Goldsmith's College 27th February, 23rd March and 26th May. This was a definitive evolution in my teaching career. Through my ongoing work I was contacted by a member of the Enviroclub, a Student Union student's organisation who were promoting the issues of environmentally friendly practice at college. Initially I was put in contact with various prominent students who had career developments in mind as well as the environmental officer at the university. It was clear that green issues were very low down the university agenda. What funding the Enviroclub would have received was probably measly. Still, I gave extended workshops in view of the opportunity to work with students on their home grounds indicating the disparity between National Curriculum education and prominent real skills yet to be fully introduced into it. There are certain universities that have made headway, including my former at Middlesex, initially a place where I took my permaculture design certificate through summer school. So to be invited to Goldsmiths, a place where I was brought up under the mentor of my musical brother, I jumped at the opportunity.
The first meeting was during green week. It was a low turn-out, considering there were other speakers. Still my passion was racing and showed a bit of rustiness in my teaching. I brought along organic fruit and highlighted the virtues of growing a biodiverse range of products. Campus grounds have ample opportunity to bring in volunteer organisations to make use of some of the redundant and neglected areas scattered about. As usual though, most decisions are bogged down in bureacracy.
The first practical meeting was open to outsiders too. We did a reconnaisance of the area and sussed out possible growing spaces. Our favourite spot was just beneath the balcony of the SU bar and nestled within 3 walls providing a very distinct microclimate with great shelter and solar gain. There were already a few scattered plantings and also a bin area. We set about doing a PASE