EVENT - Health, Wealth and Green Living - The Courtyard Hereford - 6 May

I should mention that Junkk.com will have a stand, which will look pretty much like the last time we were there:

Certainly caught the eye of event guest Vince Cable, MP.

There will be new 'reuse' ideas on display of course.

It is also a business networking event, so this time our main thrust will be to seek partnerships to turn creative second use concepts into viable, sustainable profit centres.

We're especially interested to chat with social enterprises with workforces keen and/or skilled in arts & crafts, to look at synergies for mutual reward. Plus funding agencies or those with complementary talents, such as marketing, sales, business, etc.

WHAT: Health, Wealth and Green Living - Greenlinks Green Biz Event with H&W Chamber of Commerce 

WHERE - The Courtyard, Hereford, HR4 9JR
WHEN - on  Tuesday May 6th after work

COST - As we always like it... FREE!

Parking: Parking is available. 
  
TIMING: 6.00pm doors open for the evening until 9pm

Events/Agenda - From the event PR:

6.00pm Exhibition Opens

7.00pm Guests to auditorium

7.15pm Welcome from Chamber of Commerce

Introduction from Henry Jerwood, representing Eco Business West Midlands

Simon Crowfoot, Ecotricity, including Q&A

8.30-9.00pm Exhibition re-opens

9.00pm Event Close

This year our guest speaker is Simon Crowfoot, MD of Ecotricity's 'Electric Highway' project which has installed recharging points for Electric Vehicles in every motorway service station in the UK.

Now that the last obstacle to electrifying our transport system has been removed, we are on the brink of a transport revolution - and the implications for both individuals and businesses are enormous.
Come and find out what the issues are, and take a look at some of the exciting new designs of electric cars which are about to take over transport in the future!

Tickets for Simon's illustrated talk £5 from The Courtyard Box Office 01432 340 555

URL : http://www.hwchamber.co.uk/events/special-events/green-business-showcase-06-05-2014

EVENT UPDATE - Sir Grow-A-Lot Open Day - Aug 31 - HR Postcode

Update:

It was a lovely, and great day, all round. A few images:

 Cider Making Demo

 Oat Cuisine

 Entry to the fields

 The site (before folk arrived)

Phoenix J & Manu - an awesome duo

30/08/13

OK, it's tomorrow, and I have been garnering a bit more info to help one and all see what's going to be on offer.

We shall be there, mob-handed, supporting the event but also accompanied by Phoenix J, who has kindly agreed to perform two (possibly three as one band has unfortunately dropped out) sets from the 'stage' (undercover roof.... if maybe a stretch to call it an indoor stadium, but close..ish) throughout the day.

WHAT:  Sir Grow-A-Lot Open day

WHERE - at one with nature (see below)

WHEN - on Saturday 31st August 2013. Even the weather is looking good! Fingers crossed.

COST - As we always like it... FREE!

Venue: Model Farm, Hildersley; within easy walking distance of Ross-on-Wye

 Entrance

Exit

The Venue - Note St Marys in background

Parking: Parking is available. Lots. There'll be an 'IN' and an 'OUT', with a massive field so there should be no issues getting in, or out. 
  
TIMING: Starts at 11.00am,  Ends at 6.00pm.  

Events/Agenda - From the PR:

The Sir Grow-a-Lot is but the latest of Ross-based EnviroAbility’s local community-based social enterprise projects. Significant lottery funding has been carefully marshaled to create a truly innovative ‘green’ oasis within walking distance of the heart of town.

And now as the seeds of its vision sprout in tangible form, with buildings and facilities in place, what better time to celebrate what’s been achieved and what all in Ross are welcome to be part of and enjoy. You can create your own micro-enterprise, sell produce or simply indulge in more modest allotment growing for personal satisfaction… or a healthier pot and wallet! Educational visits from schools are always welcome to learn all about sustainable organic growing.

Set in the bucolic, idyllic surroundings of the Model Farm, the open day programme is packed with entertainment, freebies, information and all manner of other goodies.

There’s a Mixed Meat BBQ Roast, Cake Stall, Card-making, Cookery Demos, Tombola, Tours, Horticultural & Eco Talks & Workshops taking place throughout the day, plus kids’ entertainment like ‘Splat-the-Rat & ‘Fishing for Ducks’.

There will also be day-long music performances by some real local talent, including award-winning international recording artist Phoenix J & Manu Song (Richard Berenger advised as sadly cancelled) see play list for show times).

Ross is fast acquiring an awesome, deserved reputation for summer fair, Trade fair & Fairtrade fun and frolics outings for all the family. There’s lot’s happening this last bank holiday weekend; so make sure the Sir Grow-A-Lot  Open day is down on your list to play a major part!

