter bed building, path laying, planting and beautifying! Barney's Beer will be on hand!

All tools and materials will be provided, but if you have any gardening /work gloves, please bring these along. Also please be sure to wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather!

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SUNDAY MARCH 24

LOCATION: In front of the old Dole building on Castle Terrace (across from the Farmer's Market & the Castle!)START TIME: 10.30amEND TIME: 1.30pm

Join us on SUNDAY for some guerilla gardening and seed planting on a neglected stretch of land in front of Edinburgh’s glorious castle! We will be clearing garbage and weeds and planting cornflower seeds and wildflower seed bombs! Please wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. 

Note: the terrain is uneven and steep in places.  Not for the faint hearted! Gardening is at your own risk!

Imagine it green

This is is roof of the old Dole building on castle terrace . The roof overlooks the farmer's market and is going to look very different very soon....want to get involved? Email us: treesnottrashuk@gmail.com

Green Roof Revolution

Ever considered the roof of a building as a site for growing food? As cities develop and populations increase, there is less and less usable growing space. That is, of course, if we are limited in our perceptions of what we consider usable growing space. Roof tops can provide the necessary space for urban populations to grow food, and to keep energy costs down.

There is a growing interest in green roofs, and in many major cities there are working farms atop large buildings, such as grange farm in brooklyn, ny and eagle street rooftop farm. Different climates require different rooftop solutions, but even in Montreal, Canada there is a booming business for rooftop farms, such as Lufa Farms

Edinburgh has no rooftop farms yet, but Trees Not Trash UK is going to change that! We intend to turn  the roof of the old Dole building at Castle Terrace into a food-producing rooftop farm, and sell our produce at the Farmer's Market which the rooftop will look out over. Want to get involved? email us!

There are many resources for learning about and implementing a green roof, one of which is green roofs today , that provides the following information:

What is a Green Roof?

Green roof refers to a system of roofing that uses plant life for roof covering instead of traditional covering materials. The system of green roofing dates back to the 1960’s but only in recent years it has became a popular alternative to the traditional roofing due to its environmental benefits and savings for heating and cooling. The plants that cover the roof provide an excellent insulation to the building reducing energy consumption significantly but they also act as a natural filter for rainwater which means that they significantly reduce the amount of rain drainage. The plants absorb over 50% of rainwater which would otherwise run into sewage system. The water that is absorbed by the plants on the rooftop then evaporates back into the air. But the benefits of green roof technology do not end in reduction of rainwater.

Green roofing has become increasingly popular in cities because it creates additional green spaces that bring some nature in the concrete and steel jungle. Green roofs in larger buildings often mimic parks and include rich vegetation that does not only provide an additional green space but also attracts wildlife including butterflies, honeybees and other insects as well as birds that can be otherwise rarely seen in urban areas. In addition, green roofs are visually appealing and create an attractive contrast to concrete and steel, while many people take advantage of possibility to grow their own fruits and vegetables as well as flowers on rooftops.

A green roof is covered with plants, most often vegetation that is resistant to weather effects and requires little or no irrigation. Native, hardy, pest- and disease-resistant, and fireproof plants that grow fast and are not invasive are ideal for green roofs. In addition to collecting rainwater, plants on rooftops also absorb the heat which keeps the building warmer during cold winter months, while the growing medium helps keep building cooler during hot summer months. Green roofs have been shown to reduce the costs for cooling and heating for as much as 50 percent offering major financial benefits to building owners. Another major advantage is green roofs over conventional roofing is absorption of air pollutants including carbon dioxide by the plants which helps lower the temperatures in the urban area and reduce the heat island effect.

 According to some estimations, green roof lowers the costs for heating and cooling for over 50%. In addition, green roof systems are extremely durable. It can last as long as 50 years and requires virtually no repairs like many other roofing systems. 

Here Comes the Survey

Our community green space & community garden alongside the Union Canal was demolished by the Edinburgh Council in November 2012. Check out the Scotsman's coverage & press here

There was an amazing amount of support shown for the garden, particularly one that was started by community members, for the community, and didn't rely upon the Council (or Council money). As well as support, some people voiced their concerns that the area should have been left "wild", ie. the didn't like the raised bed we had built for organic veggie seeds etc. This concern to keep the area wild & undeveloped was quoted as one of the more important ones to me (and indeed I am in favour of wild spaces everywhere) but it was not the reason why our garden was destroyed, as is evident by the concrete slabs & metal benches and table the Council put in on top of our garden site. There is neither wild space nor a garden there now.

Since the garden demolition, we have been in talks with the Council to determine a way to move forward with our gardening efforts, and a plot of unused land was suggested as a site for our new garden in Harrison Park. Sounds good, right? Well, it hasn't happened yet but we are in it for the long haul, and with that in mind, the Council has come up with a survey to determine the amount of support there is for a community garden/growing space. Check it out here: Edinburgh Lothian Greenspace page . There is a survey on a link from that page and as there is space to add your own comments, I would ask you, friends of Trees Not Trash, to weigh in with your thoughts about the destruction of our garden, the need for this type of community involvement and initiative, and if you are supportive of our group running this proposed garden : take the survey!

Join us tomorrow evening!

Trees Not Trash speaks at Ragged University Talk Nov.29th

Edinburgh: Greening Up Your City by Kate Gilliam and Humpback Whale Behaviour by Dr Alison Craig @ The Counting House

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29TH 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Guerilla Gardening: Taking the City by Kate Gilliam

International Guerilla Gardener Kate Gilliam providing fresh insight into growing and foraging for food. Through activities such as Seed Bomb making, the Guerrilla Gardener reanimates urban spaces through planting and producing with nature. Kate has helped transform many neglected areas of New York City into inspiring green spaces for the public to enjoy. She has come to spread her vision for guerrilla gardening to the people of Scotland.

