Sunday, 15 November 2009
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Local Produce Community Solutions
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.
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Seil Community's Drill Hall Garden
Seil is inshore from the 'Slate Islands' and the ground is riddled with slate spoil on top of a slate foundation!
Monday, 28 September 2009
The Last of Summer?
Now there are lots of cupboards housing showers and toilets,
They have done away with gas mantels and have electricity at the flick of a switch,
And the hoovers have gone space age!
Whilst exploring the island we found some marsh fritillarie webs and looked out to the isle of Shuna surrounded by mist.
Friday, 4 September 2009
Summertime....
Back in July we went to the Big Tent Festival - Scotland's largest eco festival where fun was had meeting people and dancing to the wide array of music.
Amongst the eco exhibits was a 'do it yourself' juicer, run on peddle power.
The embryonic 'Permaculture Scotland' group had a stall where we were able to spread the word, garner interest in and run a couple of well attended Introduction to Permaculture workshops.
Even the sun shone and we were able to enjoy the novelty of sitting outside without midges!
Later in the month it was the Mid Argyll Show. The annual agricultural show where Ruaraidh was saved the embarrassment of being entered their dog show.
Lots of animals, Scottish dancers, the Mid Argyll Pipe Band and old tractors turned out in the rain.
Monday, 29 June 2009
Time at Home
My son helped build some raised beds from wood purchased from a local community project. I filled them with some lovely horse poo and homemade compost. This should rot down nicely, ready for next spring. Meantime, I have sown some seed in pots.
The annual permaculture course at Kilmartin House Museum had its Introduction Day where students were able to get acquainted with the local landscape.
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Old Sleningford Farm and Forest Gardening
The forest garden at Old Sleningford has been planted in stages and the oldest part is now in its fifth year. Over 100 fruit and nut trees have been planted so far, along with fruit bushes, the ground cover is a huge strawberry bed with some herbs.
As Ripon is a long way from Argyll I was able to volunteer for a couple of weeks and work with the lovely people there and get to know the forest garden which was already cropping loads of rhubarb!
Weed raised beds - separate from the forest garden.
Weed and mulch around some of the trees.
Help staple wire to fence posts!! This was to support raspberries.
Old Slenginford Farm is a permaculture project with lots of different things going on including an orchard with chickens
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Permaculture in Action!
Before long things began to make sense and the structure took shape.
Unfortunately only half the hoops had been delivered but the foundations had been laid and the vegetable garden was now ready for sowing after a very enjoyable and fun packed weekend.
Since our weekend Heather has obtained the missing hoops and put them in place and is now waiting for another sunny day (or a weekend of visitors!) to finish her polytunnel.
Our next meet is in May at Tayvallich!