Magic Potatoes

I always think it is magical when digging potatoes. As you dig down into the dark earth so a crop of edible potatoes emerge. This year I planted some through weed proof fabric placed straight onto grass. This has now made a new bed.
Thanks Jane for the demonstration.

The Big Tent Festival

My son and I went to the Big Tent Festival in the grounds of Falkland Palace, Fife.

We helped with the preparations in the run up to the event and then Mark continued to volunteer

Whilst I helped run the busy Permaculture Scotland stall

We occasionally bumped into one another but both had a great time meeting new friends and catching up with old.

Also met up with a fellow Bongo owner!

At Last....

We have hit the road with Movern

There have been some teething problems!

But we managed a trip to Kintyre

And spent a few days helping Ed

Before coming over to Islay and helping in the Community Garden

Very interesting to work in a semi commercial project

Permaculture Scotland

Last Saturday I attended a meeting in Dunblane that discussed establishing a permaculture network in Scotland with view of strengthening and supporting the development of permaculture in here.

It was great to meet with so many enthusiastic people with a common goal. We spent the day discussing our interests, intentions, aims and objectives with a number of open space meetings taking place. From these discussions, a working group came to the fore who, with the use of permaculture design and principles will look to find the best way to establish this group. All very exciting!

Bong Hunt

I've started hunting for a campervan for Ruaraidh and I to travel around Scotland wwoofing.

We found some on the east coast last week which has given me a lot to think about!!

A blue one would be nice!

Local Produce Community Solutions

I spent the last couple of days in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute attending an event organised by Fyne Futures Ltd.

The first session was held in the Green Tree Cafe, a community cafe, part of the Bute Healthy Living Initiative. This initiative has a large programme of events and works with the community, producers and manufactures.

The next day we visited Bute Produce situated on a 6 acre field that was gifted to the community a year ago. Within that short space of time the Project has set up a community garden growing and selling food for the local community.


On site there are various portacabins that are being used as offices, storage and a compost toilet
.

Billy, who runs the Project talked about project development and the many ideas being considered to develop the Project further. The core produce of the project are; potatoes, cabbage, carrots and broccoli. There are currently two polytunnels with a third to be erected. They have just purchased a wind turbine.


The Project is also trying to produce premium products such as blueberries.


It is also child friendly and has its own children's club 'Ferry Berry'


It was great to visit and network with other people running community garden projects in Argyll.

Seil Community's Drill Hall Garden

On the way back from Luing I stopped off to see the new Community Garden on Seil

The community had built the garden after the old Drill Hall was replaced by a new community hall. They applied and got help from the BBC's Beechgrove Garden.

Lots of difference people were involved and the children from the local primary school at Easdale each chose and planted a tree with a slate tag with their name on it.
Seil is inshore from the 'Slate Islands' and the ground is riddled with slate spoil on top of a slate foundation!

The garden has lots of interesting features including this insect habitat wall.

http://forargyll.com/2009/07/bbc-beechgrove-gardens-features-seil-communitys-drill-hall-garden-tonight/