Kate Gilliam formed Trees Not Trash, a guerilla gardening organisation in Brooklyn, NY in 2005. Guerilla gardening is a means of transforming neglected neighbourhoods into communities with green spaces, where people can take pride in their streets. Kate has since relocated to Edinburgh where she has just begun the first of Trees Not Trash’s Scottish garden chapter! There is unused land in every city, so grab your shovels, plant some vegetables, and take back public space. Remember, it’s your city! Green it Up! www.treesnottrash.org

Unravelling the Mysteries of Humpback Whale Behaviour by Dr Alison Craig

Humpback whales are 45 tonne giants that live most of their lives below the waves, out of sight of humans.  While some mysteries remain, since the mid-1970s scientists have been studying these animals and gradually piecing together the story of how they live their lives. In this talk I will share some of what we’ve learned about humpback whale behaviour over the years.

Community Empowerment and Renewal Act

trees not trash gals transforming space in brooklyn, ny

What if communities were able to make decisions about land usage in their neighborhoods, rather than the Council? What if Parliament or Governments acknowledged that residents are aware of what their community needs, and could effectively manage land usage and determine optimal use for empty buildings, spaces and underused land?
Residents should be taking the initiative to participate in their communities. The local Councils and Government at large can, and should support positive initiatives like community gardening and food growing.  

 

Consider the Community Empowerment and Renewal Act:  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/06/7786/3

Specifically, consider Point 4 of the Introduction:

In developing initial ideas for this Bill we have spoken to many people across all sectors and from a number of different communities throughout Scotland. We have heard from those communities, and from many in local authorities and the wider public sector, of inspiring and innovative examples of work already being undertaken to support community empowerment. However, we also heard that much of the success to date has been achieved despite the current rules and regulations rather than because of them. This consultation seeks ideas to rectify that situation.    

For the full publication, please see: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/20155113/0 

trees not trash crew after creating a public garden for staff & patrons of the Bushwick Public Library

Trees Not Trash Edinburgh Community Garden

TNT UK COMMUNITY GARDEN UPDATE: Nov. 13th 2012

Evening News article: 
Evening News about garden removal
STV.com article:
http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/200628-community-shocked-as-guerrilla-garden-destroyed-without-warning/ 

Our little developing green space/community garden on a patch of unused land alongside the Union Canal was removed today by the Edinburgh Council.

Please see http://innertubemap.com//blog/post/498 for photographs of the removal.

Why was it removed?  The reason for the removal of our growing space is unclear: some Council representatives cited a picnic table that was slated to be installed in that exact location (there were 3 other locations the Council also conceded could have been used); other reasons include using Council land without prior permission.
 
This garden was not an act of defiance; it was an act of community building and civic engagement. We should be taking initiative to participate in our neighborhoods and take the time to foster projects that bring communities together and remind us that we all share the space we inhabit. 

The Edinburgh Council missed an important opportunity to engage with the public and strengthen support for green spaces and food initiatives. Public gardening is not something to forcefully demolish and community growing areas should not be eradicated by a governing body that does not necessarily represent the opinions or needs of the populace.These are vegetable seeds, not bombs. Kale is nothing to be scared of.

It is not just that it makes economic sense to grow your own food; you have learned something crucial about the world, your ability to instigate change, the freedom that comes with being able to be more self-sufficient, and the satisfaction of acquiring real, useful skills that can be transferred to all sorts of jobs.

Please consider similar projects done without prior permission:

http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/projects/growing-round-town
http://weburbanist.com/2007/08/21/urban-ecological-subversion-the-art-of-guerilla-gardening-in-public-spaces/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2231849/Steve-Wheen-Pothole-gardener-creates-miniature-flowerbeds-potholes-Londons-streets.html


Our community garden received enormous support from the community. Local children who had never planted vegetables, sown wildflower seeds or held worms came each Sunday to help, and the site quickly became a point of public interest. It was a demonstration of how civic engagement and growing food can build and strengthen a community.  Thank you for your support


Trees Not Trash Community Green Space & Garden
 

What is it? We started the first of TNT Edinburgh’s community green spaces, on a small stretch of unused land adjacent to the Union Canal in the Shandon area of Edinburgh on October 6th, 2012.  This piece of land is generally overgrown with a forest of stinging nettles which gets mown day every now and then. Usually this piece of land is used as a favourite spot for dogs to do their business, so we thought why not repurpose it for usable growing space? After all, we weren't disturbing anything other than the stinging nettles, and the naturalised daffodil bulbs weren't moved. Besides, the neighborhood kids LOVED it.

Where? Why? Why now? I had been intending on starting a new community  garden/green space in Edinburgh for some time, certainly since last summer, but hadn’t found the right spot for it yet. I had been eyeing spaces that were far more disused, derelict even, rather than the canal-side space we started with. Although it is a very green neighborhood, there were great reasons to put a tiny community garden in the location that we have chosen: it is public, well-traveled, unused, sheltered, and right next to a water source (the canal!).

Why bother with community gardening?

Gardening and food-growing knowledge builds confidence in people. There is something very satisfying and empowering about growing a vegetable from a seed, watching it turn into a plant, being able to see what it looks like while it is growing, and finally, being able to eat it. That confidence can lead to all sorts of exciting things; children who learn how to garden are then able to teach their friends, or their siblings and parents.

There is a distinct lack of land in Edinburgh for growing produce, as anybody who has been on a wait-list for allotments can tell you (I checked, and most allotment waiting lists near this neighborhood and beyond are on average of 6 years long…). That is a long time to wait to grow your own vegetables! We are doing something on a much smaller level, but encourage anyone and everyone to get involved...and hopefully inspire people to grow their own food as well.