Green Henley

Locally-produced fresh fruit is difficult to find at this time of year.
There are still a few late pear varieties around and although not strictly a fruit, forced rhubarb is available in many outlets.
There are many more vegetables about however, mainly leaf and root, which are perfect for warming winter casseroles and stews.
I quite often prep them and pop them in the slow cooker pot before we go to work.  Read more »

It’s difficult not to mention turkeys at this time of year.

There are some good free range turkeys in the shops.
The traditional White turkey has pale coloured meat and a light flavour, while the Bronze has a darker colour and gamier flavour.

We are also still at the height of the game season. Why not consider a wild goose as an alternative to turkey.

For those of you who are vegetarian like myself and are bored with nutroast, you may like to try this Savoury Christmas Gateau with Rose Harrisa Halloumi Filling.

As for vegetables It’s a good time for leafy greens and roots.
A plate of greens may not be the most inspiring dish but with the addition of a little cream and bacon it is transformed. Likewise, red cabbage braised in red wine vinegar with red onions and juniper berries.
The vegetarian society has pages full of interesting things to do with vegetables at christmas.

These are the season’s offerings to look out for in December. Read more »

I thought that a potential wind turbine in Henley would generate lots of responses for the Henley Standard On-line TV VOX POP. I even persuaded the Editor of this; so he kindly provided me with a camera man and off we trotted, in the awful weather, to stand outside Waitrose on Friday and question the good and the great of the town on their views.

How wrong was I? Maybe it was the rain, maybe it was the subject matter, perhaps it was the questions,maybe it was me, but I truly did struggle to get anyone to say anything. I did manage to get at least five people to give their opinion, which was enough and at which point we escaped the rain.

This was my first VOX POP (and now perhaps my last!), I enjoyed it and it has certainly given me food for thought in how you ask questions and what sort of questions you ask. It also gave me an insight into how upfront and pushy Journalists must have to be at times and I now understand why.

If I ever get to do it again I’ll make sure I have my sharp elbows at the ready.

In the meantime, keep an eye for the next edition of the Henley Standard and HSOTV to see how it all went.

Would you like a wind turbine in the centre of Henley? Do you think, as a town, we should be energy self sufficient?

Here is your chance to put your views forward in a short initial feasibility study for a wind turbine within the Henley area.

Paul Smith, a local student, is currently writing his dissertation for an MSc in Renewable Energy.

His project is mainly focused on the wind conditions, generator etc, but a small portion is investigating the general public’s attitudes towards a proposed turbine as this impacts on obtaining planning permission.

He has prepared a short and simple questionnaire that is available to fill out online, it took me 40 seconds. It is purely multiple choice and requires no personal details such as name or address.

 The survey is designed to serve as an indication of public attitudes with view to an in-depth study at a later date.

You can complete the survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QKWVQRJ

This week’s ‘My Green Life’ guest is Toby Fletcher who recently hit the news in calling for Henley to have its own currency.

It is suggested that for every pound you might spend in a supermarket, 80p leaves the local economy, so local currencies are being championed as a step towards local sustainability and have been a part of the Transition Town movement.

Read more »