So after 10 years of reelfurniture.co.uk and many new designs beyond the original it needed a new footprint, a new brand, so here is David Meddings Design. It was back in 2001 at the Norwich Festival that I demo-ed a rather rough looking rocker made from adiscarded cable reel, (picture on film somewhere) the response was so positive that reelfurniture.co.uk was created. And for the web – well a cable reel is a simple bolt together affair so inspiration for a self assembly Reel Rocker, flat pack worldwide.

David Meddings Design is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Wherever it’s invested, money takes a journey. This might be round the globe, round the big banks or round the stock markets. Sometimes it does some good along the way, sometimes it doesn’t.

Charity Bank makes sure that our customers’ money takes a shorter journey.  It spends less time travelling around and goes directly to charitable projects that benefit everyday communities, every day.

We invite you to join our 2011 Different Journeys programme, an inspirational opportunity to discover for yourself the difference our depositors’ money is making to our borrowers and the people they serve.

Each visit gives you the chance to meet the staff of the charities we support, as well as the people they work with and help.  We are hosting eight visits throughout National Ethical Investment Week.

We are hosting visits in the Midlands, Yorkshire, London, Cardiff, Hastings, South West, North West and Northern Ireland.

Learn more or sign up on our dedicated campaign micro site for National Ethical Investment Week.

Charity Bank – Ethical Bank is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Apple day is an annual celebration in and around the orchards at Stanmer Park and is a free, family event.   The day features juice-making demonstrations, children’s activities, apple identification, guided tours, produce, food and drink, *stalls and much more.

*If any organisation is interested in renting a stall to sell or promote event-appropriate products/services, e.g. local food producers, groups promoting sustainability, wildlife, traditional crafts, etc., please contact us via our website:  www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

Brighton Permaculture Trust is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Bringing Systems to Life: using eco-constellations to address intractable problems

Schumacher College, November (7-11) with Jenny MacKewn

Jenny MacKewn, facilitator of the Work that Reconnects, comes to Schumacher College in November to teach how you can use the powerful tool of eco-constellations in your work and life. Whether you have difficult issues around sustainability in your organisation or community initiative, or have a pressing environmental or social problem you would like to address, this is a great opportunity to experience the power of eco-constellations in transformative group environment and take away the skills you need to facilitate others.

£750 including accomodation and food.

For info and booking see http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/bringing-systems-to-life-using-ecological-constellations-to-address-intractable-problems

Course Fees

£750 All course fees include accommodation, food, field trips and all teaching sessions.

For further information about Schumacher College please see About the College

Apply

click here to find out how to book by fax or mail

Schumacher College, Dartington is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Bees: a gateway into Nature

Schumacher College, October (10-14) with Phil Chandler, Brigit Strawbridge, Juergen Tautz and Graham White

The plight of the bee is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our times. This unique course from Schumacher College brings together scientists, natural beekeepers and campaigners to take an in-depth look at the causes of their decline, the consequences for the natural world and the role we have to play in providing a low-impact, chemical-free world for them to flourish.

The course will cover:

• The extraordinary ways that bees behave and communicate, and the science behind the collective intelligence of bees, which makes it possible to describe their colonies as super-organisms
• Insights into the intimate and mutually dependent relationship between all bee species and flowering plants
• Latest understanding of the threats to all pollinators from pesticides and habitat loss
• The science behind colony collapse disorder and neonicotinoids
• The wider regulatory context – why are the watchdogs deaf, dumb and blind?
• Natural bee husbandry methods, using sustainable, low-impact hives to provide a chemical-free environment in which bees can flourish
• Exploration of ways to establish a more appropriate and healthy relationship between us, the bees and the soil that ultimately feeds us all

Visit http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/bees-a-gateway-into-nature

Course Fees

£650 All course fees include accommodation, food, field trips and all teaching sessions.

For further information about Schumacher College please see About the College

Apply

Click here to access our on-line booking system

click here to find out how to book by fax or mail

Schumacher College, Dartington is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Following an invitation to attend the launch of this year’s START and Bridgestone Eco-Rally at Clarence House, hosted by HRH The Prince of Wales, Spencer Ivy Director, Va Hua obliged, taking with him ‘Ivy’, the unisex step-through version of Spencer Ivy Electric Bicycles.

