"As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life." -Buddha
Friday, March 15, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Herslev Bryghus: The Local Brewery
Just got back from a tour of the local brewery Herslev Brygus, which is located about 2 miles away from my house. The beer was absolutely incredible! 7 different beers, made from organic wheat and barley grown in fields adjacent to the brewery. Some were sweet, some bitter, and some so incredibly rich in flavorful spices. Of course the best was for last. . . beer with chocolate undertones! Yum!
Here is a link to the Herslev Brygus website. (Warning: it is all in Danish. I have an automatic translator on my Google Chrome browser. . . highly recommended to anyone using foreign websites!)
We also learned about the fine art of beer tasting and appreciation. Lessons included swirling the beer to release the flavors, smelling the beer, identifying sweetness/yeast content/bitterness/dryness/smoothness/malt. We also got to see the machinery and tanks in which the beer is processed.
Here is a link to the Herslev Brygus website. (Warning: it is all in Danish. I have an automatic translator on my Google Chrome browser. . . highly recommended to anyone using foreign websites!)
We also learned about the fine art of beer tasting and appreciation. Lessons included swirling the beer to release the flavors, smelling the beer, identifying sweetness/yeast content/bitterness/dryness/smoothness/malt. We also got to see the machinery and tanks in which the beer is processed.
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| (Photo credit: Herslev Bryghus) |
| "Our keywords in production is high quality, pure ingredients and full traceability. We make beer, we can enjoy, and are inspired by the seasons in the development of new intense flavors - each brew has its own flavor and history." ~Tore Jørgensen, Herslev Bryghus |
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Spring or Winter?
The first day of spring in Denmark was March 1. Why is there still snow?!
Staying inside today and writing a paper. At least the snow provides a pretty view from my window. But seriously, two-and-a-half months of cold and darkness. . .when will the sun come out and shine upon Denmark???
Staying inside today and writing a paper. At least the snow provides a pretty view from my window. But seriously, two-and-a-half months of cold and darkness. . .when will the sun come out and shine upon Denmark???
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| Mid-March blizzard. |
Monday, March 11, 2013
Thought of the Day: Danish Keys
Currently struggling with the Danish keyboard on the DIS computers. The added keys are interfering with my ingrained typing patterns. Some are new keys (e.g. æ å ø £ € 'Alt Gr'), and some are familiar symbols in different locations (e.g. the question mark). It takes me so long to type!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
DIS Trip to England Part 2: Devon
I spent the past week in England with my European Sustainable Development class. We spent Sunday through Tuesday morning in London, and Tuesday afternoon to Friday in Devon (southern England). Following are some photos and highlights from my trip!
Tuesday, March 5
1. Arrival at Totnes Train Station
2. Arrival at Sharpham Estate, Totnes
Sharpham Estate is a beautiful 1770's Palladian-style villa located in Totnes in Devon County (southern England). Everyone in our class, myself included, was so surprised when we first drove up to the estate- we had definitely not expected this! Sharpham Estate is surrounded by gorgreous views overlooking lush, rolling hills, a vineyard, and the River Dart. I felt like I had just entered one of Jane Austen's novels!
Read up more on Sharpham Estate here.
3. Dinner at Sharpham: Fantastic wine and cheese made right on the estate! Doesn't get more local than that!
4. Went out to the local pub with friends and had a pint (or two) or locally-brewed Jail Ale.
Wednesday, March 6
Today we learned first-hand about the Transition Town movement, which is a global movement for towns to develop resilience and self-sufficiency in reaction to peak oil and climate change. Underlying concepts include community-building and re-localizing the economy. Totnes is the first town ever to become a Transition Town!
More eloquently put from the Transition Town Totnes website:
"Transition Town Totnes (TTT) exists for the people of Totnes and District to help create thriving, healthy, caring local communities where people's ways of life take into account the needs of future generations as well as the present ones. Rising fuel prices, the social justice impacts of being part of a world fighting to take control of every last oil reserve and natural resource, our current economic uncertainty and climate change are just some of the reasons we have for needing to rise to this challenge. However, TTT focuses on these motivators as opportunities to increase community well-being, to expand our local economy, to take responsibility for the impact we are having on the ecosystem and other people, and to find ways of living that are in line with our Earth's natural systems."
1. Exploring Totnes
2. Lunch at Bay Horse Inn
3. Visit to the "Mushroom Man," a local who sells mushroom growing kits around the world.
4. Visit to a Transition Street, a neighborhood in Totnes where Transition volunteers have helped locals to retrofit their houses and reduce overall consumption to save on energy bills. The average person saves about $600 a year after doing this program!
