September 2009 News and Views
News & Members' Contributions from Countryside Connection Village
The response has been so wonderful since I began sharing excerpts from our members' monthly newsletters! After enjoying this month's issue, you will be able to read all of those from the past year that you might have missed by accessing the individual links. August 2009 News and Views July 2009 News and Views June 2009 News and Views May 2009 News and Views April 2009 News and Views March 2009 News and Views February 2009 News and Views January 2009 News and Views December 2008 News and Views November 2008 News and Views October 2008 News and Views and September 2008 News and Views. I will continue to provide access to future issues in the same way so that you will not miss any of the news from our village. To enable you to enjoy past news and members' contributions from our Countryside Connection Village please simply click on the link to the appropriate month each time you visit our site.
Please Note : As one of our members, Artist Linda Leonard Hughes from Maine advised years ago, you will be wise to prepare a pot of your favourite brew before beginning so that you can sit back, relax and enjoy all of the exciting news as well as the latest adventures and offerings our members have shared.
I hope you will enjoy the excerpts from our Members' Newsletter. If you have a small business in Britain or America that you would like to see featured on our site and enjoy the full benefits of membership in our unique networking community, please send me an email and I will be delighted to make contact with you and answer all of your questions. Send your request to enquiries@countrysideconnection.com ~ I look forward to hearing from you, Heléne
Dear Visitors to Countryside Connection Village
This month’s issue is a bit later than usual as I wanted to wait until our August Bank Holiday (the last weekend in August) and America ’s Labor Day Weekend (the first in September) had passed. I hope that everyone had a chance to relax and spend time enjoying local events and time with family and friends.
Autumn seems to be arriving early here in Britain . The night skies are descending earlier, the air is brisk and filled with intermittent winds, the frequent downpours have enhanced the lush and green landscape. The moors are steadily being covered by the purple haze of heather and the hedgerows are beginning to display lots of blackberries just ripe for picking. We gathered our first batch and some have been used in a delicious recipe for Apple and Blackberry Muffins that someone shared with me last year. I will include the recipe in our Recipe Category and hope you will enjoy it as much as we do. In fact, this month’s issue is almost exclusively devoted to seasonal fruits and vegetables; stories and recipes as well as the introduction of our newest members and wonderful features from two of our most dedicated contributors plus other news.
I received a most welcome email through our website from Sally Osgerby which read: "Please - How do we join" I knew of Sally through member Sara Ridsdale because they co-wrote the wonderful Herb Book featured here on previous occasions and work closely together on other projects. If you have not already downloaded this excellent book or any of the other offerings, be certain to visit both www.farmingfriends.com and http://topveg.com You will find Sally and Michael's new listing in our Farm Category.
Introducing Sally and Michael in their own words:
TopVeg was born in December 2006 as a diversification project at Shrubbery Farm. Michael & Sally moved to Shrubbery Farm in 1990 as a tenant of the Crown. The farm is on the north banks of the River Humber growing wheat, barley, oilseed rape and vining peas. The breeding and fattening pig heard was closed down in 2000 when it became uneconomic.
Michael & Sally strive to grow delicious, fresh vegetables for the family & aim to provide a constant supply to the kitchen. But return on effort is vital, so methods are streamlined to make sure that every ounce of effort has an edible outcome!
They decided to share their experiences on-line, at http://topveg.com.
Michael has grown vegetables on a farm scale for many years, developing systems to streamline production. Farm vegetables have included potatoes, brussel sprouts, calibrese, carrots, peas and broad beans. So it was inevitable that he should transfer his knowledge and systems to the vegetable garden.
Sally had been involved in a local charity which aimed to educate the public in the use of IT. She set up a British Computer Society ECDL test centre, and was a voluntary tutor at the computer club.
TopVeg is a combination of Michael's vegetable growing skills and Sally's computer experience. The site aims to discuss growing your own fruit, herbs and vegetables; and to demonstrate 'how to grow your own' with minimum effort.
TopVeg have linked up with Malcolm Allison who is a garden consultant specialising in orchard trees and flower gardens. Malcolm has produced a new strain of pink/purple broad beans and these Midwinter Broad Bean seeds are sold on TopVeg at £2.50 for 12 seeds, plus £1postage & packing. There is also an eBook called 'Flowers in my Garden' by Malcolm for £0.99.
Michael believes that vegetable gardeners can make their lives easier and more enjoyable by adopting a few ideas. He is passionate about looking after the garden soil, treating it with respect and not trampling all over it. The soil then becomes easier to work and more productive. Rotating vegetables around the garden is another feature of TopVeg, so that one crop helps another. The colour coded crop rotation cards were well received at the TopVeg one day vegetable gardening course. Michael has written an eBook 'How to Grow Potatoes' which costs £2.99.
