Poem on Breathing Poetry

I have another poem up at Breathing Poetry, you can read it here.

It's the (Sustainable) Economy, Stupid!

Last night Dan Barlow of WWF Scotland spoke at the Edinburgh meeting of Friends of the Earth about ideas around sustainable economic growth. There was a lively discussion afterwards around whether the Scottish Government has really taken on board the ideas of sustainability or whether it sees sustainable economic growth as just a cover for business as usual. I think the consensus was that despite progress in eg improving rates of recycling, that the Scottish Government is acknowledged as not really being committed to genuinely sustainable economic growth. Then we questioned whether any economic growth could be genuinely sustainable. There was here acknowledgement that if large amounts of money are poured into genuinely environmentally friendly measures to cut our carbon footprint (eg investment in home insulation and solar panels) then we could see genuinely sustainable economic growth but that really we need a different way of looking at things, one that doesn't focus on money to the detriment of the environment and the community.

Dan also told us that the Donald Trump plan to build a golf resort on a beautiful unspoilt area of Aberdeenshire has been voted the Worst Planning Decision of the Year in the Carbuncle Awards. You can read my previous blog posts about the Trump fiasco here.

Gorgie City Farm - lively lambs

It was lovely to get this reception from Dot and Spot when I visited them this lunchtime! They may be joined by more Suffolk lambs this weekend and if they are, then they will move onto the hill behind the farm to make room for the new arrivals.

More from my writing workshop

bare branched trees -
vivid green moss
on fallen trunks.


in Vogrie Country Park

Thanks for yesterday's comments asking more about the writing workshop I facilitated in Vogrie Country park yesterday. The above is one of the haiku I wrote. I won't be able to post anyone else's contributions, because people took them away with them to work on further! There was an excellent variety of work produced though, some people writing poems, some writing stream of consciousness pieces and others making lists of poems they will write in the future.

I only occasionally facilitate writing workshops (and its not part of my job with the Federation of City Farms), but it is something I would like to do more of in the future, especially if it can be in places like Country Parks!

Writing Workshop at Vogrie Country Park

I facilitated a day workshop on nature writing today at Vogrie Country Park. It was aimed at people like countryside rangers and environmental education workers who could use writing in their work, but a couple of people were there out of personal interest. Twelve people there in total, which is a great number, enough to have proper discussions but not so many that it becomes unwieldy. We discussed reasons for writing about nature, how to use creative writing about nature in group work, then we had a guided walk round the beautiful park (thanks to Jo and Alan the countryside rangers for leading these walks). Then we all wrote something inspired by the walk, some people shared what they had written, others talked about how they felt about writing. Then we talked about how we could use writing in education work, with some people sharing specific activities they have used with groups. There was a lot of lively discussion throughout the day and plenty of cups of tea! It was great to see everyone enthused about creative writing and I also came away with a handful of haiku and some ideas for longer poems (one of the side benefits of tutoring I always find!).

Bunny Hugs

I was delighted to receive the Hugs award from Faye at Faye's Art Blog. As most readers of this blog know, I am a bit of a bunny hugger, so I'm passing on hugs to:

the ten dedicated blogging bunnies at A Houseful of Rabbits

Miss Eve, Yowlyy's mourning bunny currently searching for a new bun to bond with

Hans, Yohji and Buttons the Furry Butts

Sydney and Tyler the crafting buns at Qi Papers

Freckles the storytelling bunny

and also, because he is such a huggable looking dog, hugs to Edward at The House of Edward

The King in His Castle

a king would he be?

The man who thinks he can create an independent nation by selling off our land to wealthy foreigners?

The castle is full of rusting armour and antiquated firearms, not enough to defend ourselves against his betrayals.

In the chapel, the castle guardian snores.

King in His Castle for Pictures, Poetry and Prose Alphabet Prompt

(explanatory note: The Scottish Government is allowing Donald Trump to build a golf course complex on a sensitive area of natural beauty and is currently trying to sell off the national forests too)