5. Visit to Transition Totnes Office: There wasn't much to see here. Instead I offer a picture of the Transition logo:
If you are interested in Transition Towns, look online to see if there is one in our town/city. The network is huge, and there are over 500 official initiatives worldwide. In the Hudson Valley area, I am aware that there are Transition gatherings in Kingston, Rosendale, and Woodstock. For Gettysburgians, there is one in Gettysburg that is unfortunately not active at present. (Get in touch with me if you are interested in starting it up again, as I plan on trying to bring it back to life when I get back to the States.)
6. Drinks with the class at Albert Inn to celebrate a great day!
Thursday, March 7
1. Dartmoor National Park: apparently a very beautiful place, but it was so foggy and rainy it was hard to see much. Nevertheless, we hiked anyway =)
2. Lunch at Riverford Field Kitchen
3. In the afternoon we went on a walking meditation around Sharpham estate. It was so peaceful and calm. I saw lots of wildlife, including a seal down by the river!
4. Fireside Reflection and Celebration: reflection on the walk by the wood-burning stove, and great conversation and live music over a glass of local hard cider. Very, very hygge!
Friday, March 8: Last Day in England
1. Early morning walk with Katie around the Estate property and down to the River Dart.
2. Introduction to Permaculture lesson in the morning at Sharpham
3. Visit to local Agroforest Research Trust for tour of a forest garden.
4. Bye Totnes! It was great visiting!
Tuesday, March 5
1. Arrival at Totnes Train Station
2. Arrival at Sharpham Estate, Totnes
Sharpham Estate is a beautiful 1770's Palladian-style villa located in Totnes in Devon County (southern England). Everyone in our class, myself included, was so surprised when we first drove up to the estate- we had definitely not expected this! Sharpham Estate is surrounded by gorgreous views overlooking lush, rolling hills, a vineyard, and the River Dart. I felt like I had just entered one of Jane Austen's novels!
Read up more on Sharpham Estate here.
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| The façade of the house. |
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| View of River Dart, a tidal river. |
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| Taken from a walking path in the early morning. |
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| View of the Dart River and Totnes down below. |
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| The Vineyard. And spring flowers!! |
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| Inside, looking up. Egg-shaped foyer with spiral staircase and pink walls. |
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| On the way upstairs (I lived on the top floor). |
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| Into the "Walled Garden." |
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| Inside the Walled Garden. |
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| Reminds me of Mr. McGregor's garden from Peter Rabbit. |
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| Gardens around the house. |
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| Gardens |
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| The Courtyard. My room is the one with the open window on the top left. |
3. Dinner at Sharpham: Fantastic wine and cheese made right on the estate! Doesn't get more local than that!
4. Went out to the local pub with friends and had a pint (or two) or locally-brewed Jail Ale.
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| Cheers! |
Wednesday, March 6
Today we learned first-hand about the Transition Town movement, which is a global movement for towns to develop resilience and self-sufficiency in reaction to peak oil and climate change. Underlying concepts include community-building and re-localizing the economy. Totnes is the first town ever to become a Transition Town!
More eloquently put from the Transition Town Totnes website:
"Transition Town Totnes (TTT) exists for the people of Totnes and District to help create thriving, healthy, caring local communities where people's ways of life take into account the needs of future generations as well as the present ones. Rising fuel prices, the social justice impacts of being part of a world fighting to take control of every last oil reserve and natural resource, our current economic uncertainty and climate change are just some of the reasons we have for needing to rise to this challenge. However, TTT focuses on these motivators as opportunities to increase community well-being, to expand our local economy, to take responsibility for the impact we are having on the ecosystem and other people, and to find ways of living that are in line with our Earth's natural systems."
1. Exploring Totnes
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| View of Totnes from Kingsbridge Hill. |
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| High Street in Totnes. Heading to lunch at Bay Horse Inn. |
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| Traditional Tudor houses in the town square. |
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| St. Mary's Church of Totnes. |
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| Local Elderflower Bubbly drink! So delicious! |
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| My plate =) |
3. Visit to the "Mushroom Man," a local who sells mushroom growing kits around the world.
4. Visit to a Transition Street, a neighborhood in Totnes where Transition volunteers have helped locals to retrofit their houses and reduce overall consumption to save on energy bills. The average person saves about $600 a year after doing this program!