Note: Read about Top Veg Gardening Courses immediately below Sally and Michael’s feature and contact them directly for more information or to arrange a course. Be sure and visit their information website and Twitter as well which features a wealth of information. Website: http://topveg.com Email Sally and Michael at topvegetables@aol.com
Michael with his hoe working on the potato ridges:
TopVeg work closely with Sara at Farming Friends. Together they have produced an eBook 'How to Grow Culinary Herbs,' which is sold for £3.
Sally and Michael’s Herb Trough:
TopVeg are developing the range of goods for sale. The Hessian sacks for potato storage are popular, and we hope to help sell the delightful onceuponapine herb boxes. TopVeg is also hoping to develop their range of courses by offering computer courses alongside the gardening courses – something for all the family!
TopVeg can be followed on twitter at http://twitter.com/TopVeg
Sally and Michael’s Top Veg Gardening Course ~ I will share information about upcoming computer courses mentioned above as soon as Sally and Michael have details ready.
The Vegetable Gardening Course
This hands on course will include:
· Vegetable Gardening aims & objectives
· Soil.
· Kitchen Garden design. .
· Materials available to make a garden & footpaths.
· Tools.
· Fruit & Vegetable Plants.
· Choosing what to grow
· Planting.
· Garden Maintenance.
· Pests and diseases.
· Fertilizer.
· Propagation.
The one-day course is from 10am-4pm with a break for lunch which will include sampling vegetables grown in the TopVeg garden! £25 per person
A Poetry Workshopwill be held at the same time as the veg gardening course – for anyone & everyone – who is not into gardening!
Regular weekday or weekend courses available. Contact us to arrange a suitable day.
Please bring warm clothes and wellies!
Shrubbery Farm, Sunk Island, Hull, East Yorkshire. HU12 0DY
Welcome to our Countryside Connection Village Sally and Michael, we look forward to networking with you and hearing from you in future newsletters!
This month many members have been travelling within the country for business and holidays whilst others have written to say they are off to visit France, Spain, Italy . . . I am always so pleased to find emails with exciting news and plans waiting for me in my Inbox.
Two very busy members who rarely seem to stop taking their wonderful exhibitions and work on the road are Debbie Bamford, ‘The Mulberry Dyer’ and partner, John Stoker. Here is Debbie's latest email:
Hi Heléne,
I am so sorry to not have been in touch – we’re barely home, this is a flying email to say thanks for all your work and I’ll send you an update as soon as I can – off to Lincoln later today then the Weald and DownlandMuseum tomorrow and France on Sunday – see what I mean!!
Cheers,
Deb
New England Stained Glass Artist, Carolyn Chabot featured in our Artists Category had a short break between the end of teaching her summer school course and returning to full-time teaching also wrote immediately after last month’s newsletter:
It’s very late, but had to quickly write to say that I love the once upon a pine page and all of the amazing things you are selling! I want to buy them all!
I promise to write a better e-mail soon!
Love always, Carolyn
Maine Artist, Linda Leonard Hughes, www.lindaleonardhughes.com wrote twice this month to fill us in on her current exhibition:
Thank You Heléne!! I will write you soon to let you know how the show in Kennebunkport is this weekend. Also I want to thank you for the beautiful piece in the Countryside Connection this month! The piece was perfect for the season!! Your Friend Always, Linda Leonard Hughes
- - - - - -
Dear Heléne, Thank You for asking about this weekend and the success of the Art show! I wish you could have been here also as I know you would have enjoyed the River club. It is on the mouth of the river with views of all the big boats and ships, ocean and all, a beautiful spot for the Art Show.
I looked at the home page and John and I are so pleased to see my paintings! They look very nice and as always you did a great job placing them so others can see them as well! You are so thoughtful and have been such a good friend to me. I do appreciate all that you do and I always wish you the best in your new venture! How are you both doing with the new business? I don't know how you both do so much you must be working from dawn to dusk?
Your friend here in New England thinks of you often and wishes you only the best!
Enjoy! Linda Leonard Hughes
So many other wonderful emails filled with offers of help and support with ny latest venture, this time with my, husband Alan. Once Upon a Pine is growing slowly and steadily as new items and categories are being added on www.onceuponapine.com Have a look and let us know what you think ~ we would love to hear your thoughts. What an incredible village we have formed through our mutual belief in rural businesses. I am so proud of everyone and so grateful to be part of such a compassionate community.
