Angela and the beanstalk

Hoxton ladies’ three bean plants grows into a community project.


“It will just cause a big mess…you will never be able to sustain it… it will attract foxes and rats…” These are just some of the complaints you are likely to hear if you start up your own community kitchen garden. 

But it only takes a bit of perseverance, optimism and rationality and your seeds could soon grow into your very own beanstalk.

“When I proposed the idea to the residents’ association one lady came to me and said she had 45 people who opposed the plans. But I visited them and it was clear they would object to the question “do you want mess and foxes in the neighbourhood”, anyone would. It only took a bit of explanation to bring them round,” explained Angela Large, the founder of Crondall Court estate community kitchen garden in Hoxton.

For Angela the initial scepticism was a minor challenge to overcome for the pleasure of growing and eating her own produce. “I come home from work, decide I want salad for dinner, pick it and serve it, all within an hour.”

“I grew enough salad over the summer to not have to buy any. I don’t know how much money I save but that’s not the point. When I pull a carrot out of the ground I’m dying to show someone what I’ve just grown.”

When Angela grew three bean plants in 2009 a seed had been planted. “I would quite like to do more of this,” she thought to herself. Despite initial scepticism from her neighbours, she secured a £1,000 grant from Capital Growth, Boris Johnson’s sustainable food initiative and, with help from councillors Carole Williams and Philip Glanville, pressed forward with the project.

There are now 13 beds in the allotment, each owned by around 20 local residents, couples or families who pay £2 a month for maintenance. The group host three social events per year and community spirit is thriving.

“At the beginning one lady threatened to set fire to anything we grew near her flat. Three months ago she knocked on my door and asked for some compost. I was so shocked I couldn’t bring myself to ask her for any money.”

“When I presented the idea to the residents’ meeting they told me I was wasting my time. They’ve seen middle class people like me move onto the estate, think they can solve all their problems and leave again.”

“Now residents are always peering in, complimenting us on our garden and chatting to us. There’s been a real softening in the community,” Angela said.

And now it is something for the community to take pride in. “All the previous opposition made us think it has to be lovely and appropriate.” The proof is in the eating.

Bridge Over Troubled Water: a postmortem of Chelsea's Terry-ble week on and off the pitch

After a week of capital punishment, Chelsea will be relieved to board a plane to Genk for their midweek Champions League fixture. No one will pretend London derbies are easy, but it will come as a concern to Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas that Chelsea have failed to win neither ugly nor pretty against their two rivals.  Chelsea’s talisman, John Terry in particular has had the kind of week that would warrant borrowing Mario Balotelli’s “why always me?” t-shirt after losing his cool against QPR and his footing against Arsenal.

Both the FA and the Metropolitan police have launched investigations into Anton Ferdinand’s allegations that Terry called him a “f****** black c***”, an allegation that Terry vehemently denies. The evidence is far from conclusive. The difference between "black" and "blind", which Terry claims he said, is not discernible and so we must give him the benefit of the doubt – reluctantly. His character reference is barely worthy of a pardon.

Either way, one would assume it would not be wise for the England captain to slander the brother of his international centre back partner with such vile language.

Whilst there are many things the Premier League can be proud of, player and referee respect is not one of them. Effing and blinding has long been ingrained into the fabric of football. It is a shame it has taken two accusations of racism to flag up an issue that should have no place in the game and should be held in the same taboo box as diving.

What happens to footballers when they cross the white line to turn them into petulant yobs is anyone’s guess. Passion is not an excuse; no one would dare accuse former England rugby captain, Lewis Moody, of a lack of passion because he kept his temper in check.

Terry’s second slip up of the week was also the second time Stamford Bridge’s hallowed turf let Roman Abramovich down. His move to buy the last remaining piece of the Chelsea puzzle, the green grass of home, was blocked by Chelsea Pitch Owners. When it rains it pours in west London, but it seems not even all that rain can grow Abramovich some new grass.

With UEFA’s financial fair play rules set to nullify Abramovich’s billions, a new stadium is at the top of Chelsea’s to do list if they want to continue to compete at the business end of European football. The rules, which come into effect for the 2014 Champions League, will exempt any club from the competition if they fail to balance their books.

Having bought the fans Premier League titles, FA Cups, Champions League finals, some of the world’s finest players and reverence in world football, Abramovich failed to buy over the “true blues” this week. Chelsea Pitch Owners voted to maintain control of Stamford Bridge’s grass and and with it a fingertip of autonomy in their club - a romantic notion - but in doing so seem to be wavering their newfound entitlement to Champions League football. The value of green space is high in London these days, but surely not that high.

Developers roar on with Lions Club proposals

Developers have vowed to press on with plans to revive Hoxton’s Lions Club after gathering a petition of 1,200 signatures supporting the development, despite concerns raised by the local residents on Monday.

The plans have attracted criticism from residents of Charles Square and Pitfield estates, who argue the developers are more concerned with the 22 new flats planned over six floors above the young persons’ club, rather than preserving the community club that has served the area for 80 years.

The Pitfield Street site requires £50,000 a year to run and, with local authorities reducing funding to just £15,000 this year, the dilapidated building is in desperate need of a significant cash injection.

Mike North of Crondall developers, the company hoping to take on the project, said he can understand the residents’ hesitation considering the history involved in the club, but insisted the majority of the community were behind the proposals.

