Ian Robinson Author's Blog: August 2017

BUSY, BUSY

I've been exceedingly busy re-formatting my book, the non-fiction Some Picnic! (It's a true story about our Gourmet Picnic place called Horizons, just outside Rosetta in KZN, South Africa, which we ran between 2004 to 2007 and has many accollades). It occurred to me as long it's an ebook, I can have as many pics as I want in my book (up to a total file size of 10mb), and I'm busy coming to the end of the process of inserting the pics. I've done revised/re-thought cover with more pics, as well.

There are more than fifty photos and I had to retouch, adjust the colour and format them. It taken me about a month. I'm nearly done.

So, I'm back.

LET IT GROW

I run a business called Go-Organic.co.za in Southern Africa (that's my logo, below), and I came across the 'Let it Grow Foundation'. Mightily impressed with the excellent work they're doing to return the earth the way it once was.

One example of Let it Grow

I had an allotment (which I used to ride my bike and there were a few very challenging hills which somebody put there...), and I respected that they made the points that:

Everything outside is easy pickings for pests like aphids and birds. Research some natural ways to keep these pests from snacking on your newly planted garden. There are plenty of ways to do it without using harmful chemicals.

Ensure your plants have enough water and keep weeds at bay.

DISASTER

Because, the first thing I found out there were no water taps on the plots where I grew my veg/fruit. This was a disaster.

They had a trough of water about 50 metres away (plus there was a hill which was slippery after it had gotten wet) and I battled to carry two cans of water. I needed to make five to ten trips to get that water, what I saw it as liquid gold, depending on how damp the soil was.

I lived close (with those hills in the way ;-) about two km, and I used to wish it would rain frequently to nurture my seedlings. Established plants were not so sensitive BUT, THEY STILL NEED WATERING.

Weeds were a menace. Particularly the weeds which carry seeds and drop them off right where you had pulled the weed out. Particularly, in the autumn. When the ground could get a bit hard, pulling a weed out needs strength like superman. So, KEEP WEEDS AT BAY.
You need to weed because the rain makes the weeds grow faster it seems, compared to my edible plants, funny that...

So, going back to the latter point, it's important. For the first point, DON'T USE HARMFUL CHEMICALS. IT'S VITAL, YOU READ THE LABEL. STUDY THAT SMALL PRINT, AS WELL. As I say, let's return the earth to the way it once was.

Fruits of Let it Grow's labour, above and above that.

LET IT GROW MAKES THE POINTS

Highlight their experience and beliefs:

o Johannesburg based

o They focus on community projects

o They encourage and guide households to start their own urban farms

o They use agroecology and permaculture philosophies to assist in the development of each project

o The team is eager to share their knowledge on:

Let It Grow Foundation is eager to share their knowledge and are personable, warm, open, relatable and easy to speak with.

Here is some more insight into their work:

Soil rejuvenation

Composting

Diverse heirloom seed saving

Mulching

Water conservation

Crop rotation

Planting insect-repelling plants

Growing one’s own food organically (this one the most important point, I think, and should be at the head of the list. If you need extra convincing, see: https://www.soilassociation.org/organic-living/ It's a Uk based site, but they make good points).