JUNGLE
NEWS

April 2006



www.jngl.org.uk

phone 0121 446 4798 if you still want this newsletter, or use the contact page on the website

 

WE HAVE NO POSTAL ADDRESS OR OFFICE BASE AT PRESENT

Annual Meeting 1st April: LUNCH 1pm

We shall be holding our Annual Members’ Meeting on Saturday 1st April 2006 from 2-3pm at 100 Mary Street. Please come if you want Jungle to carry on. There will be a light LUNCH provided between 1 and 2pm, then the meeting in order to elect this year’s committee, reports about last year’s work and a discussion about Jungle’s future. CHILDREN WELCOME: We hope to organise children’s activities.

After the formal business is over there will be tea and coffee, and the chance to get some last minute gardening advice and compost before the spring sets in.

At present Jungle is looking for a Chair, a Treasurer and a Secretary in order to work on a long term development plan including registering as a charity. Until we have a committed treasurer Jungle is unable to move much further forward. If you feel you can be part of Jungle’s future please get in touch.

Our accounts have been approved by Independent Examiners Ltd and you can view them on our website, or on the noticeboard at the meeting (or phone for a copy).

We still have a few things to sell after the meeting which can help you grow some food in your garden:-

Redcurrant bushes £5 each (bare root). The late spring means you can get away with planting these now.

Organic Seed Potatoes  £1 per kilo. We still have a few.

"Sweetheart" cherry tree (last one) £10 (bare root)

An apple tree and a crab apple. 6 Guelder Rose

Packets of vegetable seeds (some organic)- £1.

Danu Compost - £2 per 20 litre bag

Lakeland Gold soil conditioner £5 per 40 litre bag

Woven plastic ground cover to keep weeds off: 50p per square metre

Strong 8 foot Bamboo canes 50p each

Large tubs for planting - £2 or £3.

Children’s picture books by Mandy Ross - £5 or £3

We will also have some gardening bits and pieces, tools, magazines and books to give away or to sell.

NEWSLETTER FUTURE?

From the end of March Jungle will no longer have any paid employees. This means that if people want to continue to receive a newsletter it will be have to be distributed in a different way.

Do you have access to a computer and printer?

Would you be prepared to print off 10 Jungle newsletters a month and deliver them to neighbouring Jungle members?

Can you help to write a bit of the newsletter at http://jngl.editme.com/news?

If you could help in either way please email via the website, or sign the jngl.editme.com/news page

If you still wish to receive a newsletter please ring Jungle and leave a message 0121 446 4798

Rob has set up an email to group so Jungle members who do not wish to write on the “wiki website” (www.jngl.org.uk) can stay in touch. Details at http://jngl.editme.com/YahooGroup

YOUR GARDEN IN APRIL

For more info go to www.gardenorganic.org.uk

  • Seed potatoes should be planted by the end of April.

  • Look for greenfly, caterpillars, scab and mildew on fruit trees and bushes. Pick off the bugs and infected leaves.

  • There are many vegetables which can be planted straight into the soil now, including beetroot, broad beans, summer cabbage, calabrese, carrots, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, spring onions, peas, rocket, spinach and Swiss chard.

  • Sow basil, French beans, parsley, sweetcorn and outdoor tomatoes in pots or trays and keep these indoors until the risk of frost has passed.

  • Later in April, French beans, broccoli, kale and parsnips can be sown directly into the soil.


Annual Members' Meeting

AGENDA UPDATE

1. Minutes of last year's meeting

To be agreed and matters arising.

2. Reports and accounts

See www.jngl.org.uk, or phone if you want them sent to you.

3. Independent Examiners

To authorise the Management Committee to appoint suitable independent examiners to check our accounts after the end of our financial year on August 31.

4. Independent Examiners' fees

To authorise the Management Committee to set the level of the Independent Examiners' fees. (£300 plus VAT is a typical fee).

5. Election of Management Committee

Philip Beardmore & Louise Haycock are standing for election for the first time – they have already served as “co-opted” committee members. One other new candidate has expressed an interest. Helen Ingham is resigning as chair – thank you Helen. Charlie Alldrick, Kath Day, Jane Sutcliffe and Fran Delaney are standing for re-election.*

6. Alterations to the Constitution

None have been proposed. (You can see our constitution on our website, www.jngl.org.uk)

7. Proposed resolutions

None have been received.

8. Any other business

To deal with any minor matters raised at the meeting.



* In March we welcomed Louise and Philip as CO-OPTED MEMBERS onto our management committee. Both are enthusiastic, successful inner city organic gardeners as well as being totally involved in the community of Balsall Heath. (Co-opted members are chosen by the committee, not elected. They are always in the minority. Co-opting is a useful way for a committee to get more expertise on board, without waiting for an annual meeting.)

After the Annual Members’ Meeting the new committee would like to draw up a business plan for the next 5 years. If you feel you could be part of a sustainable development plan for Jungle so we can carry on our aims. Please get in touch if you would like to be co-opted.

Sun-powered Balsall Heath

Balsall Heath has recently become the solar centre of Birmingham! Thanks to a successful funding bid by Balsall Heath Housing Co-op 12 new solar water heatingl systems have been installed. There’s another one on the Sure Start building, and one Jungle member has a solar electricity system. Phil Beardmore has been active in making this happen, through his work at Birmingham Sustainable Energy Partnership. See the website for more info.


JUNGLE WOMEN’S GROUP

Jungle Women’s Group has decided to stay together as an informal network. We are hoping to have a once a month get together in different people homes and growing spaces to share food, seeds, ideas and fun. We already have 5 hosts but are looking for more. If you would like to host a women’s event contact phone or use the contact form on the website

SAVE £25! Organic Gardens Trip

Jungle is taking a group of women on a visit to the national organic gardens near Coventry, to give them inspiration for this growing season. Tickets are £1, including coach, guided tour, lunch, and gift voucher for the shop there. The women taking part come from many backgrounds some experienced gardeners some very new. If you are interested in joining our women’s gardening network and coming to Ryton please phone now to reserve a place. SATURDAY 29TH APRIL (to be confirmed). This is the last activity to be funded by the grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

Local Food, Brilliant Dinner

Balsall Heath Jungle have been given the funds by “including women” to run an event focusing on locally produced seasonal food and small ways we can help protect and enrich our planet. This is a women’s only event and will be held on Saturday 6th May.

For more information and to book a place ring Ruth 0121 446 4798 or use the contact form on the website.

Growing Green

Balsall Heath Jungle has been in existence since 1999 when Chris Duggan decided to try and make a crazy idea a reality. Chris has decided that it is time for him to move on. Balsall Heath Jungle would like to express huge gratitude and thanks to Chris for having the vision and tenacity to establish Jungle and stick with it. Many of our members are keen to see Jungle carry on and we hope to continue to nurture Jungle’s aims within Balsall Heath.

Chris works as an organic gardener among other things: see www.growinggreen.co.uk.

Birmingham cycle map launch

Birmingham City Council has just published a new map to help people cycle and walk safely and conveniently round the city. It has leisure routes as well as commuter routes avoiding busy roads. To get hold of a copy ring 0121 303 7485.

Stratford Rd Trees saved – for now

Many thanks to the Jungle members who wrote to the planning department, local councillors and our MP protesting at the planned removal of 3 mature healthy street trees to make way for 3 parking spaces on the Stratford Rd. Thanks to their swift action of one member people were able to challenge the decision and as a result the trees have been given a stay of execution.

Remember to phone 446 4798 for your next Jungle News