Even Animals Can Recycle!

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animal recycling, recycle works

I came across this really cute video on You Tube and just had to share it with you. I hope you like it as much as I did! Debs x

Helmsley Walled Garden – Please Vote For Them!

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helmsley walled garden, restoration

Hello there!
 
This is just a quick note to remind you that today is the day that voting is crucial if Helmsley Walled Garden is to win £50,000.00 to finish the restoration on their wonderful walled garden. The number to call is 0871 626 8122.

Calls cost cost only 10p from a Landline; rates for mobiles vary according to your network. Calls will not be registered after midnight. When you ring you will hear that you have voted for the “Garden of Contemplation” – this is correct! 

To remind you I will add the details below………
 
An appeal

This is your chance to make a huge difference for the cost of a 10p telephone call.
Some of our readers of Sylvia’s Briefs have asked if I will tell you about their efforts to complete restoration of a wonderful walled garden in a delicious part of Yorkshire.
 
Helmsley Walled Garden is a magical hidden garden set against the backdrop of Helmsley Castle in the heart of North Yorkshire. There are five acres of beautiful gardens incorporating flowers, vegetables and herbs that have been brought back from total dereliction by the vision of a local lady and a dedicated band of volunteers.

 
The garden is a registered charity offering horticultural therapy for those in need. We have reached the final of the People’s Millions and have a 50:50 chance of winning £50,000 for a new sensory garden area, physic garden and disabled access raised beds plus support for school projects and a therapist for special needs children and the disabled.

Please find time to visit the Helmsley Walled Garden as it is a delightful and happy place, but they are a small outfit and need support which is wider than their lovely local supporters.  All readers of Sylvia’s Briefs will appreciate the need to support this group of dedicated gardeners. I know that a few moments from you spent in support of this group will be well rewarded. Thank you from all who care about this oasis.

 

Thank you all for caring!

 

Sylvia x

Our Raised beds on Gardencentre TV

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beds, raised, wooden, wooden raised beds

We thought you might like to see this video of our raised beds being reviewed on Gardencentertv website.

It shows both how easy the raised beds are to assemble and how versatile they are. They say a picture can say a thousand words ….. so please take a look!

Our thanks to Mervyn for letting us use the clip.

Help save the ‘Marine Conservation Bill’

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conservation, marine, marine conservation, marine conservation bill

I received the monthly newsletter from my local Wildlife Trust (Lancashire Wildlife Trust)  today and as Marine Zoologist by training, this caught my eye, so I thought I’d add it to the blog to help the cause!
I copy it verbatim.

Marine Conservation Bill Campaign      Status: Next 3 weeks are critical – Bill at risk!

Hydromedusae

This month -as the Marine Bill hangs in the balance – we have an urgent request; that you take 5 minutes to email your MP asking for his/her support.

We have been tipped off by MP’s that there are too many Bills lined up for the coming year. The Government has many serious issues to address and may decide to drop some of these Bills before the Queen’s Speech on 3 December. The UK Marine Bill has been mentioned as being vulnerable. We cannot let this happen! New laws to protect the marine environment are already long overdue. If the Bill is postponed now, we may not get another chance for many years.

We have just 3 weeks to keep the Bill afloat – but you can throw a lifeline! Just 5 minutes could be enough to help save the Bill. Simply follow the 5 steps below.

If you don’t know who your MP is, visit http://www.theyworkforyou.com/and enter your postcode.

• Visit the list of MP’s who have signed a new Early Day Motion (EDM) supporting the Marine Bill (‘EDM 2189: Taking forward the Marine Bill’), and check whether your MP has signed it. Please click here to visit the page.
• Go back to http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ enter your postcode to go to your MP’s page, and click on ‘Send an email to…’.
• If your MP has signed the EDM, politely thank him/her for signing it.
• Ask him/her to write to the new marine minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, urging him to make sure that the Marine Bill is included in the 2008 Queen’s Speech.
• Or, if your MP has not signed the EDM, politely ask him/her to consider signing it. Also ask him/her to write to the new marine minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, urging him to make sure that the Marine Bill is included in the 2008 Queen’s Speech.

Once you’ve done that, please send an an email letting us know which MP you have contacted: marine@wildlifetrusts.org
Bear in mind that some MP’s are unable to sign EDMs because of the position they hold. Others do not sign EDM’s on principle. If your MP chooses not to sign the Marine Bill EDM, please be respectful of his/her decision.

Simon

The benefits of using EM (Effective Microorganisms) when you have a house full of puppies!

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activated EM (EM-A), cleaning, cleaning without chemicals, effective microorganisms, EM, EM-1, emc probiotic cleaner, flatcoat retriever, odour control, puppies

This is a follow up to Debbie’s previous post relating to the Google Video link I sent her!

It is now 12 weeks since I was blessed (?) with the arrival of seven gorgeous Flatcoat Retriever puppies, their mum Fern has been an absolutely brilliant mother …. and it has been her first litter.

