Author Archives: Helen Cranston

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About Helen Cranston

Helen's primary work takes her to Sinai, Egypt as Project Manager for the Makhad Trust. She continues to work as a Nutritonal Therapist on an occasional basis and has over 20 years experience.

Healthy Baking

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Helen Cranston

With the success of the Great British Bake-Off, a huge rekindling of baking skills is happening.  I come from families of cake bakers on both sides. My grandmother’s shortbread was absolutely delicious and we ate at least 2 or 3 … Continue reading →

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Back to the Office

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Helen Cranston

The summer season at Green and Away is over for another year, the days are growing shorter and it is time to re-evaluate work.  Green and Away was a great success this year with great events and wonderful volunteers and … Continue reading →

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Musing on Beauty

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Helen Cranston

When I was in the Sinai desert a few weeks ago there was plenty of time for reflection.  Here are some of my thoughts written as part poem, part prose. Beauty Why is there beauty in the world? What is … Continue reading →

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The moral dilemmas of travel

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Helen Cranston

Many people would agree that there is an innate desire for human beings to put themselves in new, exciting, sometimes dangerous situations and places.  The urge to travel, to see and experience new people and landscapes is perhaps fuelled by … Continue reading →

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Christmas Present Madness

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Helen Cranston

A friend recently posted on Facebook: “I really, really want to support local traders and craftsmen this Christmas. It would be so much easier to do so if they didn’t sell such tacky, useless and – most disappointingly – artless … Continue reading →

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Autumn – a time of reflection and preparation

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Helen Cranston

Life sometimes feels as if a meandering stream has become a full flood river.  The Hopi Indians made a poem about this time and in it they say… There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great … Continue reading →

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The summer season

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Helen Cranston

The Green and Away Summer Season is imminent In less than two weeks time I will be waking up in a yurt in a green meadow somewhere in Worcestershire, ready to get Green and Away revved up for the summer … Continue reading →

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There’s another dam in the Sinai Mountains

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Helen Cranston

After a combined effort from 8 bedouin, 5 people from SKGR, 3 people from Green and Away and a Dutch lady called Mirjam, we finished Gwoona dam last week.  This dam will help bring water to many gardens down Wadi … Continue reading →

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The power of not-doing

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Helen Cranston

This time next week I will be in Sinai leading a group to build Gwoona Dam and to go on a desert retreat. Sometimes we need to get right away from all things familiar in order to find ourselves – … Continue reading →

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Inner Silence

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Helen Cranston

Here are two poems that hint at inner silence and connection.  Enjoy… Being-ness in Action Realisation of past behavioural patterns, Exposure of my weaknesses and blockages to life Culminate in a spark of understanding.   Then comes the command to … Continue reading →

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