11am - Opens

1pm – 1^st performance – Phoenix J (approx 30mins)

2pm – 2^nd band performance – Manu Song or Phoenix J (to cover for missing band)

3pm – 3^rd band performance –  Phoenix J or Manu Song ( to cover for missing band)

4pm – 4^th & final show of the day - Phoenix J 

Local PR

Contact: 01989 763388 info@sir-grow-a-lot.org.uk

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sir-Grow-a-Lot/530431936984577 
https://www.facebook.com/events/147509035446060/

A New Dr. Who. Now, how about a new Tardis?

Despite being away on hols, certain things you'd need to have been in a cave to miss.

So, the mantle of Dr. passes from William Hartnell to Peter Capaldi. With, possibly, some other incarnations since I last watched. In black and white. Mainly from behind the sofa.

And while Drs. may have come and gone, or morphed, one thing has stayed ubiquitous and constant: the Tardis. His trusty base of operations, with its modest exterior belying a surprisingly vast, and fascinating, interior.

Cue a quick double take as I sidled the other day past an innocuous entrance at the lower end of Brookend St. in Ross-on-Wye.

Where once I used to take my kids to play, a whole new scene was unfolding. The Doctor meets Aladdin's Cave... caves. You name it... it's here.

Yes, the newest base of operations of the mighty EnviroAbility empire has relocated again, and is now established for at least a few years.This nationally-recognised, and lauded, social enterprise has many skilled fingers in many worthy pies, and this new location at last brings them all (well, most... some are out and about in the parks or fields around town) under one roof. Of course, high on the agenda is their commitment to as many 're's' as you can shake a sustainable stick at. Junkk.com first hooked up with them a long time ago when we helped with the 'RE:Box' project, now sadly no longer in place, if fondly remembered still. And since then we've been happy to help wherever we can with corporate ID & marketing concepts. Most of... well, the dafter... divisions were either names or logo-designed by us.

EnviroAbility's commitment to reducing waste and saving money from recovered materials remains as strong as ever. Room after room of furniture, fixtures and fittings (even one set ready to offer IT support to those seeking job-hunting advice) await the eager bargain hunter. Just look at all the bikes alone they have in course of being restored in the cavernous up floor  of their new premises:

Now if it all looks a bit of a dog's dinner still... it is! I was going to await things being more sorted out before running this story, but Dennis Humble, General Manager, asked me to get the word out right away, as they are looking for help to set up, on top of seeking anyone else whose values match theirs to get in touch with a view to making this a literal eco-sustainability superstore.

So, don't be shy.... get along or get in touch!

This could be you, too.

Cable professes cable idea to be ‘brilliant’

Caption: Dr. Cable clearly surprised, if not tongue-tied, by what he has been shown by Junkk.com JunkkMale... me...  of our cable-tie from bottle cap reuse concept, ‘The RE:tie’

Sorry about that.

But he and I thought it funny.

The 'he' in question being Cabinet Business Secretary Dr. Vince Cable.

The rest I'll nick from my press release, but suffice to say karma was looking out for me when I lobbed up at a local networking lunch that led to a chat with local chamber representative which in turn lead to a rather nice opportunity being offered by a rather nice bunch....

HerefordshireGreenlinks & Chamber of Commerce hosted an event at The Courtyard yesterday, visited by MP Jesse Norman and also Business Secretary Dr. Vince Cable.

Dr. Cable toured the Green Expo, and took great interest in the many environmental concepts and businesses being exhibited, being especially complimentary later in the Q&A session, held in a packed out theatre. Replying to a question regarding business support by Junkk.com’s CEO Peter Martin, having seen their ‘RE:tie’ reuse ‘packaging strip into cable tie’ concept, Dr. Cable referred to it with the comment: ‘Brilliant ideas, such as yours’. We are sure the concept’s Cable-tie reuse feature, and brilliance, were in no way associated in the canny politician’s mind when he said that!

Says Junkk.com’s ‘Junkk Male’ CEO, Peter Martin, ‘The Secretary of State’s full remit is ‘Business, Innovation and Skills’. I think he has gained a great appreciation of how much the last two exist in Herefordshire, and in particular our little neck of the woods. As to ‘Business’, well, for us at least, two out of three is a very good start. I’m happy to note Dr. Cable’s positive shared thoughts on helping matchmaking complementary talents to create effective, sustainable, profitable environmental businesses to contribute to the growing UK green economy, at home and abroad’.

The Q&A was quite lengthy, but worthwhile, with Dr. Cable, and Coalition Government policy, challenged on many topical issues and concerns. Dr. Cable replied at length, and in some cases offered reassurance, especially in areas of support for maybe less business-savvy innovators, particularly ‘green-related’ ones, referring to possible help on mentoring via BIS Local Innovation Centres and Local Enterprise partnerships: ‘supporting areas as much as things’.

