Crossing the Blues
Showing posts with label foraging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foraging. Show all posts

Wednesday 23rd March 11 Wipe Out Waste Welly Boot Camp.

I was woken by Ben who had been sleeping next to me in the adjacent bunk, and most of us in that dorm got up soon after 6am to go for a wander round the farm, to look for the canyon and see how much wild food was available.  Several people commented on my snoring, despite my warning them that I snore.  One chap snored so loudly that he'd had the sense to bed down in the kitchen area, away from everybody else where he wouldn't disturb them (or, apparently, vibrate people out of their beds!). 

A group of teenagers joned us for the early morning walk which was good, and Robin and I led the expedition, with questions about tree identification and some of the foodstuffs from plants, including beechmast, gorse flowers and nettles.

We came back for breakfast and then the mentors went down to the Yeo Valley 'Lakewood' Conference Centre; Ben was happy to take me and all my gear down.  I got set up for my 11am til 12pm first show and had a bit of time to see whether the laptop and wifi worked together, which they did.  The assorted schools appeared... Dixon City Academy, Abbots Hill School, Hollyfield School Kingston, St. Lukes, Mountbatten School, Sidcup School and Saint Timothy's from Glasgow who'd flown down.  There was an intro from Karen from Footprint Friends and Tracey Smith the main organiser of this event, and Graham Keating from Yeo Valley, who amongst other things, showed a very slick (and funny) advertising video.

Then it was time for the first session; I had a group of maybe 16 youngsters, and I explained that I was going to do my circus skills show and workshop, and that when they came up to volunteer they would be helping themselves to learn how to present information, to 'act' in a way which might help them prepare for their presentations to the Eco Dragons in the summer, to (successfully) showcase their idea.  Other groups were starting with media training, to et them used to working with TV/video cameras on them.

The show went very well, some talented and keen people, and I was really pleased with how they responded to my challenges.

I had 30 minutes free after that, before lunch, which was a tasty veg lasagne which I had on the veranda overlooking Blagdon Lake from way up the hill. A spectacular view.

After lunch I had my second group, again a talented bunch, with several diabolo players in amongst them, and a good unicylist or three.  They went off to do a brainstorming session to develop and improve their idea, and I got tidied up and then went to join the mentors in the main conference hall for the final session which was mainly feedback.  Professor Fiddlesticks got a mention in all but one of the feedback presentations, which made me quite emotional, in a positive way!

It took quite a while to get the stuff all packed up and away, as I think Ben took a wander to go and take more photos!  At the top of the hill too, he stopped to take pics and it was here I discovered he's into Urban Exploration, and 'knew' Mozaz (through an Urbex website only I think)  But eventually we got back to Fernhill Farm where we had a bit to eat and a debrief.  And a walk to the canyon, which Tracey hadn't seen.  Robin came with us and enthused about hairy bittercress, lords and ladies (starchy root if prepared well) fiddleheads from heart's tongue ferns, dandelion, wood sorrel and nettles.  This time I tried a nettle, raw and scrunched up... it was delicious!

But we were running out of time and had to get back, and Ben offered to take me down to Weston Super Mare to Lucy and Colin's house, and when we eventually got there, came in for a cuppa before driving back to Southampton.  He enjoyed seeing the sunset (more photos) and Cheddar Gorge, which is always gorgeous!

I had a lovely balloon modelling session with the two children, and when they'd gone to bed, a good long chat with Colin and Lucy. 

One of the best days I've had for a long time. 

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Tuesday 15th June 10

A good day, as spent some time with Gill in the morning and some gardening in the afternoon, before I went to school and brought our youngest home. I'm pleased that I now have an area nearly clear for the bee hives, and have spoken to both neighbours about it.

I had an early tea and at 6.15 headed quickly over to the Millennium Bridge to meet up with Guy and other Abundance/Transition types, to go on a cycle foraging expedition to Askham Bog.

Guy is very knowledgeable about edible plants and we kept on stopping to see something.
We found: lime tree leaves, garlic mustard, cleavers/sticky willy/goosegrass, Indian or Hymalayan balsam (sometimes known as 'policeman's helmet' because of the shape of the flowers), elder, birch (for the sap), oak (young acorns can be a coffee substitute), rose (hips in the autumn), nettles, burdock, horseradish, marsh thistle, hazel, bog myrtle, honeysuckle, fat hen, Japanese knotweed and sloes. Also the following inedible plants: royal fern, orchid, guelder rose, alder.

For me, it was a real treat to be taken to Askham Bog, as I'd never been there and it is a lovely place. I shall certainly revisit.

On the way back I showed a new friend, Clare (I think!) part of the Solar System sculpture trail and got back at about 9pm, with some sticks in the trailer.

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Saturday 24th October 09

Well, a busy enough day starting with a cycle down to town to attend the CAFOD and Christian Aid - organised York Wave, a few hundred people encircling the Minster as a gesture of solidarity for those at risk from climate change and a message to our government that we want them to set ambitious, tough and binding targets at the Copenhagen talks in December.

