Round 2 of DIY draught busting Southside and West End (in collaboration with Woodlands Garden)

? Are you feeling cold draughts in your home even though the heating is on?
? Do you want to learn how to DIY install cheap top grade insulation in your home and save on bills?
? Are you up for sharing what you learn with at least 2 other residents in your community?

If you said yes to all 3 questions you are invited to apply for a limited space at a DIY Residents Workshop and learn how to install draught proofing on sash and casement windows and front/back and patio doors,  radiators panels + many Top Tips to keep you and your home warm every winter,  so sign up for either session (southside or west end)

Southside:7th March 2012.  3pm-6pm. Location revealed on booking (cos it’s in someone’s house)

West End:14th March 2012.  6pm-9pm. Location revealed on booking as above.

The workshops are FREE but as places are limited we ask for a £10 deposit,  returnable on the day of the workshop.  There will be some free DIY materials to practice in your home.  There will also be opportunities to buy further cost price materials

Contact abi@urbanroots.org.uk to book for this workshop.

Great Grub for Families

Come along to our weekly cookery workshops and make delicious food to share with your family

Fridays 11am – 1.30pm
Starting 20^th of January for 6 weeks
Toryglen Community Halls,  199 Prospecthill Circus, G42 0DR

• Share recipes and ideas
• Learn about healthy and nutritious food that’s good for you,  your family and the planet
• Practical cookery workshops
• Eat tasty food together

There will be a supervised play area at the halls for children under 5 while we cook

This course is FREE,  though places are limited

To book a place call Emma on 0141 613 2763,  or email:emma@urbanroots.org.uk

Great Grub!

Thursday evening from 5.30-8pm
Starting 19th of January 2012 for 6 weeks @ Toryglen Community Cafe

The Great Grub series of workshops return for the New Year, looking at food and the environment through cooking tasty food together!

Each week will look at a different topic,  like food transport or healthy eating,  and we will bring recipes in to share,  cook and then eat a meal together.

And they’re FREE!

To book a place,  contact Emma (emma@urbanroots.org.uk / 0141 613 2763)

Your Money,  Your Planet

Starting Tuesday 7th February 2012,every Tuesday 6pm-8pm –ends 13th March
Toryglen Community Base,  Prospecthill Square

This ever-popular 6 week course looks at every day issues of food,  energy,  transport and waste through the lens of climate change.  By the end of it you will have come up with ways to reduce your expenditure and your impact on the planet without reducing your quality of life.

Booking is essential as places are limited.  Contact us on 0141 613  2766 or email projects@urbanroots.org.uk

Living Willow Structures

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make domes,  tunnels,  fences and furniture out of living willow?

This practical 2 day course will cover the basics of willow structures through to more advanced and complicated patterns.

You’ll learn about how willow grows and how to maintain it.

The course will be taught in various locations across the Southside.  The course costs £20 per person for the whole weekend.
Places are limited.

To book please call 0141 613 2766 or email abi@urbanroots.org.uk.

Winter Warmer Film Night

Urban Roots is over the bleedin moon to share this film with you.  We really really can change the world.

Just Do It lifts the lid on climate activism and the daring troublemakers who have crossed the line to become modern-day outlaws.

Documented over a year,  Emily James’  film follows these activists as they blockade factories,  attack coal power stations and glue themselves to the trading floors of international banks despite the very real threat of arrest.

Food and chat from 6pm,  film on 6.30pm.

The Geoff Shaw Centre is on the number 7 bus route,  and a short walk from the number 12 route.

It’s also not far from Kings Park or Mount Florida railway stations.

Glasgow Local Food Network Presents:  Spring Get Together and Seed Swap.

3rd March @ the STUC,  333 Woodlands Road.  10am –2pm.

Urban Roots is collaborating with NVA and Transition Support Glasgow to bring you this marvellous spring time event!

A friendly get together for anyone interested in growing their own food to meet other like-minded people,  share skills and enjoy homemade soup and cake.

Hear about some exciting new projects like the SAGE GrowBank and Glasgow Harvest Toolkit,  take part in practical workshops,  exchange seeds and find out about community growing projects and allotments in your area.  Then have a chat with other growers over a delicious free lunch.