Ross-based Junkk.com is now no stranger to the House of Commons and its inhabitants, being presented there recently with a coveted 'Green Apple Award' for the RE:tie, adding to an already well stocked international collection for reuse ideas under the Junkk innovation and design banner.

Concludes Mr. Martin: ‘Going greener need not be nag or nanny; it can be truly rewarding, in £ terms too, and hence an inspiration to all. Dr. Cable’s encouragement and.. who knows… something more tangible in support terms later is great, but just as nice for me was young visitor Lucy who spent a long while asking about everything at the stand, and left saying it was all ‘awesome’ and she would tell all her friends. For a social media-based concept like Junkk.com, that… is gold… or should I say ‘greendust’!’

----

Questions posed at the Q&A here http://www.herefordshiregreenlinks.info/discussion-forum/articles/articles.php and by Peter Martin here http://www.herefordshiregreenlinks.info/discussion-forum/articles/view-article.php?id=00000047

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On balance, a good time was had by all. Now, if this doesn't lead to hooking up with some money making experts... what the heck will?

DON'T MISS THE HEREFORD GREEN SHOW - MONDAY

Time for a repeat, and a post to leave up a few days...

We shall be there, with a bunch of Junkk. And, as they say, 'questions will be asked'. Well one, by me, at the Q&A.

WHAT:  Greenlinks Expo Event

WHERE - at The Courtyard

WHEN - on Monday 2nd April 2012.

Venue: The Courtyard, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JR.

Parking: Parking is located outside the courtyard and also over the road behind the Football Stadium, please note that they are Pay and Display car parks.
 
TIMING: The exhibition opens at 6.00pm,  The exhibition will end at 9.00pm. 

Agenda

4.30-5.30pm                       Set-up for Exhibitors                                    
6.00pm                                 Exhibition Opens                           
7.15pm                                 Seminar with Vince Cable starts
8.20pm                                 Seminar finishes
8.20-9.00pm                       Exhibition re-opens
9.00pm                                 Event Close

www.hwchamber.co.uk

PLUS!!!!!

GREEN BUSINESS SHOWCASE & QUESTION TIME WITH VINCE CABLE

In partnership with Herefordshire Greenlinks
Monday 2nd April, 6.00-9.45pm, Courtyard, Hereford, HR4 9JR
Question Time with Vince Cable: £5.00
To post your questions to Vince Cable simply log onto www.herefordshiregreenlinks.info and visit the discussion forum page.
For more information contact the Events Team on events@hwchamber.co.uk / 0845 641 1641.
                                                                .                                  

EXPO - Green Business Showcase - Hereford

I'm a sucker for a show.

Despite not having as such, 'a budget', and so far selling little, if anything to cover costs, I still get seduced easily into various schemes that offer the promise of 'selling' Junkk.com further and wider.

And so it is that we shall be standing at (as kindly supplied in a blurb invite from our MP) the following:
--------------------

Hosted by Herefordshire Greenlinks, H&W Chamber of Commerce and Herefordshire Council

When: Monday 2nd April 2012 @ 7pm

Venue: The Courtyard, Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JR.
This is a public event where the Secretary of State for Business will answer our questions about economy, business, jobs, prosperity, and environment in Herefordshire. Individual tickets can be booked through The Courtyard on 01432 340 555

There will be a Green Business showcase of innovative local enterprises in the foyer;  anyone who would like a stand in the showcase contact H&W Chamber of Commerce 0845 641 1641 xt 235.  To post your question to Dr Cable, emailinfo@herefordshiregreenlinks.info 2 weeks in advance

Timetable:
                                   
6.00 pm                   Exhibition Opens
7.00 pm                   Main House Theatre; Introductions and outline of the event; 
                               Herefordshire Greenlinks, H&W Chamber, Jesse Norman MP
7.15 pm                   Question Time with Vince Cable starts
8.20 pm                   Question Time finishes
8.20-9.00 pm            Exhibition re-opens

Cost: This is a public event -tickets are £5. 
----

Do come along and say hi.

Not quiet sure what I will be presenting, as they are still vague on what the space will be, or can handle. I am working on a 2m x 1m footprint and not much else. So nothing fancy. RE:tie for sure, plus maybe a few of the best Junkk.com ideas made up.

I also have been prevailed upon to pose a question to the guest of honour, and it may be viewed, with others from fellow exhibitors, here. Though I have been given a version of it that has been supplied back, editted for me to intone.

On that, we shall see.

I am hoping, for the investment, at least a cheery wave from a government big-wig (and, who knows, a helpful answer to my question), plus a bit of support from the media who will doubtless be follwing in his wake.

Not promising so far, as the only ones to call to ask what we are doing are the ad sales guys trying to flog a slot in the supplements they are all producing. I did ask if editorial may be interested, but they seemed less than keen to transfer the call.

