@mulberrybush.bsky
@mulberrybush.bsky.social
Diana Smith. Interested in better conversations. Co-ordinator for Rethink Food. Working with farmers, councils and community towards Staffordshire good food movement. Looking at the future of food, health, local economy, stronger communities.
Just coming out of the end of about 4 months of fruit harvest. Stock room full of jams and chutneys for farmers markets. Freezers full of apples prepared for apple cakes and pies.
November 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Just coming out of the end of about 4 months of fruit harvest. Stock room full of jams and chutneys for farmers markets. Freezers full of apples prepared for apple cakes and pies.
Reposted by @mulberrybush.bsky
What kind of politics do we really want when all existing models have failed? youtu.be/mMLLrdFj9mI?... Socialism, social democracy, capitalism, neoliberalism, or a politics of care? What do we really want?
What kind of politics do we really want when all existing models have failed?
YouTube video by Richard J Murphy
youtu.be
August 4, 2025 at 6:13 AM
What kind of politics do we really want when all existing models have failed? youtu.be/mMLLrdFj9mI?... Socialism, social democracy, capitalism, neoliberalism, or a politics of care? What do we really want?
One reason why I have been quiet for a while is the pressure of dealing with the fruit harvest. The weather has given heavy crops of everything - all at once, and as I have reduced the number of freezers I run this has meant some pretty heavy production runs to get preserves made for the next year.
July 31, 2025 at 9:16 AM
One reason why I have been quiet for a while is the pressure of dealing with the fruit harvest. The weather has given heavy crops of everything - all at once, and as I have reduced the number of freezers I run this has meant some pretty heavy production runs to get preserves made for the next year.
Very useful piece from @philmoorhouse.bsky.social on food price inflation in UK. A good summary of the challenges our food system is facing, and the political risks that come from people daily experience of the cost of good food. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TD5...
Why Are Groceries Still So Expensive in the UK?
YouTube video by A Different Bias
www.youtube.com
July 31, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Very useful piece from @philmoorhouse.bsky.social on food price inflation in UK. A good summary of the challenges our food system is facing, and the political risks that come from people daily experience of the cost of good food. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TD5...
The water butts are filling up - so I have taken the opportunity to top up the pond. That made it possible to skim off a whole bucket full of duckweed which I have discovered the worms in my wormery really like a lot.
July 20, 2025 at 10:18 AM
The water butts are filling up - so I have taken the opportunity to top up the pond. That made it possible to skim off a whole bucket full of duckweed which I have discovered the worms in my wormery really like a lot.
two announcements from the government today on our food systems. www.gov.uk/government/n...
Government launches "Good Food Cycle" to transform Britain's food system
New
www.gov.uk
July 15, 2025 at 6:22 PM
two announcements from the government today on our food systems. www.gov.uk/government/n...
I never expected the first place to find out about plans to build more #foodstorage would come through #thearchers. Here are my thoughts about this! I think it is crucial if we want more locally produced food. www.linkedin.com/pulse/storag...
Storage may the key to robust local food systems.
Just happened to be catching up on Sunday's episode of the Archers. A conversation on the golf course between Justin and Martin really made me sit up.
www.linkedin.com
July 14, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I never expected the first place to find out about plans to build more #foodstorage would come through #thearchers. Here are my thoughts about this! I think it is crucial if we want more locally produced food. www.linkedin.com/pulse/storag...
Last few weeks have been a bit too full on. Too many meetings, a nice break for a family visit, but far too much soft fruit all getting ripe at once. Ended up picking a lot at Sugnall Hall walled gardens which is run by volunteers. So much fruit there.
July 2, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Last few weeks have been a bit too full on. Too many meetings, a nice break for a family visit, but far too much soft fruit all getting ripe at once. Ended up picking a lot at Sugnall Hall walled gardens which is run by volunteers. So much fruit there.
Reposted by @mulberrybush.bsky
⏲️ Time is running out to sign up to tomorrow's webinar featuring Prof Kevin Morgan of @cugeogplan.bsky.social and our Executive Director Anna Taylor!
They'll discuss how we can improve food security and the unrealised powers of public procurement.
Sign up for free: bit.ly/3HFuO7I
They'll discuss how we can improve food security and the unrealised powers of public procurement.
Sign up for free: bit.ly/3HFuO7I
June 23, 2025 at 2:12 PM
⏲️ Time is running out to sign up to tomorrow's webinar featuring Prof Kevin Morgan of @cugeogplan.bsky.social and our Executive Director Anna Taylor!
They'll discuss how we can improve food security and the unrealised powers of public procurement.
Sign up for free: bit.ly/3HFuO7I
They'll discuss how we can improve food security and the unrealised powers of public procurement.
Sign up for free: bit.ly/3HFuO7I
Spent another few hours today out at an old walled garden - a beautiful place - picking a small portion of the massive amount of soft fruit they have available. There is so much - and a lot will be wasted because not enough people will bother to pick. Place is run by retired volunteers.
June 24, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Spent another few hours today out at an old walled garden - a beautiful place - picking a small portion of the massive amount of soft fruit they have available. There is so much - and a lot will be wasted because not enough people will bother to pick. Place is run by retired volunteers.
It is pretty amazing the difference it has made bringing my garden pond back to life. The newts and frogs are now doing well. There are huge numbers of different birds, when I look down the garden in the evening the air is full of flying insects, and tonight I noticed clouds of moths.
June 11, 2025 at 10:41 PM
It is pretty amazing the difference it has made bringing my garden pond back to life. The newts and frogs are now doing well. There are huge numbers of different birds, when I look down the garden in the evening the air is full of flying insects, and tonight I noticed clouds of moths.
A few of the books that I have been using to try to narrow down thousands of recipes to 8 or 9 for the food demonstration. www.linkedin.com/posts/diana-...