Bring along any unwanted seeds (collected or bought) to swap for something new.  Please label and date packets.  There will be free packets of seeds available to people who don’t have their own.

To register please click on the eventbrite link: http://glasgowseedswap.eventbrite.co.uk

Great Grub for Families

Come along to our weekly cookery workshops and make delicious food to share with your family

Fridays 11am – 1.30pm

Starting 20^th of January for 6 weeks

Toryglen Community Halls,199 Prospecthill Circus,  G42 0DR

Share recipes and ideas

Learn about healthy and nutritious food that’s good for you,  your family and the planet

Practical cookery workshops

There will be a supervised play area at the halls for children under 5 while we cook

This course is FREE,  though places are limited
To book a place call Emma on 0141 613 2763,  or email:emma@urbanroots.org.uk

Great Grub!

Thursday evening from 5.30-8pm
Starting 26th of February 2012 for 6 weeks @ Toryglen Community Cafe

The Great Grub series of workshops return for the New Year, looking at food and the environment through cooking tasty food together!

Each week will look at a different topic,  like food transport or healthy eating,and we will bring recipes in to share,  cook and then eat a meal together.

And they’re FREE!

To book a place,  contact Emma (emma@urbanroots.org.uk / 0141 613 2763)

Winter Warmer Film Night

Thursday 16th February:The Man Who Stopped the Desert

FREE showing -  please bring snacks to share.

From 6 -  9 PM at Geoff Shaw Community Education Centre,  25 Kerrylamont Avenue,Toryglen

The Man Who Stopped The Desert is a documentary telling the story of Yacouba Sawadogo,  an illiterate African peasant farmer who has transformed the lives of thousands of people across the Sahel by restoring degraded land and planting trees.

Join us for the beautiful and moving film,  followed by a discussion for our 4th Winter Warmer Film Night.

Save Yer Energy!

19th November 201112noon –4pm @ Geoff Shaw Centre,25 Kerrylamont Ave,  G42 0DN
As part of our energy campaigning and action on fuel poverty we’re organsing an afternoon of home energy saving activities.  Featuring hands on activities and workshops a-plenty:

- DIY daught busting demos

- Bike powered films

- Eco-footprint computer games (powered by wind and sun)

- Advice on home renewable energy grants

- knitting and crocheting

And of course loads more!  Want to get involved,help out on the day or have an idea to contribute?  Get in touch on 0141 613 2766.

The Cooking Bus is Coming

The Focus on Food Cooking Bus will be visiting Urban Roots from November 22nd -  24th.

There will be nine cookery classes offered to local schools and community groups,including a CPD session.  Sessions cover key aspects of food education from food preparation skills to nutrition,  food safety and hygiene -  but above all people are taught how to cook.

The Cooking Bus is funded and championed by the Scottish Government Healthier Scotland Campaign and a visit from the bus attracts tremendous interest.  It is hoped the visit will increase skills and support the food and health work undertaken by Urban Roots and other organisations in the Toryglen area.

Winter Warmer Film Night

Thursday 10^th November

FREE showing –please bring snacks to share.

From 6 -  9 PM at Geoff Shaw Community Education Centre,  25 Kerrylamont Avenue,  Toryglen

Come and warm your cockles during the cold dark nights with friendly faces and inspiring films.  The first film will be:‘Urban Roots –How Detroit went from the Automobile Industry to Urban Agriculture’.  Find out more about the film here.

This is the first in a series of 5 films nights over 5 months.

Halloween event

Saturday 29 October at 4 PM

Come along to Toryglen Community Hall for Pumpkin Carving and broom stick making:  4:30

Join the Lantern Parade round Malls Mire followed by scary stories:  5:30

Then it’s back to hall for hot soup and warm drinks at 6:15

Bring lantern,  warm clothes,  boots/wellies (very important!)

For more information contact Tom on 0141 613 2763 or 07946 221791.
Email:tom@urbanroots.org.uk or visit www.urbanroots.org.uk

Introduction to Permaculture

Toryglen Community Base,  Prospecthill Square.
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd October:9.30am –4.30pm.
Costs £40 –£120 sliding scale.