With luck, bells and whistles on the day may see some coverage.

Number Crunching

Sometimes things make you think.

And sometimes folk make you think you need to think more.

A few weeks ago, in my local paper, I saw the headline 'Well done for recycling 25 jumbo jets off waste', and was frankly, impressed.

It was a letter to the county's public by the Environment Cabinet member, celebrating the 5,000th tonne of waste collected for the EnviroSort facility.

Certainly, other than that sidelined here for reuse, our household has 'done it's bit' with the new wheelies.

But then I read a follow-up letter the next week, pointing out that it worked out at 0.6kg per week per person in the county.

Further, the free paper this message was in, is a weekly 0.15kg. Made me think twice before getting too impressed too quickly. Better than nothing, but perhaps a ways to go?

But just in case, I'll also await next week to see if there is more to the way the numbers get crunched than meets the eye.

Topless?

Interesting ad(s - there was a 1/4p and a full page version in the same paper... an odd media buy, though the former did help my scanning:) in the local news.

And, possibly, another feather in the RE:tie pitching cap?

Seems that recycling is pretty flavour of the month, but certain aspects are not, namely caps.

Now reuse is a much more embracing concept than recycling anyway, and of of course here at Junkk Towers we have several thousands of caps we have not added to the waste stream as reuses are being sought.

But in terms of getting the public mindset on board, surely a re-design that actually encourages retention and reuse of things the authorities seek to avoid in the bin/landfill... to be encouraged?

Just sayin'

Bye bye RE:Box, hello wheelie

A long time ago, in a land, well, right here, I helped with the creation of a kerbside scheme:

The RE:Box

Worked pretty well.

However, we are now at the end of an era (must remember to mark on the site pages).

Not to mention 20,000 blue plastic boxes (seems we get to keep them. Yeah, right. Other than me I can see everyone keeping a bunch of additional dirty, smelly containers. Look out landfill!)

Because we are all getting wheelies.

Or not.

Because, in advance of 'W-day' in November, I got a ton of literature (all of which seemed to say the precise same thing - I guess they want to kick off the paper recycling with a bang) and... a 2kg roll of plastic bags.

So far, so 'Huh?'.

Then I read one of them.

No textiles... no problem (The Can Do Crew and REthreads - two other Junkk-assisted local services are alive, well and serving the community still... until the box tickers descend here too, when their mates see some profit in this no doubt).

But... glass?

As ardent reusers, this is the one category we do recycle a lot, simply because of the volume generated and lack of major reuses we can think of... yet.

Now, it seems this all arises due to a confluence of circumstances.

First up, though we have a big house and grounds, it is 'on the street'. Which apparently means our wheelie would block the pavement. How putting out a bag wouldn't, and RE:Boxes didn't before...?

Then there is the 'elfinsaftee of glass in the bag.

So.... a ton of plastic boxes are being scrapped (I presume) to make way for a ton more plastic boxes most in the town or flats can't use, so we end up with plastic bags that won't accept glass.

This is not making much sense to me at present on any level. I have demanded a wheelie and will have to resolve access to it on collection day.

The only positives (so far) are that they will take (some) plastics and there will not (for now) be a trained sniper across the way should we pop the wrong thing in by accident.

But I do note they don't want them squashed. So a big truck is still moving 95% fresh air?

I am looking further into this. There is the council website. No mention of reuse or Junkk.com I can see. Ta, guys!

And, having called to ask what happens to all this carefully sorted recyclate, and being told it is on the above site (not yet, it seems), there is this fun fellow to trawl: http://www.envirosort.co.uk/

Another blog later, I think.

NEWS/LOCAL - UK - HR area- Litter pick, Hereford, April 1st

Hmmn. This needs thinking about.

It will work fine on the main site (only all those from overseas using my advised HR9 postcode will get a lot of stuff that may be a tad beyond an easy commute... sorry:() when we start popping stuff up there again.

Here, well, all of you are getting it. For now, if you see a 'LOCAL' heading and the title and/or locale doesn't appeal... please ignore.

But if it does, read on MacDuff!

As taken from their PR:

Some local worthies are planning on doing a litter pick in Hereford city on April 1st. (I am assuming this isn't, well, you know... a leg pull. But check!).

The plan is to meet at M&S in High Town at 5 pm, pick for an hour or so and then retire to the pub.

It's not a substitute for the Council, but a way to bring concerned people together and draw attention to the problem while actually cleaning up some of the mess in the City.

They are looking for a few more volunteers. If you'd like to come along, do let them know. Or if you know of others who would like to come along, please encourage them (as Junkk.com is doing here) to get in touch, via jesse4hereford@gmail.com. They have some kit already but need to know numbers in order to locate more.

Civic share, over and out.