Christian Engineers in Development - http://www.ced.org.uk/
A group of engineers (& architect!) involved in several projects overseas helping to bring clean water to poor areas. It was a delight to hear first hand how access to clean water has a huge, positive effect on a whole community.
We take for granted there will be clean safe water on tap. WHO recommends at least 20 litres of water per day to maintain health. It is usually the women & small girls that are sent to collect water. A litre of water weighs 1 kilo so you can begin to imagine how hard it is to carry enough water home. Clean water can allow girls access to education. When a girl is educated a whole family is educated. Water bourne diseases such as diarrhoea & vomiting are reduced and general health improves.
When we first lived in Africa as a family, the electricity failed which meant no running town, water. To provide drinking water for the family meant collecting water from Lake Victoria, letting it settle for a week then boiling and filtering it. You still had to provide enough water for washing, cooking and cleaning - water is a very precious commodity.
Rural Extension with Africa's Poor http://reap-eastafrica.org/reap/
An NGO in East Africa working to improve people's lives through agriculture. I really enjoyed a short visit with them several years ago and was very impressed with their projects. Natural medicines and community developement are an important part of their work.
Herb Gardens to Visit and Order Herb plants or Seeds From
Poyntzfield Herb Garden. We visited on a bright sunny day and the smell of the aromatic herbs was overwhelming. It is a destination for medical herbalists and plant enthusiasts. There was an amazing vareity of rare and interesting herbs on offer. It was a bit like giving a starving man a menu. I had to keep reminding myself that my garden needs a total overhaul and that I shouldn't just buy everything I wanted. I did come home with a Ginkgo sapling and a Gotu Cola plant. If it ever stops raining I'll get up to my allotment and really sort things out.
http://www.poyntzfieldherbs.co.uk
Barwinnock Herbs Over the years I have ordered herbs for myself and my family. Initially I started only with culinary herbs but as my interest in medical herbs grew I ordered specifically medicinal herbs. Barwinnock sits high in the moors. It has been a long time since I visited but the garden was beautiful and was well worth the long drive to get there as the surrounding coutryside is stunning. Every year I compile a wish list but first I must sort my garden....
Seed Supply
Jekka's Herb Garden. I started off reading Jekka's books. Especially "Good Enough To Eat". This year I ordered seeds and have lots plants in pots waiting to get into this revamped garden. I like getting the newsletter full of useful tips. She has a good stock of interesting plants and seeds.
Suffolk Herbs In an attempt to rebuild my soil I have ordered some green manures and if it stops raining I'll get them in. I also ordered humming line. Last year the wood pigeons neatly pulled up all the field beans I had planted.
Other Therapies
http://www.counselling-consultancy.com/about/
Thomas - thank you for permission to use the image of the Briar rose (Rosa eglanteria). Check out his site which has some beautiful images.