Mike and Jenny 4

Of the 22 days of Lent son t far we have between the two of us achieved 8 days when we did not use the car at all! Because we used the car for two journeys on 2 days we have contributed £ 16 so far towards the solar panels for Malawi.

As far as our attendance at the Lent Group focussing on Wilberforce and the Abolition of the slave trade Mike has been able to attend on 3 occasions but Jenny was tempted and succumbed to a meeting at the Black Lion ( food was included!)

It has been good to meet and make new friends from other denominations.

Mark 4

The takeaway came in a plastic bag. Is there anyway of walking a chinese home without plastic bags? They seem reluctant to give boxes unless you have ordered a lot/is delivered to door.

plastic bag count to date: 4

need to keep these 4 with me to use for the rest of the month...

Becky 3

I have been perusing the pages of vogue and have decided on my essential purchases for spring 2007. However, the idea is to think on them in order to make wise long lasting decisions and not short term impulse buys (once the lenten fast is over). Anyway, I stupidly looked in the shops on saturday morning and found an item that ticked two of my spring boxes (silver and converse - not remotely ethical - I know) and was very excited. I grabbed mark and dragged him to see - he was all wisdom and truthsaying and reminded me of my lenten promise. I was torn. I held the shoe in my hand for five minutes and just stared at it whilst internally my good and bad side battled it out. I may have even stroked the said shoe. Mark said it was a bit weird and he was a bit embarrassed as I looked like I was about to abduct the said shoe. However, I managed to put said shoe down and back out of shop. This is hardcore, people.

Mark 3

the problem i have realised that i have is three-fold:
1) my wild assumption that it is the shops responsbility to provide a means for me to get my goods home.
2) my general transportation methods are very varied - usually walking, bus, train or car (in that order)
3) spontantious purchases that catch me out - (last minute puchases for dinner on the walk home from work etc.)

i like the suggestion from jenny of keeping carrier bags in the boot of the car and i think i will start doing that. When not in the car i need to be conscious of having some form of bag with me before leaving the house.

I do believe in recycling carrier bags but I also want to try and stop needing them at all as it takes needless energy to make them and energy to recyle them too. becky says there's some kind of fold down long-lasting shopping bag that you can buy and keep with you when you go out. I will experiment with this option too.

Plastic carrier bag count: 3

Mike and Jenny 3

Today I,(Jenny) walked over to Stanford Avenue and back for the Women's World Day of Prayer service so saved a trip in the car. The big dilemma is if I don't use the car am I depriving our project of money? I did use the car tonight to go to my singing group so the fund is growing unlike Mike who cadged a lift with someone else.

We went to the first of our Ecumenical Lent groups on Monday evening. Had to drive there but fulfilled our commitment to attend the study.

PS We carry plastic bags in the boot of the car for our shopping trips so perhaps Mark could carry one in his back pocket for emergencies?

Lisa 2

Oh dear. Drove to work today. I was on call last night and didn't get any sleep (darn this weather). I slept in and drove in at lunch. The thought of the train was just too much today - shall I add a pound to the drive tax pot? Dare I say it was lovely to be in my car again? But I did miss the crazy people on the train.

Mark 2

Reduction in plastic carrier bag waste has so far been generally successfull. This is mainly due to staying away from shops completely, although that approach is not going to be sustainable...

Main downfall to date was popping out for emergency supplies when Becky was ill - she had requested medicine and a numer of lemons (what is a collection of Lemons - is it a bunch or herd?) and when i got to the co-op i realised i wasn't going to be able to carry everything including 8 lemons in my pockets/hands (although i did consider it), so i succumbed to a plastic bag. Felt bad as this was only day 1. What i needed was to have taken a bag with me, a trick i need to master.

Plastic bag count to date: 2

Frances 1

Apologies for being so slack in starting my blogging - I've been spending too much time on buses (well more accurately too much time at bus stops) see below.

My Lentenish contributions are firstly to only use the car once a week to get to work and to use the bus,bike,legs on other days. Secondly, to stop using the tumble dryer.

Getting to work by bus is a fairly regular experience for me but it does seem to have been particularly fraught since last Wednesday! 3 days of the journey taking 50 minutes each way (it takes 15 minutes by car)tested my patience somewhat. So, I dusted off the old push bike & with a little help gave it a quick road check. Monday morning and off I sailed virtuous as can be - both ways without a hitch. Since then,the rain has been too wet and the wind too windy so it's back on the bus for me. Roll on Friday - CAR DAY!