Isobel Davies fashion company, Izzy Lane www.izzylane.co.uk and her Sheep Sanctuary have often been featured over the years and I know how much she appreciates the support she has received from so many members. A recent issue has arisen that strongly impacts Isobel and is one that I found extremely unsettling. I wanted to share it with you and urge anyone who can offer any help or support to please contact her directly at isobel@izzylane.co.uk
Here is the Press Release Isobel sent to me and I share it with her support in the hopes of making as many people as possible aware of this important issue. Thank you, in advance, for any of you who take the time to contact Isobel to share your thoughts and any input you might have.
Subject: British Wool Marketing Board won't allow welfare standards on British Wool
For several years Isobel Davies has been working to bring attention to animal welfare standards in wool production as well as give support to as well as to create markets for British Wool and aid the ailing British Textile Industry. While continuing to use of the wool from her own 600 strong rescued flock, a deal was pending to break into the mainstream with Tesco having sought out Izzy Lane for a diffusion range. Izzy Lane was to deliver the first wool cloth ever with an animal welfare standard on it. The cloth would be made in Britain using some of the last scourers, spinners, dyers, weavers and finishers in the country and located in areas now depressed and with high unemployment as a result of the demise of the Textile industry. It was a glimmer of hope in a struggling industry, British wool heading for the first time to supermarket rails and with an animal welfare standard to boot.
In its initial work, Isobel was supported by certain employees of the Wool Board who helped to identify farmers who met her strict criteria which included:
No sheep from the flock to ever be live-exported
No sheep to ever be sold in livestock markets, with the exception of breeding stock
No sheep to ever be transported for more than 120 miles or a maximum time of 3 hours, with the exception of breeding stock
Each farmer by law has to send their wool The British Wool Marketing Board. Once it arrives, it goes into the bulk and loses its source and identity. It is then auctioned off to the wool merchants. The farmers are paid so little that many just burn and bury it as it doesn't even cover shearing costs. Britain’s wealth was founded on the wool trade in the Middle Ages and it is what later fuelled the industrial revolution. But it is now sadly deemed a 'waste product'.
The wool for Isobel’s project was sent to the wool board, all tagged up and ready to be sent off to be processed. Then the shock, that the Wool Board would not endorse the use of animal welfare standards in the promotion of British wool as it didn't think it was fair to those farmers who do not meet the criteria.
British wool in British supermarkets, Britain setting the precedent for animal welfare in the fashion industry, the support of the British mills in these difficult times. premiums paid for the wool to the struggling farmers. There was also a deal to supply the fabric for coats to export to Japan.
Isobel Davies
01748 850700 or 07710 348123
On a brighter note, Isobel has just shared this wonderful news:
Hi Heléne,Hope all well with you. We are busy putting a collection together as we have been invited to do a catwalk at the Green Show during New York Fashion Week. Best always, Isobel
The GreenShows Eco-Fashion Week at King of Greene Street, New York Sept 15-16
A 2-day fashion event with an eco-conscious vision featuring designers Bodkin, Izzy Lane, Bahar Shahpar, House Of Organic, Lara Miller, Mr. Larkin, STUDY by Tara St James, and an opening night event with the Rainforest Action Network.
New York, NY, August 26, 2009 (PR.com)-- A first for New York Fashion Week, The GreenShows Eco-Fashion Week is the only premiere fashion event exclusively committed to eco-friendly, ethically sound, fair-trade fashion in New York City. This two-day event will feature a selection of eco-conscious fashion designers who have been given the opportunity, support and resources to show their Spring/Summer 2010 collection under one roof.
The GreenShows Eco Fashion Week at King Of Greene Street will occupy the entire first floor, 4,000 sq ft retail and gallery space, located at 72 Greene Street in Soho, NYC’s downtown fashion and shopping district, and runs from September 15 to 16, 2009. This is a closed event and is by-invitation only.
The runway shows will include eco-fashion designers Izzy Lane, Bahar Shahpar, House Of Organic, Lara Miller, Mr. Larkin, STUDY by Tara St James and presentation by Bodkin.
