Your green promises:
I won't litter, Joel Austin, Pinner  >>  Be more eco friendly, Connor Buchalter, Hatch End  >>  Re-use water bottles so less waste, David, Middx  >>  I won't waste water anymore, Ben Green, Hach End  >>  Help my dad recycle everyday, Phoebe Decker, Northwood  >>  Turn electrical things off when I have finished using them, Talia Austin, Pinner  >>  Not to waste food, Joshua Roson, Rickmansworth  >>  Eat fairtrade chocolate, Josie Sacks, Pinner  >>  Bike/walk to places not to far away, Zoe Buchalter, Hatch End  >>  Recycle plastic bags when I go shopping, Sophie Scholl, Moor Park  >>  Take and re-use our own plastic bags when we go shopping, Cass Family, Harrow  >>  Not waste paper, Jed Gaffin, Northwood  >>  Walk to school more, Lea Abrahams, Pinner  >>  To be more careful with water, Max Abrahams, Pinner  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Ellie Roston, Rickmansworth  >>  Try and ride my bike as much as I can, Zack Bluestone, Stanmore  >>  Walk to from school everyday, Meiron Avidan, Stanmore  >>  Use tap water instead of bottled, Rianna Roston, Earth  >>  Turn everything off, not leave it on standby, Lewis Decker, Northwood  >>  Put my rubbish in the bin, Aron Bhalla, Harrow  >>  I will put my rubbish in the bin, Seth Bhalla, Harrow  >>  I will not watch the same thing as my brother on a different TV, Ilana Braham, Northwood  >>  Our family will walk to places if it is less than 2miles, the Garland family, Pinner  >>  Don't use sandwich bags for packed lunch, David Braham, Northwood  >>  Switch off lights when I am not using them, Matthew Rodin, London  >>  To walk and get the train more, Steph Leigh, Watford  >>  Not to litter and put rubbish in the bin, Jacob Lauder, Harrow  >>  Help put out the recycling more, Rachel Bard, Hertfordshire  >>  To put my cans in a recycle bin, Hannah Hyman, Borehamwood, Herts  >>  Walk to the bus stop, Matti Brooks, Borehamwood  >>  Re-use plastic bags when shopping, Gemma Black 5B, Hertfordshire  >>  I pledge to water my plants with a watering can and not waste water, Gemma Black 5B, Hertfordshire  >>  Make more things e.g sculptures instead of just putting them in the bin, Minnie Diamond, Bushey  >>  I shall turn off lights and T.V. when not needed on, Harrry Rubin, Hertfordshire  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Harry Rubin 5 Beech, Herts, London  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Katie Moss, Radlett  >>  Only flush the chain when I need to, Hannah Hyman, Borehamwood, Herts  >>  Cycle one a day if not more, Jamie Cooper, Harts  >>  Ride on my bike at least once a day, Sophie Pollock, Borehamwood, Herts  >>  Grow my own fruit and vegetables in the garden, Isabelle Copeland, Bushey  >>  Don't leave lights on, Rebecca A, Herts  >>  Use energy efficent light bulbs!, Dov Colman, Borhamwood  >>  Not use the car for short journeys, Josh Zucker, Hertfordshire  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Jake Murray, Borehamwood  >>  To not leave the shower running!, Lauren Seres, Herts  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Tyler Freedman, Bushey  >>  Do more recycling and help my mum sort out the waste, Maddie Freedman, Bushey  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Joseph White, Radlett, Herts  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Zoe Klein, Hertfordshire  >>  turn off the plugs in my bedroom, Oliver Rothstein, Adlenham, herts  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Nina Freedman, Borehamwood  >>  Take showers instead of baths, Harry Singler, Bushey  >>  Recycle my household waste, Harry Black, Bushey  >>  Recycle my household waste, Mrs Myers, Borehamwood  >>  Re-use plastic bags when shopping, Daniel Simmons, Radlett  >>  Not to turn lights on if it is not neeeded, Etienne Dean, Borehamwood  >>  Not use the car for short journeys, Leah Gorb, Bushey  >>  Use bits of junk around the house to make something & to not throw it in the bin, Sophie Pollock  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Natalie Maurer, Hertfordshire  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Rebecca Selt, Radlett  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Avital Cohen, Borehamwood  >>  Recycle my household waste, Max Bean, Bushey  >>  Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, Talia N, Hertfordshire  >>  Recycle my household waste, Leanne Rosner, Radlett  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Leanne Rosner, Radlett  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Kezia Blakeley, Hertfordshire  >>  Don't buy herbs if you can grow them, Emily Sterman, Hertfordshire  >>  Re-use plastic bags when shopping, Joshua Silver, Radlett  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Ella Kosmin, St Albans  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Ella Green, Borehamwood  >>  Replace two light bulbs in my house with energy efficient light bulbs, Jacqueline Sefton, Bushey  >>  Take showers instead of baths, Sophie Hyman, Borehamwood, Herts  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Joshua, Herts  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Benjamin Isaac, Herts  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Abby Rosen, Elstree  >>  Replace two light bulbs in my house with energy efficient light bulbs, Amanda Finestone, Borehamwood  >>  Try to have a shower instead of a bath and will not sing in the shower for too long, Sadie, Hertfordshire  >>  Cycle at least once a day, Jamie Cooper, Borehamwood  >>  Re-use plastic bags when shopping, holly, herts  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Michelle Hertz, Stanmore  >>  Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, nicola weisfeld, hertfordshire  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Jack Glazer, Bushey  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Jack Glazer, Bushey  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Holly Weisfeld, Hertfortshire  >>  Turn the TV off and not leave it on standby, Joshua Collins, Hertfordshire  >>  Eat less meat, Stephen Scott, London  >>  Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Hannah, London  >>  Continue to educate myself and others in ways of taking care of our earth, Raven Moon, Connecticut  >>  Try to live on less and take pleasure in the effort, Erich Connell, Greenville, NC  >>  I will be a vegertarian on a weekly basis, Lee-Ann, Tauyuan, Taiwan  >>  I promise to make sure all recyclable items go in the recycling and not in the bin, Lara Gordon, London  >>  I will try to keep recycling my clothes and not buy too many new ones, L.Bratter, North London  >>  I promise to recycle by altering my clothes, Anita Lancet, London  >>  Be vegan, Sren Kragh Lindbo, Copenhagen  >>  Think about what effect I am making on the world before I do anything, Zoe Black, London  >>  Walk not use the car, Tanzeela, New Malden  >>  Turn lights off when I leave a room, Gideon Bratt  >>  To protect animal rights, Venecija Levi Breder, Quebec, Canada  >>  Take showers instead of baths, Lisa, Scottsdale, Arizona  >>  
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Alexei Charkham