He said: “Our research shows over 90 per cent of the community support the scheme, but residents’ concerns are valid and if there are misconceptions we have to work hard to change them.”

“We understand change can be scary; some of these residents probably went to the club as children. But this centre is in terminal decline. If the centre is to continue it has to make money. We want to make sure the legacy continues for another 80 years.”

Hoxton councillor Carole Williams said she sympathised with the residents’ concerns, but supported the plans. She said: “There has been a lot of development in Shoreditch recently and residents are anxious to make sure we get it right. The developers are doing a good job of listening to locals’ concerns to ensure the club is here for a lot longer.”

The planning process is in its fourth year, with builders unlikely to start work for at least another year.

Protesters Ready to Occupy Hoxton

Hoxton is preparing to give the Occupy London protesters a mixed reception from local businesses [P1] should they relocate to the area. Hoxton Square has been proposed as a possible venue should they be evicted from their St Paul’s Cathedral camp.

Hoxton’s proximity to The City and demographic of young professionals has landed it on the shortlist drawn up at the camp’s general assembly yesterday, along with other candidates Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square, Imperial War Museum and Victoria Park.

Lee Goodwin, manager of Hoxton Square bar, Electricity Showroom, said: “I’m personally all for the protests so if it needs to be done, it needs to be done.” But he fears businesses will suffer: “It could be pretty bad for business, it all depends on whether the police close roads.”

Despite reports claiming the make shift camp is costing St Paul’s as much as 70 per cent [P2] in revenue, the protesters are keen to stay put and are liaising with the police, fire brigade and St Paul’s Cathedral to find a solution. “The further away from The City we get the less influential the camp will be,” said media liaison officer, Phil Mckeenan. “We want to bend over backwards for the authorities because we are so grateful to have this space.” Yesterday the camp complied with fire and safety regulations by clearing all rubbish and separating tents.

“We are concerned about the reports of revenue loss and are discussing ways to reimburse the cathedral. The possibility of a benefit concert has been discussed, as well as paying ‘rent’ for using their space.”

MP: “I’ve been arrested in every South American country I’ve been to.”

Left wing Labour MP, Jeremy Corbyn yesterday revealed he has been arrested for protesting in every South American country he has been to. His revelation came whilst throwing his support behind the UK Uncut protests.

Corbyn approved of the demonstration currently camped outside St Paul’s Cathedral, adding that as a young man he would have been on the streets protesting against the rise of capitalism. “A few people have got very rich, whilst a lot of people are in poverty. We need to share our resources and respect cultures and diversity, not spend money going to war.”

“The protestors’ strength is that there are no leaders and they share the view of the people - no one is able to attack them.”

Corbyn’s left-wing stance has developed since he was a young schoolboy growing up in Shropshire. “I was a minority of one in my school. My classmates used to boast about what animals they had killed on the weekend’s hunt, whilst I refused to join the Cadets on conscientious objection. The head teacher told me I would never make anything of my life.”

But Corbyn’s past experiences helped build his passion for human rights activism.

“In Buenos Aires I watched three police officers walk up to a communist journalist and shoot him. I was arrested for protesting at his funeral the next day,” said Corbyn.

“It was pretty stupid of me to go to that protest, but I was so angry about what I had seen.”

Hoxton restaurant aims to make doggy bag diners’ new best friend

A Hoxton restaurant is taking part in a nationwide campaign to revive the unfashionable doggy bag. The Sustainable Restaurant Association’s (SRA) “Too Good To Waste” campaign aims to reduce the 600,000 tonnes of food thrown out by restaurants each year by 20%.

The Hoxton Apprentice is doing its’ part in the economic down turn by encouraging diners to take their leftovers home with them. The doggy bag targets the estimated six tonnes of food discarded by each restaurant every year from diners’ plates.

Doggy bags are commonplace in the United States but have failed to be a hit in the more reserved British society. “Our research shows one quarter of diners are too embarrassed to ask for a doggy bag, whilst a further 24% didn’t think restaurants were allowed to let the customers take their surplus food home,” said the SRA’s Tom Tarnner.

Hoxton Apprentice’s managing director, John Cruze said: “We are always looking for ways to reduce our food waste and carbon footprint. This is one conscious effort to do that.”

The Hoxton Apprentice can expect to save between £2,000-£4,000 a year and the chefs of the Hoxton Square restaurant, which offers unemployed people apprenticeships, certainly approve of the initiative. “They would rather see their food taken home than thrown out,” said Mr Cruze.

Homeless Man Died From Natural Causes, Coroner Verdicts

A 46 year-old homeless man found dead in a Church yard by two children died from natural causes, a coroner adjudged yesterday.

Jacek Hajduk, a Polish national believed to be divorced, was discovered by the two young church goers at St Barnabas Church in Stoke Newington on Sunday 24 July and was pronounced dead shortly after midday.

A pathologist determined the cause of death to be “inflammation of the lungs and Tuberculosis.”

PC Fenton, who attended the scene, said: “Mr Hajduk was known to police for sleeping rough in the area. There was no evidence of suspicious circumstances or third party involvement, although he was later found to have twice the alcohol drink driving limit in his system.”

A GP told the court Mr Hajduk, who had no known job or address, suffered from brain damage after a previous trauma, as well as Tuberculosis and diabetes, but was inconsistent with keeping up with his prescription.