Porty Podcast

Send us a textSpurred on by the Ditching Disposables campaign Alvaro has gone further than other traders to try and create a culture change in how we create so much preventable waste. He's brought in at reusable cups and take away containers with a deposit return scheme and has actually started charging 30p for disposable cups. 

Send us a textNearly 1.5m people in the UK have macular disease. Every day, some 300 more are diagnosed. At the moment, not enough is known about why the condition occurs and, as yet, there is no cure. It affects people of all ages though mostly affecting those over the age of 55. The Macular Society was set up to support people who suffer from this condition, mainly through local groups like the one in Portobello. But its mission is also fund research until a cure can be found and the disease can be beaten. For the Porty Podcast’s David Calder, while this episode focuses on the local Porty group, he also has a very personal reason for why it affects him. For more information:The Portobello Group meets on the second Wednesday of each month between 1pm and 3, upstairs in the library. More details from the contacts and links below.Macular SocietyTel: 0300 3030 111Email: help@macularsociety.orgWebsite: https://www.macularsociety.orgIona McLean - Regional Manager South East Scotlandiona.mclean@macularsociety.org.

Send us a textThe Porty Community Cargo Bike has arrived in town. It’s one of the many projects which come under the banner of Porty Community Energy – there will be more about those later. When she’s not producing episodes of The Porty podcast, Hazel Darwin-Clements works as Project Manager with the local community interest organisation, helping to turn interesting ideas like this into reality. She told David Calder how excited she was about this one coming to fruition.To book a day for the bike register with portycommunitybike.myturn.com/library/And here's a link to the facebook event for Bikefest at Bellfield on the 19th June from 11-3 at Bellfield. 

Send us a textThis episode is unusual in that it is simply a matter of record. On Tuesday the 26th of April '22, Portobello Community Council invited all of the candidates to take part in an online hustings. All of the questions had been submitted in advance by members of the Portobello and Craigmillar ward. Six the candidates accepted the invitation. They were: Kate Campbell, SNPTim Jones, Scottish Conservative and Unionist PartyJane Meagher, Labour and Co-operative Party Alys Mumford, Green PartyHeather Pugh, Labour and Co-operative Party Simon Clark Shedden, SNPThose invited but who did not turn up were:Andrew McDonald, IndependentJill Reilly, Scottish Liberal DemocratsAnn Todd, Alba Party for independenceThe event was chaired by Glenn Innes, Pastor of Portobello Baptist Church

Send us a textHazel has made a documentary capturing her personal perspective on the early months of setting up the Porty Community Fridge. She reflects on creating a project that mustn't rely on just one individual to keep it going. The Porty Community Fridge is open every Saturday from 10.30-11.30 at the Baptist Church on the High Street. They are a subgroup of PEDAL and are supported by Hubbub. We are welcoming new volunteers every week. Please get in touch through the facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/260153819583127This documentary was originally made for the 1000 Better Stories Podcast created by SCCAN (Scottish Communities Climate Action Network) which you can find here www.scottishcommunitiescan.org.uk/1000-better-stories/Cover photo by Jon Davey 

Send us a textPortobello has a vibrant arts scene. From painting to photography, silverware to ceramics, design to dance, music, theatre and film, there is so much going on. For many budding artists however, the challenge is not in the creation but finding the audience. The annual Art Walk is a magical experience - but what of the rest of the year? Getting into a gallery can be random and, for some, expensive. And then there's Cahoots. David Calder's been to meet it's founder, Karen Mackay.https://www.cahootscollective.com/ 

Send us a textThe council elections are just four weeks away and we now know who the candidates will be here in Portobello. It's almost going to be all change this time, as three of the four serving councillors - Maureen Child, Mary Campbell and Callum Laidlaw - are standing down. So, in this episode, we find out more about some of those who hope to represent us for the next five years.

Send us a textApplications are now open to become a member of Portobello Central, the charity which will run the Town Hall when it re-opens. Around a hundred people have already signed up and the trustees’ target is one thousand. Progress on making the building safe to open has been slower than expected. In a previous episode, we heard that work should almost have been completed by now - but  hasn’t even started yet. It’s all been very frustrating for the team who've been waiting now for over two years.  However, the Business Development Manager, Ursula Pretsch, can see light at the end of this long tunnel. For more information on how to join, follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/bdbemarv

Send us a textDid you know that the Tool Library in Portobello has joined forces with an organisation called ‘Music Broth’? It’s a library for musical instruments which was founded in Glasgow about 4 years ago. The idea is simple. If someone wants to learn an instrument, they can borrow one to get a feel for it, and may just help them decide if they want to buy one of their own. David Calder has been finding out more.www.musicbroth.org

Send us a textWhen was the last time you sat down with friends and listened to a story? Have you ever told such a story? Storytelling was once the only way we found out about life, the universe and everything going on around us. Thanks to the work of the Storytelling Centre up in the Royal Mile, the art has been going through something of a revival. But to do it well, you need to practice. So where do you get it? This week, David Calder went along to meet the local storytelling group here in Portobello to find out.Portobello Library 0131 529 5558email portobello.library@edinburgh.gov.uk