5. Visit to Transition Totnes Office: There wasn't much to see here. Instead I offer a picture of the Transition logo:
If you are interested in Transition Towns, look online to see if there is one in our town/city. The network is huge, and there are over 500 official initiatives worldwide. In the Hudson Valley area, I am aware that there are Transition gatherings in Kingston, Rosendale, and Woodstock. For Gettysburgians, there is one in Gettysburg that is unfortunately not active at present. (Get in touch with me if you are interested in starting it up again, as I plan on trying to bring it back to life when I get back to the States.)
6. Drinks with the class at Albert Inn to celebrate a great day!
| (not my photo) |
Thursday, March 7
1. Dartmoor National Park: apparently a very beautiful place, but it was so foggy and rainy it was hard to see much. Nevertheless, we hiked anyway =)
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| In my Wellies (rainboots) and raingear. |
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| The Menu. |
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| My plate. |
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| Sticky Toffee Pudding. No words can describe how amazing this was. |
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| Sheep on the estate! |
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| Dart River, Sharpham boathouse, and fallen tree. |
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| The Sharpham Vineyard. |
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| The River Dart. |
4. Fireside Reflection and Celebration: reflection on the walk by the wood-burning stove, and great conversation and live music over a glass of local hard cider. Very, very hygge!
Friday, March 8: Last Day in England
1. Early morning walk with Katie around the Estate property and down to the River Dart.
2. Introduction to Permaculture lesson in the morning at Sharpham
3. Visit to local Agroforest Research Trust for tour of a forest garden.
4. Bye Totnes! It was great visiting!
DIS Trip to England Part 1: London
I spent the past week in England with my European Sustainable Development class. We spent Sunday through Tuesday morning in London, and Tuesday afternoon to Friday in Devon (southern England). Following are some photos and highlights from my trip!
Sunday, March 3
1. Brunch at Del'Aziz, SW London
2. Four-hour Royal London Bike Tour!
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| Fresh vegetarian breakfast (scrambled eggs, spinach, baked beans, mushroom, and tomato). Beautiful pastries in the window. |
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| Queen Victoria in Kensington Garden, Kensington Palace, Mr. Wellington, Wellington Arch, Peace Descending on the Quadriga of War (statue on top of Wellington Arch), and bikers! |
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| The Quadriga on Wellington Arch |
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| Me at Buckingham Palace on a very sunny Sunday! |
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| The Queen Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace |
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| I didn't get to see the changing of the guard, but we can pretend I did. |
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| Sleepy guard? |
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| Me biking around London |
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| A very busy and touristy Trafalgar Square. |
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| Touristy and cliché, I know, but I had to make some phone calls! ;-) |
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| Westminster Abbey! |
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| Old Big Ben |
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| Riding through the park. Such a beautiful day! |
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| Princess Diana Memorial |
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| Prince Albert Memorial (under renovation) |
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| "BRITISH FOOD IS AT THE HEART of everything we do at Bumpkin - we work closely with the farmers who supply our ingredients to make sure they're ethically sourced, sustainable and, most importantly, are the best we can find. All our kitchens are open-planned so you can watch the chefs working with this great produce to make everything on the menu from scratch." |
Monday, March 4
1. The National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square
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| Saw the new Kate Middleton portrait by Paul Emsley. Far left by David Hockney, and center of Anna Wintour by Alex Katz |
2. Visit to the Carbon Disclosure Project office, an NGO that provides a reporting system for businesses and cities so that they can decrease and disclose their carbon emissions, especially within business supply chains, for investor reference.
3. Visit to the London School of Economics and lecture with Fatma van Hattum, a representative from FairFood International: "Advocating and Campaigning for Change in the Food System." Learned about critical steps in the campaigning and advocacy cycle, as well as insight into Fairfood's initiatives in environmental and social advocacy in the Moroccan tomato sector.
4. Evening with Amanda Quigley!! So wonderful to see a familiar face! We went to Harrods, Wagamama's Noodle Bar for dinner, took a long walk around Piccadilly Circus, window shopped on Oxford Street, navigated the crowded tubes, and finally got to catch up after about 9 months of not seeing each other! =D
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| Exploring and getting lost in Harrods! Such an amazing place! We came across the room displaying Cinderella's slippers, and we couldn't resist being princesses for a minute =) |
5. Managed to not get lost on the tube on the way back to the hotel!
Tuesday, March 5: Last day in London and travel to Devon
1. Notting Hill
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| George Orwell's prior residence on Portobello Road. |
2. Paddington Station
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| Yes, I did in fact visit the Paddington Bear Store! |
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| Busy Paddington Station before we headed out to southern England! |
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