Congratulations to Jill Carter

Many Dig In volunteers will already know Jill Carter of Pulp Friction fame. Jill has assisted in many of our events with the catering and running a Smoothie Bar. Pulp Friction also manage a dedicated fruit cage area on the allotment to supply ingredients for their wonderful smoothies.

To cut a story short, on behalf of Dig In, I would like to congratulate Jill on receiving an award of £10,000 to support her Pulp Friction Travellin' Kitchen project after being crowned Britain’s Top Real Role Model by global direct selling company Amway UK. Well done Jill!!

BUDDING ENTREPRENEUR IS ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS WITH £10,000 DONATION FROM AMWAY UK  

Britain’s Top Real Role Model 2012 Is Revealed

Social entrepreneur Jill Carter has been crowned Britain’s Top Real Role Model by global direct selling company Amway UK. Now in its second year, the campaign aimed to uncover the nation’s real role models and provide invaluable support for business start-ups, awarding £10,000 to the winner to help them begin their own social enterprise business. Jill will also receive mentoring sessions by judges and award-winning entrepreneurs, Jo Fairley and last year’s winner, Melanie Bryan OBE.  

Jill beat numerous entrants across the UK to the coveted title. Her proposed business idea, Pulp Friction Travellin’ Kitchen, is a social initiative which works alongside young adults with learning difficulties to run a mobile catering business that will operate at community events, farmers markets, parties, weddings and festivals throughout the UK. Alongside offering on the job training and personal support, the scheme will also deliver cookery classes for young people aged 14-19 using the ‘Let’s Get Cooking’ programme, supported by the Children’s Food Trust.  

Pulp Friction was originally set up as a youth project in 2009 to give young disabled adults the chance to develop independence, social and work readiness skills by running pedal-powered smoothie bars at different community events. This proved so popular that in January 2011, Jill took voluntary redundancy from her career to set up Pulp Friction as a social enterprise.  

Jill says of winning this year’s campaign: “I am so thrilled to have won Britain’s Top Real Role Model 2012. I feel passionate about supporting my local community and helping young adults with learning difficulties to gain a level of independence and work skills, and the money donated by Amway will make such a huge difference in getting my initiative up and running and a real success. It’s an incredible opportunity!”

Sheryl Franklin-Worth, Corporate Affairs Manager at Amway UK says: “I have been overwhelmed by some of the truly inspirational initiatives that have been put forward for this campaign; however Jill’s community project really impressed all the judges. The initiative really reflects Amway's values for helping disadvantaged children and is a grass roots community enterprise that will impact positively and truly inspire others. A worthy winner indeed.”

Eco-loo Update 2

Many thanks to Helen for the latest eco-loo update photos. Significant progress has been made and I'm happy to report that we now have a roof, floor and four walls. 

Tim and James have also set aside some dates to involve Dig In volunteers with some of the construction and associated landscaping and we are all crossing our legs for completion and official opening of the facility in the next few weeks.

Pruning Workshop - a great success

Despite snow on the ground and cold feet, this year's pruning workshop event proved to be a great success. Event leader and freelance fruit tree specialist, Marc Richmond taught volunteers the ins and outs of pruning techniques, when to prune and how to maximise our fruit crops and maintain healthy trees by a regime of selective pruning and mulching. Attention was also given to the Dig In grape vine and the many varieties of fruit bushes in the Pulp Friction fruit cage.

Thanks also go to Jill Carter from Pulp Friction for providing the wonderful homemade soups and pancakes which were eagerly enjoyed by everyone. Alan Withington from RCAN was also on site to present an official plaque to commemorate the construction of the Pulp Friction growing area and was in turn presented with a cheque for RCAN by the mayor. 

Alan Withington (RCAN) will also be running a construction course on the Dig In site in the near future, as well as helping us with other ongoing maintenance and construction projects. Recovering and repairs to the Dig In polytunnel are also planned for this year, so with the construction of the eco-loo, this is going to be a very big year for us in terms of site improvements for the benefit of existing volunteers and the community at large. With site facilities upgraded, we then intend to encourage and invite more elderly and disabled members of the local community to become involved with the Dig In project.

Last of the Summer vine (before and after the pruning workshop);

Eco-loo update

Tim and James have literally battled through the worst of our Winter weather with the result that the base and floor of the composting toilet have now been completed along with the framework to support the upper walls and door frame. The photograph below (taken at the pruning workshop event) was kindly sent in by Helen. Yes, that is real snow on the ground and the temperature was as cold as it looks in the photo.

Building Spaces for Growing Course

As part of Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire's 'Grow and Grow' project, Alan Withington will be hosting a 1 day workshop which will provide instruction and teach practical skills such as constructing raised beds, making planters, bee boxes etc. Please download the event poster for further details.

The course will be held on Thursday 28th February 2013 at the Dig In community Allotment, Pasture Road, Stapleford, Nottingham [map] 9.15 for 9.30 am start. Finish around 2.30 pm.

You will need to bring sturdy footwear, warm clothing, a waterproof in case of bad weather and a packed lunch. The course is free to organisations and individuals based in Broxtowe, but there is a £30 charge for those based outside the Borough (concessions apply). Booking for the event is essential.

To book and for further information, please contact Alan Withington;

email: alanwithington@rcan.org
tel: 01623 727600 (leave your contact details)

Compost toilet - eco-loo

Work started on site this week to build the new Compost toilet. Despite the below zero temperatures and frozen ground, the foundations are already in place. Thanks to James and Tim for all their hard work.

Pruning Workshop Saturday 26th January 2013

Dig In will be running a Pruning Workshop on Saturday 26th January, led by local fruit tree expert Marc Richardson. We will be pruning a range of fruit bushes including blackcurrants, gooseberries, grape vines and apple and pear trees. If you have a tree on site we might be able to help you prune it on the day. Pulp Friction are providing a hot lunch. The workshop is free of charge with a suggested donation of £10. Booking essential with Lauren on 07943700302.