This weekend will give you the opportunity to:

• Know each other and the teachers
• Be able to name and describe some permaculture principles
• Understand the value of the principles as a guide to design
• Be able to name each permaculture ethic and give simple examples
• Have practiced some observation techniques
• Have seen examples of permaculture in action
• Know what steps they can take after the course
• Have done a short permaculture design
• Have fun

To Book please call us on 0141 613 2766 or email projects@urbanroots.org.uk

Upcycle-Tastic Fantastic Halloween Special!

Saturday 22nd October from 12 noon to 4pm @ Toryglen Community Hall,  Prospecthill Circus,  G42 0LA

Join us FREE it’s open to anyone and please bring snacks to share.

There’s:

- DIY:  costume making –  make your own original Halloween costume

- BRING:  unwanted clothes,  belts,  ribbons and broken accessories.

- LEARN:  new skills – customising,  alteration,  cushion making,  resizing………

It would be good to know if you are planning to come,  so drop us a line at:  projects@urbanroots.org.uk or call on 0141 613 2766.  You can check us out on www.urbanroots.org.uk

!

Glasgow Harvest 2011

September 10th 2011

Urban Roots is working with arts organisation NVA to bring you Glasgow Harvest.   A celebration of local food the South,  East,  North and West of the city this autumn.  Urban Roots is hosting Harvest South.

More info at NVA’s website.

An irreverent homage to the village fête –  centred on the Harvest Meal –  each celebration will feature live music,communal cooking,food sharing,workshops and competitions.  New work by visual artists will draw inspiration from the people and garden spaces that make urban growing in Glasgow so unique.

There will be a wealth of food sharing activities from jam tasting to vegetable pakora making demonstrations.  Free Wheel North will be providing FREE group cycle rides from Glasgow Green to each of the Harvest events led by trained cycle leaders.  Glasgow Transition Support will also present a series of workshops and talks exploring ideas about how we can develop a more connected and resilient food system for Glasgow.

Harvest South hosted by Urban Roots in Toryglen will be the first event and will also celebrate ‘Blasda’ – Scotland’s Local Food Feast (developed by The Fife Diet) which is happening simultaneously in at least 12 locations across Scotland as part of Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight.  Find out more at www.blasda.org.uk

85A collective at Harvest SOUTH
85A collective are an emerging,  loose-knit brood of Glasgow based multidisciplinary artists that in recent years have been working alongside and/or supporting one another in various provocative shows and collaborations including the Herbaceous Barbershop for last year’s Glasgow Harvest at the Hidden Gardens.
www.85a.org.uk

Bike Workshops 2011

We still have a couple of spaces remaining on our Bike Skills and Confidence workshop,  starting May 26th,6pm-8pm at the Toryglen

Community Hall,  Prospecthill Circus,  G42 0LE.

This 4 week course will get you on your bike and cycling with confidence.  Some early road cycling may be included.  A further programme will run in July to build confidence on the road.  Please contact us to book if interested.

We’ve also got a programme of Bike Maintenence workshops running throughout the year – the next is on the 11th June,  in Toryglen,  venue TBC.  Stay in touch for more info on this.

Grow Your Own 2011

We’ve got a couple of further rounds of Grow Your Own coming up soon too!  This popular 8 week   programme teaches everything you need to know about getting started in the garden,  growing your own food organically.

Two more rounds of these workshops are coming up:  Starting Thursday 30th June and Tuesdays 5th July. Both run from 6pm-8pm.  Venues TBC,  but one will be in Toryglen and the other in Battlefield,  in collaboration with the Battlefield Community Project.

We have a new Sunday session that is now running every second Sunday afternoon in St Brigid’s Community Garden.  This is complemented by a programme of Specialist Gardening Skills running throughout the year,  with a Bee Keeping workshop in June,  Herbs in August and Orchards in February.  Get in touch or watch this space for more info.

Your Money,  Your Planet

6 weeks from Wednesday 6th July.

This interactive and fun workshop gets you looking at food,  energy,  waste and comsumption and travel –  all within the context of climate change.  The venue will either be Toryglen Community Base,  or Langisde Parish Church.

