stephen blyth’s blog

When I was outside unloading materials to expand our vege garden on what used to be our front lawn, Richard Scott from National Radio’s This way up show was talking about it.

On Saturday’s show Richard ran an excerpt about a group of gardeners who are converting lawns to gardens. Edible Estates “is an ongoing series of projects to replace the American [sic] front lawn with edible garden landscapes responsive to culture, climate, context and people.” They say hire a sod-cutter and start planting. A local angle was provided by a visit to the community garden in Tanera Park near Aro Valley. Listen to the “Gardening Time” show on demand (using Real Player) or as a downloadable MP3. (I’ve got a copy if weren’t able to visit the Radio NZ website before the programme self-combusted after four weeks or so).

Another listening hightlight this week was Laura Flander’s 12 September Radio Nation feature on the 75th anniversay of the Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, Tennessee. The Center has been instrumental in giving rise to the civil rights and union movements in the United States, and something of an inspiration for people involved in social change around the world. Laura brings to life the history of the Center with protest songs, oral history and archival recordings.

The programme brought to mind the Kotare Trust education centre based near Wellsford. The centre supports grassroots social movements, community organisings and activists, and runs excellent participatory learning sessions. Having travelled down the dusty Wayby Station Road near Wellsford to participate in a workshop or gathering, I’ve always returned rejuvenated by the peaceful rural setting and fired up by the comradarie.

I think the Highlander Center’s influence has been felt at Kotare (though I know little of the detail), so I’m going to put a copy of the radio in the post up to the folk up north. May Kotare take heed from Highlander’s longetivity and liveliness.