Hua arrived at the event on Ivy, in his lounge suit (as per invitation guidelines), sweat-free, to show His Royal Highness that Spencer Ivy electric bicycles truly are the perfect way to commute.

The Prince made his way around the gardens, inspecting the eco-vehicles and sustainable garden displays.  He paid particular attention to Ivy.  He admired her low step-through frame, tan leather Brooks saddle and matching handlebar grips and wanted to find out what this electric vehicle was capable of.  After quick instructions from Hua, the gravel path was cleared of VIP guests and off he shot, even going off-piste onto his royal lawn.

A fantastic and enjoyable moment for the Prince and all spectators, most of all Ivy, having a Royal bottom perched on her!

For pictures of the event, visit the Spencer Ivy Blog.

Spencer Ivy Electric Bicycles is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

I love a Trade Fair, especially a fashion one. At the PURELondon Trade fashion show earlier in August at Olympia London it was three Spanish brands that stood out with the best event bags.

CUSTO made a  bold statement with a Woven PP laminated gloss bag and webbing handles. The use of block colour and a bold graphic with a retro inspired lady on one side and man on the other  was a head turner.

Desigual returned with their signature graphic a paint pallet explosion of colour with a matte non-woven laminated bag also with webbing handles

Sidecar was my favourite in a gloss woven PP reusable bag. The design was a tutti frutti graffiti delight that didn’t leave a pantone colour out.

Maybe British brands haven’t explored the potential of a strong woven bag. These bags will make many more outings after the event.

If you want to find out how a full colour laminated woven or non-woven bag can make you stand out at your next trade fair or exhibition, please get in touch with leanne at Smartbags or visit www.smartbags.co.uk.

Smart Bags is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

ESSENTIAL TRADING SHOWS HOW TO

MAKE LOCAL FOOD WORK

Bristol-based wholefood wholesaler Essential Trading is hosting two briefings for co-operatives to show how to make local food work.  The briefings will be held on Thursday September 29, at Essential Trading’s Fishponds HQ.

Essential will be joined by Alison Belshaw from Sustain (the alliance for better food and farming) and Bonnie Hewson from The Soil Association who will share their valuable insight and advice.

Two sessions are being held:

• 10.00am – 1.00pm      Whole Food Co-op Briefing
• 1.00pm – 2.00pm        Networking lunch for both groups
• 2.00pm – 5.00pm        Fresh Food Co-op Briefing

The Programme includes:

• Introduction to Essential Trading: its heritage, ethics and work with co-ops
• Wholefood co-op buyers’ guide to buying fresh food
• Fresh food buyers’ guide to buying wholefood
• Tour of Essential Trading HQ and warehouse
• Demonstration of the online ordering system
• Guidance on promoting a co-op, increasing and retaining customers
• Case study talk by a successful fresh food or whole food co-op

“Entering our 40^th Anniversary Year on September 16, 2011 means we have four decades of experience and knowledge to share with co-ops,” explains Eli Sarre, marketing manager for Essential Trading. “Over those 40 years, the whole food and co-op markets have grown remarkably.  We still think there’s a lot more to come and our briefings will help equip co-ops with plenty of tools to make local food work.”

How to register

A maximum of 30 delegates per session will be set to ensure each person can receive personal advice and discussions.  To register for the morning or afternoon session, email eli@essential-trading.coop or call 0117 9430 809.

For more information or to speak to Eli, contact:

Katherine Selby, Katherine@prworkshop.co.uk 020 8657 4422

Essential Trading, Unit 3 Lodge Causeway Trading Estate, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3JB

Essential Trading Co-operative Ltd is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The course is designed for all who are interested in promoting health and wellbeing in the community: practitioners from conventional and complementary traditions keen to integrate their skills, members of the public who want to take charge of their own health, and those involved in academic delivery of integrated health programmes.

There is increasing interest in approaches that build Health and Wellbeing in a more sustainable way. A more sustainable health care will offer people the choices and the ability to take charge of their own health. However, there are challenges to face, not the least on how to assure that different approaches are as reliable, effective and safe as possible.

