View from the allotments

Open Life regular Leornian Naidoo gives us her thoughts on life down on the allotments.

The colour of Fall by Leornian Naidoo

It's Fall! Nature is Trooping its colours! Some birds are leaving and some are coming. It's time for roasted chestnuts and hot apple cider with ginger snaps, hay rides and new wine.

Over at the allotments some things are changing. A little nip and tuck for the coming winter. I need to set some cushions close to the fireplace and get out the cocoa mugs, because OU things are moving too so its time to get comfy as I hope to have many friends coming to tell me about their "Passed" Exams and ECA'S! I know you can do it. You can do it. You can You can! Good luck to you all!

The OLIVe Gardens (OLV allotments)are located on the southwest corner of Open Life Village Island.

Aspiring gardeners and grillers can apply for an allotment by writing to: VirtualWorlds@open.ac.uk

There are 16 allotments each measuring 96 sq. meters.

The separate plots have 71 prims each that can be used to decorate and build your garden paradise.

Allotments: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Open%20Life%20Village/64/60/29

View from the allotments

Open Life regular Leornian Naidoo gives us her thoughts on life down on the allotments.

LNFFISWDPP by Leornian Naidoo

Hello again, it’s Sunday, August 7th 2009 and exciting things are happening at the OLIVe Allotments.

New neighbours have come to grace the landscape with their individual and original allotment designs. It’s a real pleasure for the senses to walk through it.

As I mentioned in the last article, I wanted to try bringing something of my PL (Physical Life) garden into SL. But the question of the beautiful kohlrabi has been hanging in the air since then. It’s not that it’s difficult to do. The problem has been lack of funds, an issue I do not take lightly.
At the forefront of this issue is the requirement to have a Paypal account in order to transfer cash to Linden dollars. I do not have a Paypal account and I also have no intention of creating one. (So much for participation! lol) However all is not lost.

Last night at the incredible ABBA party (thanks DEEDEE and Aseret for thinking it up and Esh and Kick for pulling things together!) I won second place after the beautiful Titiana Haystack in the Best Costume Competition that we knew nothing about! In lieu of this occasion and my absolute delight at winning something, I will follow the Strangie Vaher tradition and will share my winnings by creating the Leornian Naidoo Fund for Impoverished Students who dislike Paypal. (LNFFISWDPP)

So, this week I will be bringing a few new adornments to my allotment. Hopefully the beautiful kohlrabi will soon have a new home at The OLIVe Gardens. Check back soon!

The OLIVe Gardens are located on the southwest corner of Open Life Village Island and are a great place to visit so please join us when you have time.

Aspiring gardeners and grillers can apply for an allotment by writing to: VirtualWorlds@open.ac.uk

There are 16 allotments each measuring 96 sq. meters.

The separate plots have 71 prims each that can be used to decorate and build your garden paradise.

Allotments: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Open%20Life%20Village/64/60/29

View from the allotments

Open Life regular Leornian Naidoo gives us her thoughts on life down on the allotments.

Sandcastles and Seagulls By Leornian Naidoo

The date is 17th June 2009, and I am back enjoying my ‘OLiVe Gardens’ allotment during my coffee break. It’s a soothing pastime. The seagulls are calling and the breeze is gently blowing at the Dogwood trees, making them sway in a most inviting way.
The view from the arbour is inspiring to say the least and today its reminding me that I wanted to enhance my experience here in OLiVe by complementing the surroundings with some Botanical back up from ‘RL’.

The idea is to use a photo from a plant in my garden to make a virtual copy that will be in my allotment at the OLiVe gardens. The question is – how? I am counting on assistance from some talented residents at OLiVe. As you can see here at OLIVe, the transfer of knowledge continues although this Island is basically to serve the social and recreational needs of its residents, it also serves to inspire us to original thinking and to sharing with others. It’s a basic give and take that builds the basis for the concept of lifelong learning and the transfer of knowledge.

At OLiVe we are building more than just sandcastles in the air, we are building a community. Check back soon to hear about the beautiful Kohlrabi in the ‘Tale of Textures’ or ‘How to make a virtual Vegetable’.

View from the allotments

Open Life regular Leornian Naidoo gives us her thoughts on life down on the allotments.

The OLIVe Gardens

The date is May, 10, 2009, and I (Roving Reporter – Leornian Naidoo) am standing at the entrance to the OLiVe allotments.

Located on the southwest corner of Open Life Village, the allotments offer residents a different experience of 'Home' feeling on the Island.

Sheltered by the Village shop from the East and by the Exhibition Hall from the south, this charming patch of allotments looks out over the spectacular ocean to the west. The views and sunsets there are amazing.

The allotments are one more unique way for OU students and staff to express their individual and unique preferences and building talents in the Virtual Learning, and if I may be so bold – ‘Living’ Environment. This “VL/LE”, (and you may quote me on this because I just coined the phrase) is just ‘one’ of the many attractions available for your enjoyment as you live and learn on OLIVe.

Speaking from personal experience, (you may find me at Allotment No. 1) I find my allotment to be a special place where I come to relax during the day, sit up on my arbour and enjoy the view while listening to the waves as they slap against the nearby shore. It’s a lovely place for a chat with friends and even the occasional newbie stopping by to admire the view.