Filmed and edited by Francisca Bancalari

www.franciscamariabancalari.blogspot.com

click the link below to read all about it! a great ‘Spring Banquet’ Review by Kate Towerzey

www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Essex/Waltham-Abbey/EN9

A big thanks to everyone who brought food to share and set the field alive with community spirit!

Rubber Tyre Stage (and sprung dance floor!)
designed and constructed by Dave Richter.

Bike Power sound system with  ‘Magnificient Revolution’
Check their inspiring blog for news and updates this summer! Thanks guys!

Dr Realgood - local rhythm and blues band
Great set! first live ( solar powered) band to play at Energy Cafe !

Solar Panels loaned by Ken Boak
Worked perfectly – only a couple of blips when a cloud passed over the sun!

Cooking areas and other off grid demos

Burger Bar hosted by Florian -a  specialist in outdoor kitchen and cooking choreography!  who made a special trip from Berlin to construct the bar and cook! Top! The Oil drum Barbeques were made and welded beautifully by Chen.

Energy Cafe sprouts – amanda’s speciality added an extra nutritious crunch!

Fire circle  – South African Braai
Anna and Alan demonstrated how to make one  in just over an hour!- sourcing bricks, earth and pebbles on site

Fuel: Locally felled birch and ash - thanks for chopping Ray! – then a communal feast of roasted pumpkins, squash, corn and sweet potatoes .

Copper fire pit – loaned by Kerrie
intimate set up for food sharing,  frying, grilling, roasting.

Wild food area /around the millstones – Nettle and mint tea was the most popular!

Swirl Stove made by Andrew Heggie

Brilliant fuel-efficient invention (runs off wood chips, sawdust pellets) that kept the water boiling into the night

Bio Diverse power station - designed and constrcuted by Shaun, Termite low impact construction. Fitted with water harvester ‘pitted olive’….

provided 24 hours of washing up water!

Vertical Strawberry Tower – designed and constructed by Tak Hoshino
With bike wheel wind turbine and umbrella water harvester

Energy Cafe Shelters

Love Shack Tipi area

Lynn Saunders from the Magic Music Box and team  – check out : funky puppets

organised loads of arts and crafts activities – in true spring festival style…

Giant bubble making, face painting to a sunset dragon procession .

Marquee loaned by Sherilee- A tranquil space for watching the sun set.

Willow bender – made by Shaun, Sherilee, Amanda and Polly
Great for the night time crashers! Six fit comfortably.

Landrover Tent - Ideal for two

birch bread boards made by Peter !

Sun stove –loaned by Ken Boak

Runs off waste wood -  ideal for heating up homemade dishes. and making fried eggs breakfasts

Solar air balloon demo with Eileen at 12 noon

To be continued!!

Monday 16th March

Five more days to go until ‘Spring Banquet’ at Energy Cafe! an event not to missed – a culmination of all the winter season under construction activities and experiments made by many people. Its a time to celebrate! We hope you will join us to make the day and night an unforgettable event!

Still in the making, Energy cafe invites everyone to ‘chip in’  – to make the experience together….to bring homemade dishes or food to cook,  music to play, and plenty of energy for peddling and dancing! helping to keep the kettle boiling, the fires burning, the cups and plates clean is all part of it too …..as the night falls we’ll have limited light…so do bring torches and wear reflective, daglo or glittery etire for the occassion!

In the meantime ..under the heat of the sun..construction is still underway…

The Tipi that fell with the wind, has  been beautifully reconstructed. ..

with a willow arch…

and patchworked cover…

Fantastic team work!

a shelter they call the Equinox “love Shack’!

Here are some of  the energetic makers! who will also be running all sorts of activities on the 21st…from puppetry to arts and crafts for all the family!

Energy Cafe ‘Charge your knowledge’

Critical Mass Food search

Saturday 14th March

Two search parties set off on the hunt for seasonal wild food…

heading for Lee Valley Park…

and the direction of Epping Forest…

Updates on our findings,wild food cook ups and gourmet recipes coming soon!

Meanwhile on the Energy Cafe site…preparations are underway for the spring equinox 24 hour celebration.

Dave starts to build the stage out of tyres and sterling board…making a simple and effective well sprung dance floor!

Its an open platform for anyone to come and perform, play music, and dance the night away on…come and test it out!

How to make Birch Sap Wine

It’s the perfect time of year to collect sap from mature birch trees to make wine…

find a mature birch tree…

boar a hole in the trunk approx 2 inches deep

fit a copper pipe in the hole..and attach a five litre bottle to catch the dripping sap….leave overnight. full update on what happens next coming soon!

Energy College ‘Charge Your Knowledge’

Tuesday 10th March

The making of a Solar Hot Water Heater.

Davids step by step guide coming soon!

Tuesday 3rd March

Clever mobile kitchen ideas come to life thanks to Maki and Kajsa … full update coming soon!

Energy College ‘charge your knowledge’

Tuesday 3rd March

‘Design with Labour‘ – With Abake and students from the Royal College of Art

Energy Cafe ‘Printer’, made on site by Xavier.

Full updates on all the ingenious creations made during the windiest day…coming soon!

Monday 2nd March

Barry finishes the trailer roof cupboard

Report on the finished result coming soon…!

Friday 27th February

Mobile Energy Allotment!

The Winter season is coming to an end, spring is in the air and its time for sowing seeds…

First job – create a makeshift greenhouse

then ‘raised beds’ out of fish boxes (from Ridley Road market) and good top soil (donated by Andrew via Hackney Freecycle)

sow, water and wait….

Full update on the varieties we’ve planted and how they are doing…coming soon!