“We should not have to sacrifice our planet for fashion. The fashion industry needs to be more accountable to environmental damage and pollution. While eco-designers are leading the way for a more sustainable lifestyle, without sacrificing style, prominent fashion designers need to take on more responsibility to safeguard our natural resources and achieve zero waste. The GreenShows is designed to foster and support eco-designers to continue creating fashion and as a platform to bring eco-fashion mainstream.”–Eric Dorfman, Founder of EdMedia Inc. and The GreenShows
The GreenShows is proud to partner with the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) to host our opening night event on September 15. With their new campaign "Don't Bag Indonesia's Rainforests," RAN is reaching out to over 100 fashion and luxury product companies who, some unknowingly, are using custom paper packaging such as shopping bags, made from the pulp of trees felled in the endangered tropical rainforests in Indonesia. Driven by market demand from the United States, the rapid destruction of Indonesia’s rainforests is causing massive global greenhouse gas emissions, destroying Indigenous communities, threatening unique ecosystems and pushing species like orangutans and Sumatran tigers to extinction.
With innovative green fashion also comes eco-friendly hair and makeup by John Masters Organics and DEX New York, respectively.
Extending beyond fashion and style, GreenShows will also debut BodegaGreen, a replica of a neighborhood convenience store featuring a selection of lifestyle eco-products.
The GreenShows will follow a rigorous path, from top to bottom, to make sure the production is 100% environmentally-friendly and energy efficient. From the runway to the lighting, the design team will use recycled, recyclable, and compostable material to create a beautiful and resource conscious layout as a backdrop to the collections.
From Jinsy Robinson at Penyrallt Home Farm in Wales www.penyrallt.co.uk comes this month’s delightful contribution offering another opportunity to feel part of life on their farm at this season of the year:
Heléne, lovely to hear from you.
Your lovely email response has prompted me to sit down and write something for you to put in the next newsletter, so here goes...
Despite the unpredictable weather this summer we have managed to get all our silage in and a very good crop it has proved to be; there are compensations for the awful dampness in that it does make the grass grow especially when combined with warm temperatures.
The weather as usual, does dominate conversation particularly with our holiday-makers. I always feel so sorry that the sun does not shine for them as much as we would like, but they are all very sanguine about it and continue to go the beaches with their waterprooofs and seem to have good times. After all one can eat ice-cream in the rain just as well as in the sunshine! It’s as good a comfort food as chocolate.
When the sun does come out everyone is so cheerful and determined to make the most of it that it puts greater glow on the day somehow.
We are half-way through August now and already there are signs of late summer approaching. Whilst walking the dogs today up our beautiful green lane the rowan trees are in full berry glory and the brambles are beginning to ripen. I have made rowan jelly in past but it is very tart and not popular with the family as an accompaniment to roast meat but I shall try to make as much bramble jelly as possible. It just tastes of autumn and is so lovely on fresh scones.
Our plum trees are laden this year and I have already frozen goodly amount and there are more to come. As well as freezing plums I bottle them using approx. 8oz sugar to 1 pint water. Often we don't bother with the sugar, straight water does just as well and then sugar can be added to taste when the fruit is served or used in puddings. They are very useful as a last minute pudding when served with custard.
The apples do not seem to be doing so well this year but we did have magnificent crops last year, so the trees probably need to have a rest.
The gardens are looking reasonably good though with the wet weather it has been hard to get out to keep up with the weeding and dead-heading, but hopefully there will be few days respite soon and I shall get on with various jobs that have been neglected.
We had great delight back at the end of June when I discovered that colony of honey-bees had taken up residence in one of the hives that David keeps around the farm and gardens in the hope that they will attract a swarm.
We've not had bees for couple of years and have missed them so to have a colony take up residence with us was wonderful, especially as they had arrived in June...
'A swarm in May is worth a load of hay.
A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon,
But a swarm in July is not worth a fly.'
This is the old country saying and if we look after the bees they should thrive and survive over the winter. David has been feeding them to help them make enough honey to get them through and he'll keep a close eye on them over the next couple of months.
I love this time of year and the slow run into early autumn though it is always busy with jams, and chutneys to be made and the preservation of various fruits and vegetables to be done but it is very satisfying and something that has gone on in this house for generations. People will say but we're in the 21st century we don't need to do all that stuff, but actually I think we do and it gives a greater appreciation of our food and the preparations that have to be done by somebody somewhere in order for us all to have food on our plates.
Sermon over!!
Heléne, I hope this is of some interest and look forward to hearing from you sometime.
All best wishes,
Jinsy
I wrote back to thank Jinsy and to ask for some further details about preserving and bottling as I knew I would not be the only one to require additional information. This response arrived shortly after and I have incorporated the answers to my specific questions along with the processes I was asking about.
Dear Heléne, so glad you liked my farmer's wife ramblings.
As to preserving plums, well...to freeze them I stone them (very tedious!) and them just put them in bags and stick them in the freezer. It’s a good idea to shake the bags up a bit before they are completely frozen so the fruit is loose and not stuck in one huge block and then you can just take out whatever quantity you need.
