Low Impact Living - courses 2006

Innovative and practical self-sufficiency type courses are available this summer at the Low Impact Living centre in Winslow, Buckinghamshire, England on subjects like cob building, herbal remedies, beekeeping, biodiesel, straw bale construction.

The courses take place at the Redfield Community (or more accurately "in the stable block", which sounds more rustic than this photo of the stately pile suggests...)

"Foodwise" book: deep nutrition and healing foods

I am now reading a book by Wendy Cook (first wife of satirist Peter Cook) about biodynamics and food called "Foodwise", which explores her interests in the deeper aspects of biodynamics, optimum nutrition, and healing foods. It is unputdownable!

Emerson College: Biodynamics Taster Day

The biodynamics course was great fun and an eye-opener. Here are some pics of Emerson College, including the water feature which is a part of the energising of water through using "flowforms".

Protecting Brocolli - from coke bottles to a cage

Have been down the allotment twice since last posting, for about 5 hours each time. Last week, I dug a new bed and transplanted some beet spinach onto it. I also battled with a large sheet of polythene in the rain for a time -trying to build a tent but only creating a huge soggy sail - before giving up and sitting under my brolly for a few minutes. I did some very satisfying hand weeding, though.

The amazing surprise of the day was a blast of delightful sunshine for the last hour or so, and during the 10 minute walk home.

The photo shows my rather feeble attempts to protect my brocolli. I am thinking hard about what design of brassica cage to make. Since I have a lot of offcuts of timber from the building site out back, I am thinking of a waist-high cage, made from 6 uprights of 2 x 1-inch wood, with similar cross beams, so there are three "n" shape structures, then there should be planks around the bottom of the uprights to serve as a raised bed. For the lengthwise top pieces, I may go a little wild and nail on two extraordinarily long tree branches which I tugged back from a woodland walk last week.

I gathered these branches last week whilst "going sticking" - walking in the woods to get dry wood for the fire. (Because there had been strong winds the night before and I thought some branches might have blown down). I spotted these two fab pieces through the intermittent rain from under my rather urbane - but nonetheless very welcome - black umbrella. I even tugged one of the branches out of the swollen and rushing little river, which was a spot of excitement.

Hopefully I will post a picture of the yet-to-be-created brassica cage soon!

Self Sufficient UK - a very informative website

This fabulous website at www.self-sufficient.co.uk has a host of online information covering all aspects of self sufficiency, with a UK-based approach but apparently sourced worldwide. There is original content in the form of short articles. There are also lots of Google ads which some may find annoying but others may find informative. But on balance the site is clear and well-organised, and provides a simple, pleasant area to roam around online in on a rainy day. For instance, making a shed out of wooden pallets and building raised beds.

Film: experimental Art & Farming haven

The Real Dirt on Farmer John is a personal documentary about John Peterson, a farmer, artist, and revolutionary innovative thinker cast in rural Illinois. With the death of his father during the late 60s, John turns his traditional family farm into an experiment of art and agriculture, making it a haven for hippies, radicals and artists. The Real Dirt on Farmer John charts the end of this idealistic era as the farm debt crisis of the 80s brings about the tragic collapse of the farm. As the intricate weave of rural America unravels, vicious local rumors turn John into a scapegoat, condemning him as a Satan-worshipping drug-dealer. Threatened with murder, his home burned to the ground, John forsakes his farm and wanders the ancient lands of Central America. Mysteriously, his quest leads him back to his hostile homeland. Defying all odds, he gradually transforms his land into a revolutionary farming community.

At the film's close, the Peterson family farm is one of the largest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in the United States. Out of the ruins of single-crop agriculture, John creates Angelic Organics, an extended farm village where people and art can thrive alongside agriculture.

Old Wheelbarrow made from recycled bits of stuff...

Asparagus appeared from nowhere!

Heavy rain was forecast for Saturday but had not arrived by 4pm, so we headed down to the allotment to cut back some nettles and grassheads on the paths. Doing some other weeding, aiming to prioritise taking out weeds that look like they will soon spill their seed. Came across some 4ft high spindly things growing, the top looked like asparagus so I cut it off and it was fabulous steamed with butter later. Cut back the rest of the woody stalks to about six inches above ground, so hopefully they will grow back for another harvest soon.

Biodynamic agriculture - summer courses 2006

Emerson College is having a "Biodynamics for the Backyard" weekend course on 9-11 June 2006. The college is situated near East Grinstead and can be reached by train from London. At £100 for tuition plus two nights accommodation and meals it is great value. There is also a free "Biodynamics Taster Day" on Mon 15 May.

I'm not sure what I think about biodynamics, I like the attention to the vital force underpinning plant growth, and I can understand the need to incorporate animal farming into the mix so that all inputs (i.e. manure) are generated on-site. But I find some of the planting by the moon, and some of the other more mystical type ideas a bit hard to accept. But on the other hand, the Demeter accredited tofu at our health food store is fab. Also I visited Oaklands Park, a Camphill community which uses biodynamic methods a few years ago as part of a permaculture course at Ragman's Lane Farm in Gloucestershire, taught by Patrick and Cathy Whitefield, and it was amazing (plants growing like topsy!) So I think I'll look into this biodynamics a bit more. Any views or useful links are most welcome - just add them in the comments field below.

Comfrey - the very useful "weed"

Here is my one remaining comfrey plant, transplanted from our previous house. I love this plant - it is so keen and hearty and seems like the kind of plant that would keep trying to survive even in difficult conditions.

I'm planning to make a "Comfrey Tube" out of three large cola bottles to create liquid feed for the veg patch. Go to the Gardeners World page for 21 April 2006 and view the short video called Homegrown Comfrey Feed. But since I only have one comfrey plant, the good news is that nettles can also be used to create liquid plant feed.

Cloche made from branches & keyhole seedbed

The new environmesh cloche for the brassica seed bed is made of three large branches from an overgrown buddlea tree. When cut down they were curved, so I have stripped them of leaves and branches and just pushed them into the earth, and covered them with an environmesh square which is held down at its edges with pieces of wood.

Today was also a day for tacking some early weeds - especially thistles in relation to which we have no mercy! Started off the compost bin. Bringing kitchen waste and ash from home seems a bit odd, but I'm sure it will sooner or later become routine.

Also did some thinning in the back garden at home, in the "keyhole bed" - this is a permaculture term describing a circular garden with a path leading into the center. It gives you the maximum amount of accessible garden for the minimum amount of path. Mine is not exactly circular due to the surrounding paths - but it seves the same function with the centre path!