So far, no need for the tumble dryer (though hanging the socks and pants on the rack takes ages and everythings a bit stiff when you take it down!). Just need to get Anna on board as I suspect she will resort to emergency tumble drying if there is a break in the delivery of freshly laundered items due to me spending too much time at the bus stop. Have I already mentioned about that?

Alistair 3

Well one thing is becoming very clear... 90% of all journeys I make in the car are for the benefit of other members of the family! Late for an appointment anyone ... no problem Alistair is here! Late night trip across town ... no problem Daddy is here! Etc, etc. Starting to realise that next year's Lenten vow will have to be ... to become a selfish, unhelpful, person!!! (I jest of course - I am happy to have such a lovely family!!!!)

Anyway, on Saturday I restored my trusty bike to full working order. On Sunday I made my weekly pilgrimage to the Atlas lounge for free wireless connectivity, Eggs Benedict (to feed my inner monk, Lisa), large mocha, a dose of Derrida and a reworking of part of the garden (well Ikon actually) offering called A/Theism. Had a near death experience coming up New England Hill as my heart threatened to come out through my mouth and by head starting spinning rapidly.... all due to gross unfitness and the steepness of the climb. Safely home... after one day of cycling activity Frances points out flat tire and the huge lino tack sticking out of front tyre. So the cycling is off till I can find time to mend it.

Drove to work today in Horsham .. then at lunch time drove to Wimbledon and back..... Why? Oh what a surprise .... courier service for Kate's Art course portfolio. Yet another trip not for me!

Oh and finally.... I was reading Michael and Jenny's entries.... and decided that I would contribute the same amount for any trip I make. And by the way, family, any contributions gratefully received.

Becky 2

I have come home from work sick today and was feeling a bit fed up and so did a bit of the old shopping-surfing. Didn't enter my card details into any site and so did not purchase but lusted after a few items. Haven't bought anything. Bit dull really.

Lisa 1

My Lent Experiment:

i) Take the train to work
ii) Give up chocolate
iii) Spend 15 minutes each day in silence

Days 1 - 6
So far the most difficult is the 15 minutes - and there's me thinking I was at one with my inner monk. it seems I squeeze him out quite successfully. shall nurture....

Taking the train is getting easier (except when the heavens open) and it enables you to meet all sorts of people (drunk Russian on my way in to work today).

Chocolate...well....I sometimes think I can smell it.....

Kate 1

ello,

my lentle promise was/is two things
- to write in a journal on a daily basis
- and (similar to beckys) to stop buying cheap throwaway clothes, jewellery etc... i worded this as only buying 'key pieces'... as theres no way i can go that long without shopping!

- the journal thing - has gone really well so far - i treated myself to a moleskine journal (blatantly a key piece)and took my self to more bar for a coffee, cigarette and a little jotter.. which all seemed rarther whimsical and french! has been considerably less exciting since then. Have found its making me focus on postive things that have happened by writing them down, and is very good for perspective building... also have started writing down things i want to do (projects etc) which hopefully will give them a more wining chance of being implemented.

- no shopping - has gone well too... mainly achieved by having a bit of an exclusion zone around churchill square, and not going anywhere near it - have bought two hairpins from america though, whilst not 'key' they're not particularly cheap either so don't feel too guilty.

Kate

Mike and Jenny 2

Since Wednesday we have had to use the car 3 times.
Mike avoided using the car yesterday to visit our daughter - he used the train and buses! A partial success and yet the project is still benefitting.

The project advertised at our church this morning - we await the response.

Mike and Jenny 1

We would like to be able to give up or at least cut down on the use of our car during Lent, but like Alistair, there are times when we find this very difficult. Therefore for each journey that we make in the car we intend to contribute a £1 donation to a Christian Aid project in Malawi to purchase solar panels to power a health centre.

We are also promoting this project within our church to encourage others to consider enabling others to receive health beneifits from an environmently sustainable scheme.

Thirdly we are intending to join an Ecumenical Lent course with others outside our usual networks on a theme which is linked to Wilberforce and the abolition of slave trade. This involves a commitment on five Monday evenings.

Becky 1

My lenten challenge is: Buy Nothing New.

Which may sound easy to most but I am a major consumer of non-essentials and therefore am contibuting to chains of abuse in buying crap cheap clothes, mountains of waste in disposing of things which are transitory and a psychologically corrupt notion of filling moments of sadness or emptiness with stuff.

