A new “climate cafe” is coming to Radstock, aiming to share feelings about the climate and nature in a supportive environment with like-minded people.
It’s the idea of the Somer Valley Climate Group and will be held upstairs at The Joliffe Arms on Monday, October 26, starting at 6.45pm.
Although climate change is the main topic of discussion at the Somer Valley Climate Group's regular meetings, the group also looks at related issues such as sustainability, waste and local pollution, writes Trevor Letcher.
Recently, the group discussed growing vegetables, fruit and herbs at home as a small and local way to tackle climate change, by reducing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and eliminating the industrial emissions resulting from commercial agriculture, packaging and transport.
Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is the primary trigger and driver of global warming as it traps and absorbs heat radiating from the Earth.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have almost doubled since the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1700s.
You don’t need a large garden to grow your own food and, moreover, veggies and herbs can be grown in between flowers, roses and shrubs, while runner beans and cucumbers can be encouraged to climb up trees.
Crops that can be easily grown among flowers include: beetroot, potatoes, tomatoes, leeks and onions, to name just a few.
Some need more space than others, while plants such as parsley, chives, rocket and lettuce can be grown in window boxes. If you need space, find an allotment (Parish Councils have a statutory duty to find land for allotments, if there is a demonstrated demand among residents) or join a community garden.
The latter can be an important social outlet and in Midsomer Norton there is the Midsomer Norton Community Garden.
For more information about the Somer Valley Climate Group, contact [email protected].