Bottling is great, though time consuming. Again the plums have to be stoned (!?) and then I pack them tightly into preserving jars and pour syrup into the jars to the brim. They are then placed in a preserving pan of hot water up to their necks and left to simmer for about 10 - 15 minutes. When the jars are removed from the water the lids with their seals are fixed tightly and that's that.
Fruit preserved this way will keep for years so long as the vacuum seal is not broken. I've done apples, cherries, damsons and peaches in this way.
My 'Preserving Bible' is a wonderful book that was produced by the old Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food called 'Home Preservation of Fruit & Vegetables' Bulletin 21, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Copies might be found on Ebay or abebooks, I guess.
Preserving jars can be found easily enough, though they tend to be French these days for some reason. I think Le Parfait is the trade name.
Again, Ebay might be good source.
I hope this answers your question. May I expect to hear that you been madly preserving the fruits of Yorkshire this Autumn?!!
Happy harvesting,
Its raining again!!!.
Jinsy
Jackie Miller of Colliers Hill Guest House and Conference Centre in rural Worcestershire www.colliershill.co.uk has written to share a wealth of ideas from her farmhouse kitchen and her community allotment project as well as her heartwarming expressions of the importance of showing our support and commitment for one another. As with Jinsy, her contributions always provide us with a feeling of being part of the joys and rewards she is experiencing throughout the year.
With her usual modesty her accompanying comment read:
Hope you are well and not working too hard to get out the September newsletter. Here is my humble offering. I have sent allotment photos in a separate e-mail. Kindest Regards Jackie
I am celebrating the first season of my community allotment project at Colliers Hill with crops in abundance to bottle, pickle, freeze, and just eat with relish round my kitchen table. What fun it has been to share the highs and lows of self sufficiency. We are not going to mention the battle of the blight which was clever enough to damage all, so nobody felt left out, or under any obligation to share their bumper crop with those less fortunate than themselves. Mr. Blight hit the Colliers Hill spuds with a vengeance but there were so many smaller triumphs with other crops to keep our spirits high.
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more “was the battle cry from us all and at the end of our first season it has certainly given us all inspiring food for thought as well as our bellies.
I have personally taken on the role of chief taster experimenting with lots of favourite recipes to use up the crops gathered so lovingly by my new allotment friends. I love beetroot picked in vinegar, baked with thyme Balsamic vinegar and olive oil served as a hot vegetable with roast beef for Sunday lunch and best of all a beautifully rich spiced soup. I’m storing a few batches in the freezer for Christmas. The beauty of its festive red colour and spiced aroma makes this delicious soup a perfect Christmas treat. Finally I’d just like to share my belief in always being in the right place at the right time. I was in a local small family run garden centre that I had not visited for years. I went with a friend for a cup of tea one afternoon and was telling her about my allotment venture and how I was looking forward to the prospect of growing flowers as well as vegetables next season. Self sufficiency is achievable with herbs and vegetables so why not with flowers? They are so expensive to buy and choice is limited to what those enormous Dutch lorries have delivered to our local florists, so for my money a little experimentation with bulbs and packets of seeds is on the cards for September. Suddenly as I wandered around the rows of seed packets I spotted the “Allotment 50 Newsletter” pinned to a pillar with a kind “Help yourself”, to a leaflet note. A kindred spirit I thought and there she was the author herself. We started to chat and have decided to share our ideas and support each other in rural Worcestershire. The birth of another community is born. As we all prepare for the onset of darker nights and cooler weather let’s continue to support each other with love enthusiasm and most important of all an open heart and mind. (Jackie's recipes for Beetroot Soup with Cumin and Green Bean Chutney will be added to our Recipes Pages - have a go as her recipes are always a huge success!) There really is nothing I can add that will either enrich or enhance the spirit of Jackie’s message. I feel so inspired to get outside and return to the kitchen to follow some of the wonderful and enticing suggestions shared by our members. And so, with a full heart and a mind racing trying to figure out how to find time for all I want and need to do in the coming months ahead, I will close this month’s issue with warmest thoughts for a plentiful and seasonal September for one and all. May we all find some time from work and family commitments to enjoy the pleasures of nature and fresh air. If self-sufficiency is not a possibility, at least at the present time, may each and every one of you discover something new to grow, harvest, taste and/or reward yourself with during September and the months ahead. Please share your experiences with me and I will pass them along to members and visitors to our site. Let’s all keep the wonderful messages and images in mind as we move into the autumn season. Warmest thoughts always, Heléne