Want to get more involved in local green initiatives? Want to support or implement practical projects around food, energy, waste, transport and nature in our community? Want to help address social injustices and decolonise our lives? Want to be part of a growing international movement of connected local communities creating change? It sounds like youContinue reading “Transition Towns Finsbury Park & Crouch End”
Tag Archives: sustainability
Wood Firing: Unique Handcrafted Pottery Update
At Meadow Orchard, we’re excited to harvest our yellow London Clay for pottery, perfect for low-temperature wood-fired ceramics. The site, once tennis courts, is rich in clay and ideal for sustainable, locally sourced materials. Our permaculture ethos aligns with using local sustainable materials. We’ve built a clay roundhouse, a natural puddled clay pond, a clay oven, a clay rocket stove and now pottery feels like the next step. In spring, we’ll begin harvesting and testing the clay with local artists and ceramicists. Early test results are promising, and we can’t wait to share the process. Get in touch if you’d like to join us on this creative journey!
The Fire Triangle
Cooking on open fires Meadow Orchard site is off-grid, which means we don’t have mains gas or electricity. To cook at Meadow Orchard we use bottled gas (Butane or Butane / Propane mixed gas), Paraffin, Meths or Firewood. We have a number of different types of stoves and methods of cooking, Kelly Kettles, Rocket Stoves,Continue reading “The Fire Triangle”
The Soil Foodweb
Organic gardening At Meadow Orchard we try to practice organic growing, relying on complex natural ecosystems, working with nature to maintain healthy and fertile soil. Mycelium Networks Paths at Meadow Orchard are mulched with waste organic matter, branches and a deep layer of woodchip. These paths create drainage, help retain moisture and provide support aContinue reading “The Soil Foodweb”
Harnessing Solar Power: Green Energy
Low voltage lighting in our Roundhouse We are going to add a lighting system in our Roundhouse classroom. This will increase its usability for our site users. We are planning to install a low voltage (12 volt) solar system to provide off-grid power. For lighting we will use very efficient 7 watt LED spotlights. SpotlightsContinue reading “Harnessing Solar Power: Green Energy”
Transition Towns Tour ’23
The London Transitions Gathering Tour In Summer 2023, Transition Towns groups joined together for a four day tour of Community Gardens, Group Projects and Permaculture Sites across London. Meadow Orchard was one of the stops on the tour! Members of the project were delighted to host the group at the project. What is Transition Towns?Continue reading “Transition Towns Tour ’23”
Outdoor Community Oven: Support Local Project with Freshly Baked Goods
In October 2024, we hosted a community bread bake fundraiser at our outdoor clay oven to support Toilet Twinning, a charity that helps provide clean water, basic toilets, and hygiene education to communities in need. Thanks to the generosity of our volunteers and donors, we raised £60 for the cause. As a result, our composting loo at Meadow Orchard is now twinned with a toilet in Nepal! Visit our loo shed to see the certificate proudly displayed. Join us for future events and help support important global initiatives!
Goodgym @MOP 8/1/25 🏃♂️
Do good and keep fit 2025 is off to a great start at MOP, we’re welcoming our friends from Goodgym Harringay to Meadow Orchard again this month. We’ll be barrowing woodchip to mulch paths and collecting xmas trees to use for composting on site and as wood for hugel beds. A Big thankyou to ourContinue reading “Goodgym @MOP 8/1/25 🏃♂️”
Cob Building: Sustainable Earth Homes
Cob is a sustainable and natural construction technique using a mix of sand, clay, straw, and water. The natural plasticity of clay is used to bind the sand together, straw adds structural fibres to stabilise and reinforce the material. Cob can be used to build walls and can be moulded into bricks, shaped by handContinue reading “Cob Building: Sustainable Earth Homes”
Wood Firing: Unique Handcrafted Pottery
At Meadow Orchard, we’re excited to harvest our yellow London Clay for pottery, perfect for low-temperature wood-fired ceramics. The site, once tennis courts, is rich in clay and ideal for sustainable, locally sourced materials. Our permaculture ethos aligns with using local sustainable materials. We’ve built a clay roundhouse, a natural puddled clay pond, a clay oven, a clay rocket stove and now pottery feels like the next step. In spring, we’ll begin harvesting and testing the clay with local artists and ceramicists. Early test results are promising, and we can’t wait to share the process. Get in touch if you’d like to join us on this creative journey!
Meadow Orchard Project 