As always,  the workshop is free but booking is essential –  please get in touch to find out more.

Blossom Festival

Glenmore Avenue,  Saturday 30th April,  11am –4pm.

The Blossom is starting to Blossom,  the sap rising,and the seeds sprouting.  So it’s time to celebrate!! Come along and join in our day of activities for all ages.  There’ll be:Drama and walkabout theatre  -  Environmental arts and crafts  –  Bike Repairs  -  Live Music and Performance  -  Circus skills  -  Fun DIY Energy  -  Sow your own seeds  -  Yummy Food!

If you have anything you’d like to contribute,  whether it be storytelling,  circus skills or a song,  please bring that too,  and tell your friends.  All welcome!

April 2011:  Callout for Sessional Staff

As part of our new projects we’ll be running Bike Skills and Confidence Worskhops,and Bike Maintainence Workshops.  We need people skilled in Bike Maintainence to run these day long sessions,  and people trained to deliver Cycling Proffiency to run a 4 session course.

Sound like you?  Get in touch on projects@urbanroots.org.uk or 0141 613 2766

March 2011:  Funding in Place – lots of new projects for this year!

We recently heard that our funding for this financial year has been confirmed.  This is great news,  as it allows us to continue all the great projects we’ve been working on over the last couple of years,  plus add a few more!  Here’s a taste of what we’ll be up to and how you can join in:

- Community Gardening groups on Tuesdays,  Wednesdays and Sundays (learn as you go and take food home!)

- Grow Your Own Grub workshops (8 weeks to find out how to grow your own)

- Your Money,  Your Planet workshops (6 weeks to save the world,  and your pocket)

- Great Grub workshops (healthy,  wholesome and climate friendly cookery)

- Climate Friendly Skills Days (learn everything from foraging,  DIY draught busting,  clothes upcycling,  furniture repair and loads more!)

- Woodland Skills Days (green woodworking,  rustic furniture making,  habitat surveying and fungi identification)

2011,  Gardening Heaven!

January 2011

Happy New Year to you all!  Spring 2011 sees some really exciting happenings at Urban Roots.  Designs are being made for a new growing space in Toryglen Park,  and volunteering sessions in our existing gardens are starting up soon (Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Also,  we’re putting on a series of workshops over the next few months to help you grow your own food.

Starting on the 25th of January will be an 8 week evening class in how to grow your own food.  It will be a fun and informal class with practical activities and group work,  and should give you the basic skills to successfully grow your own food,  whether it be in a container on your window ledge,  or a whole field!

We’re also running some workshops at the weekend,the first one being “Orchard Care” on Saturday 19th of February from 10-4pm.  A full workshop programme will be posted soon.

All workshops are free and beginners welcome. If you’d like more information or to reserve your place please contact Roz,  0141 613 3763 or email roz@urbanroots.org.uk

Call out for Sessional Workers!

Fancy clocking up some experience working with groups in the gardens?

Think you can inspire schoolkids to get mucky?

We are looking to build up a base of sessional workers who can dip in and out of the garden groups,  or take on specific pieces of work as and when they arise.

If you’re interested please get in touch with abi@urbanroots.org.uk.

September 2010:  Great Grub!

Come along to a series of workshops which will look at food and the environment through cooking tasty food together!  Each week will look at a different topic,  like food transport or healthy eating,  and we will bring recipes in to share,  cook and then share a meal together.

The workshops are every Monday evening from 5.30-8pm starting on the 24th of January.  And they’re FREE!

If you’re interested in finding out more please contact Roz (roz@urbanroots.org.uk / 0141 613 2763)

June 2010:  Renewable Energy System

All the equipment has now arrived –solar panels and wind turbine and pedal powered generator!  We had a play around with the bike generator and have powered up a radio –good start!  We’ll be using it at the Blossom Festival for pedal powered scalectrix.

The system was used to power our very own Blossom Festival,and will be used for educational purposes during our climate change workshops,  it will also be made available to other groups and organisations throughout the city for hire –email abi@urbanroots.org.uk for info.

We are really excited about this new development at Urban Roots.  To find out more or to get involved with the renewable energy project please get in touch.