The course offers real pathways to meet these opportunities and challenges. It helps us understand where we have come from and where we may be going, and offers a framework for sustainable health care as an integral part of the system in the future.

Phillip Cottingham is a registered naturopath, herbalist and body therapist with over thirty years in professional practice. With many years of teaching experience in natural therapies, Phillip co-founded Wellpark College in New Zealand, which has become one of the largest institutions of its kind in Australasia.

Simon Mills is a Cambridge graduate in medical sciences and a herbal practitioner. He is Managing Director of SustainCare, a community interest company dedicated to developing new models of self-care. He is project lead on the Department of Health project ‘Integrating Self Care in Family Practice’.

To find out more about this course:

Email: admin@schumachercollege.org.uk

Visit http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/sustainable-health-care-the-challenges-and-opportunities

Tel:+44 (0)1803 865934

Schumacher College, Dartington is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Early morning. Saturday morning. Birds are singing outside the window.

Oh no! Birds are singing outside the window. Sure enough, after a few trial warbles, they break into a song just loud enough to wake up the smallest member of our family. She wakes up her older brother. He sits up, jumps out of bed and trills “Breakfast time!” at the top of his cheery voice. The day begins.

Once upon a time… well actually it was probably only a few weeks ago, but it feels like longer… getting dressed in the morning used to be a simple affair. I would lovingly lay out two adorable outfits after the children were asleep in the evening. In winter time, I’d lay all the clothes over the radiator, so that they’d be toasty warm to put on in the morning. In summer time, I’d lay all the clothes out on the toy chest in front of the window.

Jumper, trousers, top, vest, socks and pants for my boy. Skirt, cardigan, t-shirt, vest, tights and pants for my girl (she’s always been a fan of skirts rather than dresses for some reason). There was a pleasing sense of neatness in laying out the clothes in the order that they’d need to be put on. All the clothes matched, in colour, style and pattern.

I should have known that when you have children, order never lasts.

Well, not in our household anyway. Silly to generalise. Perhaps there are households out there where the children all talk like an Enid Blyton book and wear pinafores. Ours isn’t one of them.

OCD clothes organising tendencies aside, I’m too much of a softy to enforce any real order or control. As long as there are pleases and thank yous in all the right places, I’m contented that the children are turning out alright.

Several weeks ago, my youngest announced that she would like to choose her own clothes.

I sighed. I mentally braced myself and said a silent farewell to the sweet matching outfits. The moment had arrived. I’d escaped it longer than some of my mummy friends.

That first morning, the result was a fashion statement worthy of Vivienne Westwood. Spotty tights, stripey skirt, flowery top (worn back to front). It looked like an explosion in a sweetie factory.

Mental note to self: buy children’s clothes in only two colours.

I keep telling myself that I’m fine with it. I’m going to embrace it as a sign that she’s moving happily and healthily towards independence. But seriously, purple and orange? Purple tights, okay, but how did she even come to own an orange T-shirt? I don’t remember buying that.

In the last couple of weeks, the rebellion has spread. My oldest is an amenable sort of chap. Much more inclined to go with the flow than his fiery younger sister. However he’s spotted the way the wind is blowing and decided to make his own little stand.

He doesn’t want to choose all his own clothes. He’s still happy to find his clothes laid out for him in the morning. But he’ll only wear one top.

It’s his favourite top. It’s a lovely green, organic cotton long sleeved T-shirt that I bought him to celebrate the amount of gardening he’s been doing with me.

Get off my allotment! I found the print on the front of the T-shirt very funny. My boy doesn’t really get the joke, but he loves the colour and he knows that the T-shirt has something to do with his gardening skills.  Unfortunately, he’s now decided that he doesn’t want to wear anything else.

He wants to wear his favourite organic T-shirt all the time. Even when it’s dirty. Even when it doesn’t match his trousers. Even when we’re not actually going out in the garden, we’re going to a family wedding.

Thinking about it now, I suspect that there are grown men with a similar approach to clothes. In fact I’m certain of it. I lived with one or two of them when I was at university.

Still… It’s too early to worry. I’m holding my patience and hoping it’s just a phase.

For all your organic children’s clothing needs go to www.damtam.com

Dam Tam is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more