I was glad to go, as despite my agnosticism and dislike of how some people put their religion above their love of humanity. I think we have to get over our differences and prejudices and move towards a unified goal of looking after this planet and life on it, whatever our beliefs in the supernatural, science or otherwise. I was pleased to meet lots of people I know and love and care about, and to join hands with to surround the Minster in solidarity.

After this I went to the Belfrey Hall on Stonegate, a building I didn't know existed, and took part in a debate about the issues surrounding governance and carbon emissions, developing countries and climate change. There were four speakers, Hugh Bayley, our Member of Parliament, a Nigerian called Father Blaize, an amazing 'sustainable housing' lecturer called John Grant from Sheffield, and Rashni Mistry: I'm not sure where she was from or who she represented. They introduced themselves, Hugh going on about the overseas development work he does, and John Grant was a very good speaker about the whole gamut of issues.

After intros, the chair asked if there were any questions, I got my hand up and was picked first. I asked the question which was on many people's lips, (John Grant had referred to it) which was why Hugh had voted against the 10:10 motion on Wednesday? Now I'm not sure if I heard him correctly, but I think he said he didn't vote against it, which is a lie, according to the official website (scroll down to see if your MP voted yes or no to the motion). He very cleverly wriggled out of it by going on about the small committee who had discussed the motion beforehand, and they had come to the conclusion that the House of Commons was incapable of reducing their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. Well if they'd voted to aim to do that, and maybe got to a 5% or 8% reduction, that would have been FAR better than saying 'We don't think this is possible'. I am very very disappointed with him. And, unfortunately, the more free-thinking John Grogan whom I like a lot. Our other local MP, Anne Mackintosh, voted for the motion. How sad that party politics spoiled this debate.

Anyway, back to today's discussion. The 'Energy Champion' for York, Cllr Christian Vassie, asked another difficult question as did a couple of other people. Not all the discussion was about Bayley's voting record, there were ones on insulation and water resources and other things.

I cycled home in the rain after this. Lunch. Gill went into town with the boys.

I washed up.

At 4.30 I cycled off to St Nicks to meet with Melanie who asked me if I could introduce her to foraging... she wanted to pick some sloes so I said yes, why not, on the understanding that she'd let me sample the sloe gin when ready. We also got some apples.

I had a 'use it up tea' heated on the woodstove. I had some nice 'bundles' with the boys (boisterous play wrestling which boys like doing... girls might too but it's very common in boys!) which was fun. And a quiet evening followed.

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Wednesday 19th August 09

Got the Road Train into Bridlington so the boys could 'do' the fairground rides and I could go to the internet shop and get my emails. I'd taken my laptop with me as I thought that I might get a chance to do some writing (my book!) and as York Green Festival is looming, I knew I had to keep in touch with the other team members at least once during the week, so today I took the laptop to Icy Tea which for a small charge, allows access to the 'net. Whilst the family went shopping for books, I went to have one hour (£2) at Icy Tea. However my Thunderbird thing managed to let me send some email replies, but not all... and just before I came off, I clicked on 'Get Mail' and found that some of the more important stuff hadn't been sent, and had been returned. The Icy Tea server system and my AVG thingy were not playing ball... and the chap there, 'Angel' couldn't work out why. He did have a good think and tried changing some things on my computer... and finally suggested I came back later when the shop owner would be back, who might be able to sort the problem out.

So I met up with the family and we headed for the fairground. Our youngest wanted to do the flight simulator ride, a box on hydraulic rams containing a screen, projector and seats with seatbelts. He chose a ride called 'Glacier Ride', and I went in with them. It was excellent, very exciting, stomach-churning. I'd happily do more of these...

However, we went to have a go on the Dodgems... the boys did anyway, and they both had some difficulty steering and even keeping their feet on the accelerator... and this caused some distress and promises of 'never again' once it had finished.

Then, after some persuasion, we decided to go on 'The Yorkshire Belle', a boat trip of an hour's duration towards Flamborough Head and back. Gill opted not to go, and went to find some shade and a sit down. The boat trip was really good... good to see the cliffs we've walked along and played under from the sea. On the way back, we sailed (motored) close to the Patricia, a ship belonging to Trinity House, and one of three which services navigation buoys and other work. We all enjoyed this trip.

The family went home and I went back to Icy Tea and went on Tiscali Webmail, but as that doesn't have the useful address function, where when you type in the first letters of the email address or intended recipient's name, suggestions come up (available in Outlook and Thunderbird), I had to keep toggling between the Thunderbird address book and the Webmail window to copy people into various replies. BUT I managed to get the most important stuff done, I think.

I got the last 'land train' back... someone gave me a ticket so it was a free ride.

I did some foraging before tea, found mainly poppy seeds which I put in a paper bag inside a plastic bag, once I realised the seam on the paper bag wasn't very good!

Gill made tea... potato and veg croquettes from M+S, with new potatoes, our own green beans, carrot and pesto/tomato sauce. Delicious!

A quiet night in... well. reasonably quiet, despite the complete lack of soundproofing in this cottage. All vehicles on the road outside sound like they are in the living room, and conversations upstairs are audible downstairs, and the TV on the lowest volume disturbs the child trying to get to sleep upstairs.

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