June 10, 2025 at 10:16 AM
A few of the books that I have been using to try to narrow down thousands of recipes to 8 or 9 for the food demonstration. www.linkedin.com/posts/diana-...
The lady who runs a community run walled garden contacted me to say the strawberries are ready. Going to have to wait until next week to harvest them.
June 9, 2025 at 11:10 PM
The lady who runs a community run walled garden contacted me to say the strawberries are ready. Going to have to wait until next week to harvest them.
Have been spending a ridiculous amount of time trying to finalize a menu for the cooking demonstration/supper I am doing next week. Have now managed to narrow it down to a sensible number of dishes, from the thousands I could have chosen.
June 9, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Have been spending a ridiculous amount of time trying to finalize a menu for the cooking demonstration/supper I am doing next week. Have now managed to narrow it down to a sensible number of dishes, from the thousands I could have chosen.
Two things that made me happy today. The Plumber (a young woman) came and fixed the dripping tap that has been annoying me for months. Went for a new tap which is very smart.
I picked 2 radishes from the new raised bed I got at christmas. They were amazing. so round and red and juicy.
I picked 2 radishes from the new raised bed I got at christmas. They were amazing. so round and red and juicy.
June 9, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Two things that made me happy today. The Plumber (a young woman) came and fixed the dripping tap that has been annoying me for months. Went for a new tap which is very smart.
I picked 2 radishes from the new raised bed I got at christmas. They were amazing. so round and red and juicy.
I picked 2 radishes from the new raised bed I got at christmas. They were amazing. so round and red and juicy.
Just wasted several hours of my time (and husbands) trying to work out how to transfer dictated notes from iphone onto computer. This worked to some extent - but it transfers as an image which I can continue to write to - but cant transfer to word so that I can format it properly. Maybe a way?
June 9, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Just wasted several hours of my time (and husbands) trying to work out how to transfer dictated notes from iphone onto computer. This worked to some extent - but it transfers as an image which I can continue to write to - but cant transfer to word so that I can format it properly. Maybe a way?
@professorgerdes.bsky.social I am picking up a lot of odd posts in Youtube indicating that there may be a power change happening in China. Not clear where this is coming from and not seeing this anywhere else. Wondering if your better sources of information can throw any light on this?
June 9, 2025 at 8:51 AM
@professorgerdes.bsky.social I am picking up a lot of odd posts in Youtube indicating that there may be a power change happening in China. Not clear where this is coming from and not seeing this anywhere else. Wondering if your better sources of information can throw any light on this?
Are there changes taking place in China? My You tube feed keeps coming up with pieces indicating that Xi is being quietly removed from power. I do not know where this information is coming from, and not finding it anywhere else? No idea what to think!
June 9, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Are there changes taking place in China? My You tube feed keeps coming up with pieces indicating that Xi is being quietly removed from power. I do not know where this information is coming from, and not finding it anywhere else? No idea what to think!
Newt watching in the newly reconstructed garden pond is taking a lot of my time. They seem to appreciate the new marginal plants I have been putting in (not shown here yet). Lots of places to hide in around the roots. One was using his "hands" to pull himself up on one basket.
June 1, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Newt watching in the newly reconstructed garden pond is taking a lot of my time. They seem to appreciate the new marginal plants I have been putting in (not shown here yet). Lots of places to hide in around the roots. One was using his "hands" to pull himself up on one basket.
I get frustrated trying to post stuff onto Blue sky. Sometimes I would like to use a pdf. with mix of words and images. I am not sure if that is possible? On the posting screen after the Image logo there is something that might be a video - or a photo reel? how does that work?
May 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
I get frustrated trying to post stuff onto Blue sky. Sometimes I would like to use a pdf. with mix of words and images. I am not sure if that is possible? On the posting screen after the Image logo there is something that might be a video - or a photo reel? how does that work?
A surprising sort of boy band! I came across World Order. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pXF... and have now watched lots of their videos. The leader is a Buddhist. He was a specialist in martial arts. when he retired from this he began making these strange videos. Humerous and perhaps subversive.
WORLD ORDER "HAVE A NICE DAY " Shibuya Ver.
YouTube video by WORLD ORDER
www.youtube.com
May 27, 2025 at 11:59 AM
A surprising sort of boy band! I came across World Order. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pXF... and have now watched lots of their videos. The leader is a Buddhist. He was a specialist in martial arts. when he retired from this he began making these strange videos. Humerous and perhaps subversive.
Thinking about "Great Nations" and the "Great Men" that seem to need them. Will there come a time when we can leave some of this behind us? www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Not so great! | Diana Smith
Not so great?
www.linkedin.com
May 24, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Thinking about "Great Nations" and the "Great Men" that seem to need them. Will there come a time when we can leave some of this behind us? www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Now several days into the project to reclaim the pond. The most challenging part has been looking after the colony of newts that we found lurking in the tiny bit of wet mud at the bottom. They were also hiding in the folds of the liner. Turns out that there are at least 7 of them.
May 19, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Now several days into the project to reclaim the pond. The most challenging part has been looking after the colony of newts that we found lurking in the tiny bit of wet mud at the bottom. They were also hiding in the folds of the liner. Turns out that there are at least 7 of them.
After two years with no frog spawn and the pond getting more and more congested with weeds decided it needed to be tackled. It had dried out to the point that could easily be done with wellingtons. Took both of us to get to the bottom, and then tackle the overgrown bamboo (it came in a tiny pot! )
May 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
After two years with no frog spawn and the pond getting more and more congested with weeds decided it needed to be tackled. It had dried out to the point that could easily be done with wellingtons. Took both of us to get to the bottom, and then tackle the overgrown bamboo (it came in a tiny pot! )