Time at Home

The wwoofing seems to have taken a back seat at present but I have managed to keep myself busy.

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.

We have been making elderflower cordial from the elderflowers growing by the cottage.

Last weekend we had another permaculture work bee in Kintyre where soil was put in place for a living roof.

A veg bed was dug and later netted to protect from birds and rabbits.

Fun was also had on the beach with a bbq and canoeing!

Old Sleningford Farm and Forest Gardening

I have become interested in Forest Gardening and after reading Patrick Whitefield's excellent book, decided to go on a course at Old Sleningford Farm near Ripon, Yorkshire. http://www.oldsleningford.co.uk/

Cherry plum blossom

A forest garden is modelled on nature and has three layers; a tree layer made up of fruit and nut trees, a shrub layer made up of soft fruit and nut bushes and a herbaceous layer made up of perennial vegetables and herbs, annual vegetables are included where they are self-seeding.

The idea is to work with nature for a maximum output with minimum input. The output is usually food for humans, animals and insects but can include medicine, dyes, craft materials and fuel.

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!

Whilst volunteering I helped complete a willow bird hyde.

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

A brilliant pizza oven which can cook a pizza in seconds.

On the first Sunday of each month the Farm has a volunteer day allowing visitors the opportunity to help and meet up. It was great to meet new people, exchange ideas. The time flew by whilst barrowing horse poo and mulching with straw!

All in all it was a great experience, a great course and great people, well worth the trip.

Permaculture in Action!

After years of saying we'd meet up and work together in finally happened!

We went to the Isle of Kerrera, just off Oban and helped Heather with her garden and new polytunnel.

We were fortunately to have dry and sunny weather, so got busy unpacking the polytunnel.

Whilst some scratched their heads at the lack of instructions, others started preparing the garden beds

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!

A Time of Rest

I had an operation on my foot at the beginning of December so have been resting whilst it heals. During this time I have been reading up on forest gardens, making notes and thinking about how and where to start designing and creating.

At the end of January the permaculture course at Kilmartin completed its final module with a reunion ceildh and new ideas on how to spread permaculture throughout Scotland. I am now helping put together the next course with new teachers, due to start this autumn.

wwoofing at Culdees

I've recently come back from Culdees on beautiful Loch Tay.

Culdees is a small international community consisting of transient wwoofers and others working on the farm and in the bunkhouse. The mission of Culdees is to create a Universal Multi Faith Ecovillage based on permaculture principles and is headed by the Reverend Maryse Verlaik-Anand.

Whilst there I undertook a variety of task and had my first experience of working with animals. Ruaraidh had a great time learning to be a farm dog with training from Nell.

I 'chased' escapee pigs and managed to milk the goat.

As well as doing a bit of weeding, cleaning the bunkhouse and cooking, I spent a couple of days removing staples from fence posts! The weather was great and the views out to Loch Tay breathtaking as the sunset.

During my time off I was able to visit some of the local sights including the Praying Hands of Mary in Glen Lyon and the oldest known yew tree in the nearby village of Fortingale. Another great place was the Watermill Bookshop in Aberfeldy which has been voted the best independent bookshop, well deserved along with its coffee shop and cakes!

All in all I had a great time, met some lovely people, sharing time working, singing and dancing!

www.culdeesbunkhouse.co.uk www.culdees-ecovillage.co.uk

Ed's Plot

I'm still catching up with my posting.

Also this month I visited Ed's site down on the Kintyre peninsula, where I'm helping to plan his tree orchard and shelter belt. The site is triangular and looks out to the island of Cara. A lot of space for trees!

The Alchemy of Chutney

Earlier this month I spent a day with Ed, my tutor, making chutney from his garden harvest. This included apples, onions, garlic, chillies and tomatoes and was mixed with vinegar, brown sugar and various spices to make a wonderful accompliment to salads, cheeses etc.

I now have more confidence to try and make my own mixes!