Send us a textHazel takes you on a tour of the Portobello Market on the 5th March 2022.  We meet Gino Jabbo to talk about honey. We also speak with Amaury Auvray and Piroska Édes from Planet A about their new kickstarter. Then we tried some Tigerola and learned about tiger nuts. We spoke with Graham Kitchener who has been organising the market with PEDAL since it began, then we stopped off to try some delicious handmade chocolate. As if that wasn't enough we have recorded a limerick by Jim Hurford. Proceeds from his book go to the Trussell Trust.  What a busy episode. www.pedal-porty.org.uk/food/portobello-market/www.facebook.com/portymarket"a tree is an acre of flowers in the air when it blossoms" Gina Jabbar@SimplyHoneyCowww.planet-a-craft.comwww.kickstarter.com/projects/planet-a/bobopwww.tigerolaroar.com @tigerolaroar #tigerolaroarwww.facebook.com/Tigerolaroarwww.cocoamania.co.uk

Send us a textWe first met Geoff Crowe, one of the founders of Breadshare, back in 2016 in one of the first episodes of the podcast. This community business was badly affected by the pandemic and has rather changed its focus towards running breadmaking courses and producing the flour -  it's now involved in a community mill.Hazel spoke with Geoff and found he was just as passionate about the subject of real bread.  As he explains in the interview: "Smaller and community bakeries need to be supported to supply their communities with all of the bread that they need. We used to do it, for thousands of years."https://www.youraudiotour.com/tours/862/http://breadshare.co.uk/

Send us a textIn December of this year, five members of the Eastern Amateur Rowing Club from here in Portobello will head off on the adventure of a lifetime - the Atlantic Challenge, a 3,000  mile trip in a specially-designed rowing boat from the Canaries to Antigua. It's the brainchild of actor Cal MacAninch who told David Calder about the mountain the team have to climb over the next few months. That team includes  Matt Callis, Sean Watters, Ed van der Ven and Alec Martin. Their aim is to raise money for their chosen charity 'Body and Soul' which helps people, young people in particular, who have mental health problems. You can find more information and make a donation by following this link.https://atlanticbodyandsoul.com/

Send us a textIn this episode insect expert Nathan is looking for love in Porty. Could you be the one? Please get in touch! We also hear from Maxine and Ian about singing together and from Margaret and Sheila about their surprising love story. The Porty Community fridge Page is here: www.facebook.com/groups/260153819583127

Send us a textRosie McGlynn, friend of the swans, speaks out for the local birds in the wake of a pollution event on the river Esk. She has been particularly involved with the dramatic tale of Bonnie who was resident in Figgate Park for 20 years before being booted out by a new pair.  Whilst surrounded by swans on the banks of the Esk we hear her story and meet Tanita, one of the cygnets that she adopted. And if you want to raise money for the SSPCA, click here: https://www.scottishspca.org/support/fundraise

Send us a textHazel finds out about the making of a new recipe book called Porty Foodmap, the Traders Stories.  We hear from local foodie Jo Turbitt, about how she came up with the idea in the first place and Jennifer Elliot, who is Jo’s partner in crime on this endeavour. For details on how to get a copy: www.portobellocentral.org 

Send us a textWe chat with the man behind the Porty Comedy night, Steven Davidson about how comedy is changing and what makes the People of Porty laugh.  https://www.facebook.com/events/460497948800369https://portycomedyfeb22.bpt.me/?fbclid=IwAR1VsQstnOfLSv4k8o9zLR0IKPEdJRMcNRX31ujZk_H0yGQOLrz2RvLOw8Y

Send us a textThe Musselborough Flood Protection Action Group organised an event to encourage natural flood defences by digging Christmas Trees into the sand. In this episode Grant Buchanan, Shona McIntosh, and Roger Crofts discuss the benefit of Nature based solutions to rising sea levels. Do get in touch with us at theportypodcast@gmail.com 

Send us a textSound captured at the switching on of the Christmas Lights in Portobello 2021. Music byShunpike Social Club and Brass Blast. A community poem and a special 'scoop' by a very young budding detective. Thanks to Heather, Pete, Emily, Nicky, Graham, Gareth, Martha, Lesley, Clara, miss morag, katie, xana and especially ben for their contribution, and to all of you all for listening. That’s it for this year, have a wonderful Christmas and we’ll see you next year!

Send us a textFrom the 1st of June 2022 the Scottish government is banning single use plastic cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, balloon sticks as well as polystyrene cups and food containers. If you need a plastic straw to eat or drink independently or for medical purposes then you’ll need to go the chemist to get one. But this is about more than plastics, we need to radically rethinking our throwaway society. The Ditching Disposables project funded by Zero Waste Scotland is focussing on Portobello and Joppa to trial non-disposable alternatives and help businesses prepare for the new legislation. But it's actually https://www.changeworks.org.uk/projects/ditching-disposablesHazel speaks to Vidya Sarjoo (and Murray) from Gogo Beats, and from Zero Waste Scotland Miriam Adcock and Isa Kristiansen-Bragg