Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail. 10th September 2016 
Holding on to Hope?
In February of this year I had a screen test for Gardeners’ World. They were planning to extend the programme to an hour-long slot and wanted a new face, or two, to help fill that time. I was chosen for the screen test along with 5 others who had been whittled down from 450 initial possibilities.
It went well; it was a lovely sunny day and I chose to spend my 5 minutes planting and talking about the virtues of thyme, with lots of scope for a few jokes, (we all need more time in our lives) but also a plant that I adore and one which is also adored by bees, another passion of mine.
The very next day I had an email telling me that my show reel had been enjoyed and sanctioned by the exec producer and I now only had to gain the approval of the commissioners. The longer I had to wait for an answer, the more promising it would be as people who were ruled out would be told first.
I was still waiting for an answer last week as the new, extended format of Gardeners’ World debuted.
Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t exactly been sitting waiting by the phone since February but you know how it is when you would really like something to happen. I have had moments of positivity (well, they did say the longer I had to wait …), periods of self doubt and jarring disappointment and then flashes of renewed hope as another unchanged half hour episode aired.
I am hesitant to judge the BBC’s policy of not bothering to let me know the outcome of my screen test, and am fortunate to be of the mindset, ‘if not this then something better,’ but surely it would have been just good manners? I have no time for sour grapes (pun intended) but it occurs to me that the more we elaborate our means of communication, the less we actually communicate – on every level.
Bring back those days where Apple and Blackberry were just fruits!
Just LEGO!
Whilst discussing the benefits of spending time barefoot on the Wynne Evans Show on Radio Wales last week, Vicky Blight mentioned that part of my training to become the first person to run across Wales barefoot, was to walk barefoot over LEGO pieces.
As a result a listener sent me photos of some lovely little LEGO planters that her son had made for her to grow herbs on her windowsill. I think you’ll agree they are very effective and probably a more sensible use of the popular little building bricks.
It also led me to do a little research into the use of LEGO in the garden and although I couldn’t find anything in the UK, I did find the wonderful work of USA based Sean Kenney.
Sean is a renowned, award-winning artist and “professional kid” who uses LEGO pieces to design and create contemporary sculpture for high-profile clients, major corporations, and venues around the globe for over 10 years and whose award-winning exhibit Nature Connects has been breaking attendance records around the world since 2012.
Nature Connects is now touring North America and features over 100 sculptures created with over 2 million LEGO pieces.
You can see his amazing sculptures here.
Go Organic.
We are already in the throws of Organic September – the UK’s biggest campaign dedicated to growing the organic market. This year’s campaign remains focused on ‘small changes make a big difference’, and The Soil Association is also emphasizing the ‘5 reasons to choose organic’: better animal welfare; knowledge of what’s in your food; pesticide avoidance; better for biodiversity and wildlife; and sustainability.
Clare McDermott, business development director at Soil Association Certification explained, “Week one will cover dairy; week two fresh produce; week three will see Organic Beauty Week; and week four will focus on meat.”
I have been receiving a lot of literature from various companies with regard to new organic products. I think we are all aware of the benefits of organically grown fruit and veg but ‘choosing organic’ goes far beyond that and here are two new products that caught my attention.
Coconut jam from Buko. I use a lot of coconut products but haven’t seen coconut jam before. It is available in 3 different varieties – Original, Sea Salt and Chocolate, with 3 more flavours coming on line soon. The jams contain just 2-3 100% natural ingredients, combining the health benefits of both coconut milk and coconut nectar. It can be spread on toast, used as a dessert topping, food ingredient, or as a natural sweetener in smoothies.
Absolute Aromas Ice and Glow cooling gel claims to be a natural way to revive and refresh when your body feels overworked. It sounds perfect for gardener’s with tired, aching muscles and joints and contains a stimulating blend of Peppermint, Lavender and Rosemary essential oils with a rich base of Jojoba, Arnica and Vitamin E.
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