My name is Alexei Charkham. I am 36 years’ old and live in north-west London with my wife Gaby and our two daughters Vita and Bea. Gaby and I both work part time as teachers; I try to spend as much of my spare time as possible on my allotment, round the corner from our house. 

I have had an allotment since 2006 and now have three half plots, totalling about a third of an acre. I grow lots of fruit and veg, have several greenhouses (some freecycled ‘proper’ ones, and others which I’ve thrown together using old window frames and salvaged timber) and am constantly undertaking somewhat unnecessary, exhausting and relationship-straining projects either on the allotment or in our garden.

 

Growing your own

Throughout the Jewish community there are a multitude of ‘green spaces’ that are currently being underutilised. These spaces are in synagogues, schools, and the premises of communal organisations. The Big Green Jewish Website is working with communal organisations to develop these green spaces, turning them into ‘allotments’ that can be used to educate members of the community on the importance of sustainable living, in addition to giving people the practical skills needed to live more sustainably in their daily lives. 
 
There are already several pilot projects at the London School of Jewish Studies, the Union of Jewish Students and Northwest London Jewish Day School which are reaching several hundred people in the community. 
 
The Big Green Jewish Website is encouraging schools, youth movements, synagogues, communal organisation and individuals to set up their own allotment/green space as part of the UK Jewish Environment campaign. 
 
There is funding out there for these types of projects. If you are interested in this project please email: info@biggreenjewish.org
 
Getting started

What you need 

• A Green Team – someone or a few people committed to the project.  
• Unused or reclaimed land (can be any size)
• A shed/storage space for tools and shelter
• Willingness to contribute time to setting this up and attending to the garden i.e. growing vegetables.

Advice for setting up your plot 

When you're thinking about where to grow fruit and vegetables, bear in mind the following:
• Try to find a sunny spot with good drainage. A south-facing aspect is ideal. 
• Provide shelter from wind
• Avoid overhanging tree branches and shade cast by buildings or hedges. (Use shaded areas to store pots or materials, for your compost heap, and so on, and keep your sunny areas for your plants)
• Make sure there is plenty of water and access to water.  

Where, When, Why and How

So you have your plot of land – well done! It may not be in a very good condition, it may take a good few months before you can start growing. Basic starting steps:
• Autumn is the best time to break up the soil
• Remove all the large chunks of brick or broken concrete and large stones, 
• Remove all the weeds, including digging out their roots
• Fork it and add some fresh manure or compost
 
If you don’t have land which you can use you can get advice and guidance on getting an allotment or other growing space in your area here: 
 
National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners www.nsalg.org.uk
National Allotment Gardens Trust www.nagtrust.org
Allotments Regeneration Initiative www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari 

Seeds

Growing from seeds is the cheapest option by far. Some of the more generous seed suppliers may offer you samples as an incentive to buy more and you can always look into joining your local Seed Exchange. For more information go to: www.growfruitandveg.co.uk

Materials

Skips and builders merchants cast offs can provide some good materials such as wood, pallets, planks and stakes from which to make your beds and compost bins. It will also be helpful to get some drainage pipes, old tarpaulins and old containers. For free materials see www.freecycle.org 

Funding

There are lots of websites and funding opportunities for setting up a garden. An investment of £100 in vegetable seeds will produce more vegetables than a person can eat during the normal growing season. This will be an enjoyable hobby that can help you save money, keep you fed and give you a real sense of accomplishment.

Resources for Teachers

Here are some excellent websites providing free information to schools, teachers and children around the country:
 
Organic Soil Association                         Appetite for Action
Growing Schools                                          Edible Playgrounds
RHS                                                                    Capital Growth 
 
 

Useful links

 
Allotment Blog

Alexei Charkham, a Jewish Allotment holder from North London write a blog about growing on his allotment, to read more click here. 
Web design and development: twotimesfour
© biggreenjewish.org 2009