In anticipation of their arrival, I activated a full litre of EM-1, so I had 20 litres of EM to ensure that the ‘maternity wing’ would be a healthy one and to ensure the pups would get a head start!

Proud mum

So here we have a picture of a very proud mother checking out her gorgeous babies.

At this stage, mum was doing all the work, cleaning up all that the babies ‘produced’, but she was helped by the fact that the whelping box was sprayed on a very regular basis with EM.

Two day old Flatcoat puppies!

Who would think that these small, blind, deaf, defenseless creatures would turn into a pack of needle toothed, chewing monsters – whose agenda was either to rip up or chew anything in their path (when not fighting with each other) …… while at the same time making as much mess as possible!

Those of you who have experienced the arrival of a litter of puppies will know that the most essential item is a large supply of old newspapers, however, there is can be associated smell problem.  Mum will clean up after them initially, but there are limits! There is a cut off point – then you have your work cut out. It is then that the smell of puppy wee & poo can become a problem – and the disinfectants come out!

For those of you who don’t know about EM (Effective Microorganisms), the one thing that they do love is ‘muck’ and puppy muck to them is ‘manner from heaven’! Not only with they help clean it up, but will also neautralise any smells and when used at a low dilution rate, activated EM will act as a disinfectant. The combination of liberal applications of activated EM and eMc Probiotic Citrus Cleaner meant that the kitchen …… yes, my kitchen, ….. smelt clean and fresh ….. environmental health would disapprove no doubt ….. and as in this house this in no ‘her indoors’ as Arthur Daley (remember him?) would say, there were no complaints!!

Most folk would probably apply liberal applications of disinfectant and anti-bacterial sprays …. but not in this house …. it is an EM house and as such is cleaned using EM to ensure it is populated with the beneficial microbes.

Seven Little Monsters

The pups thrived in their EM environment and as soon as they  started to feed on solids, they had some EM bokashi bran added to their feed – they also had EM in their drinking water – just like their mum, who, regardless of all the stresses and strains of motherhood, retained a wonderful shiny coat.

The pups have grown really well and are amazingly fit and healthy, regardless of the fact that they have a penchant for all things horrible, which include the chicken’s droppings and their latest favourite – sheep poo! Marvelous!

Four of the monsters have now gone to new homes, one of which, Monty has taken up tax exile in Jersey!

Now, I intended only to keep one of the pups – and that was a wicked little girl called Moss, however things never go to plan and one her brothers – Rob, stood out from the others and so I decided to keep him too. Then there was Oscar …. he was the smallest in the litter, but a real character, who although everybody fell in love with, he wasn’t picked, so being a big softy, he staying too!

From L-R. Fern, Moss, Oscar, Rob

So, I now have 3 very energetic pups that tend to run riot in the house and as result get very wound up – the result of which is that ‘accidents’ to tend to occur.

Fortunately, I always have a spray bottle of EM to hand and it has been a god send. My mother’s remedy for ‘puppy accidents’ was a good squirt of soda water to ensure no stains on the carpet – now we know we she should always make note of what our mothers teach us, but on this one I disagree …. because EM is BRILLIANT …. a good squirt of EM and there are No stains and NO smells.

A Happy Hound is an EM Hound!

Simon

Ladies Hands Harbour More Bugs Than Men!

Tags

antibacterial gel, antibacterial wipes, bugs, hands

Here at The Recycle Works, it must be said that we have a wonderful team, who in my humble opinion, all really enjoy working together. So much so that we’re all concerned for each other and bless him, Simon sent Sylvia and I a lovely article all about how ladies hands harbour more bugs than men (except in his case!). Bless him!

So, having just found out that we now stock antibacterial gel and anctibacterial wipes within our range, I thought I’d share the article Simon found with you! (To view the full article simply click here)

“Dr Fierer said that the higher bacterial diversity on women’s hands may be due to the fact that men tend to have more acidic skin, which provides a more harsh living environment for the microscopic bugs.

Alternatively, differences in sweat, oil gland or hormone production may be key – or the fact that women and men tend to make different use of cosmetics such as moisturisers.

Dr Fierer said the study also found hand washing had little impact on the diversity of bacteria found on an individual’s hands. While some groups of bacteria were less abundant following hand washing, others were more abundant.

However, the researchers said that washing with anti-bacterial cleansers was still an effective way to minimise the risk of disease, as it seemed particularly to target harmful bugs. The diversity of bacteria types on the palm was three times higher than that found on the forearm and elbow and appeared to outstrip that found in the mouth and lower intestine.”

Interesting facts I think and as for us using more hand cream than men – Simon, I know what Santa will be getting you this Christmas! And on that note if you are looking for some little stocking fillers, our range of either antibacterial gel or handwipes would be perfect!

As always, have fun!

Debs x