Therefore, my mission (should I choose to accept it) is to not buy new items (apart from when buying presents for others and food), embrace the old and dwell in those moments when only retail therapy will perk me up.

NB. Interestingly, the other day, I heard someone on radio talking about modern obsession with giving things up during lent thus benefitting the self. They challenged this as corrupt stating that lent is about giving things up for the sake of it. For the sake of what?

Mark 1

well, my commitment is:

- to attempt to reduce the amount of waste in our household by minimising the number of carrier bags i accumulate whenever i buy anything.

recycling them is possible i know, but i am trying to stop getting them in the first place. This is harder than you may think, as Alistair has already stated - it's all about planning, fore-thought and being prepared (having other bags with you if you go to the shops, thinking about what you are going to buy and making prior arrangements in your mind for how they will be transported home etc etc!!)

progress on the first week to follow...

Alistair 2

Wednesday 21st - Friday 23rd

Hmmm this is not as easy as it looks.

Made two in town trips taking Anna to school in morning (which due to her difficulties with college at the moment I have agreed I will do) so far so good!

Then last night... ended up doing a big round trip, dropping Kate home, dropping Anna in town and then picking up wine for a dinner party. The big thing is I forgot to even make a conscious decision... I just did it. But really all the journeys were luxuries brought on by poor planning ... if all of us had been thinking ahead then the journeys could have been avoided.

So first few days.. won't be too hard on myself but more thinking ahead is going to be needed.

Alistair 1

My challenge concerns the use of the car.

I will not use the car for non-work journeys for my own pleasure or benefit during Lent.

I will try to minimise all other car use but may have to make journeys:

1)As a taxi service for others when the impact on them of me not doing so is large

2)For work trips to my Lennox Wood location which would be a major expedition on public transport .... (I will aim to use train for Horsham location work).

Lent Ethical Living

This post starts the entries that track our attempts to do something new for each of us in the field of ethical living.

Website

As you can see, we have pretty much stopped posting here. We now have a proper website up and running. Please come and visit us at: www.thegardenbrighton.co.uk

The next garden

The next Garden will be on Sunday 21st May at 7.30pm at St John's (near Palmera Sq), Hove. This event will be part of teh brighton festioval fringe and will be looking at 'Place' - the essence of presence, belonging and rootedness in the place where we live and breathe.

would be good to see you there!

The next Garden: April 9th

The Garden is happening again this coming Sunday evening (9th April) for those who are interested.

The event is called 'Absence' and, with a glance at the Easter story, will be exploring thoughts on the absence / abandonment / silence of God in many aspects of modern culture and whether this condition has the potential to be a doorway rather a dark place.

Join us at St. Johns Church (at the west end of Palmeria Square) at 7.30pm for around one hour. It would be great to see you there ...... and as ever we will move to a nearby pub or bar to chat afterwards.

Mark

Film Night - Whalerider - 4th March

It has all been a bit quiet on 'the garden' front since our 'womb' event just before Christmas. This has been partly due to a general feeling of dormancy brought about by January but also due to a seriously high level of commitment required from some of our day jobs, but we are now getting rolling for 2006.

Our first event of 2006 will be a film night on Saturday 4th March at 73 Beaconsfield Villas at 8pm. This will be a showing of 'Whalerider'. Despite the title, the film is about as far from Free Willy as you could get. Whalerider is a beautifully shot, captivating film set in a Maori settlement in New Zealand. It is a wonderful, moving story that touches on themes of traditional beliefs in conflict with modern culture, the rise of women in a patriarchal society, nature and spirituality, community, family, etc., etc.

Light bites will be provided but do bring a bottle. We will aim to start the film at around 8.30 - 9.15, so be there in good time! It would be helpful if you could email info@thegardenbrighton.co.uk to let us know whether you plan to come along, just to help with the planning.

We have also started work on a series of three Sunday evening events through to the summer. Anyone who wants to get involved in helping us develop them would be welcome. Further details will follow shortly but the probable dates and working titles are:

Sunday 9th April: Absence

Sunday 21th May: Place - this event will be part of the Brighton Festival Fringe

Sunday 2nd July: Presence


Other events in the pipeline:

Saturday 10th June: Film night - hopefully outdoors.

Friday 25th - Monday 28th August - Greenbelt Arts Festival, Cheltenham