news, stories & images

from monkton wyld court

spring 2012

Somebody said once that you know you're in the right place when you wake up in the morning feeling grateful. And when you don't, you know that you've got work to do to get there. Around Monkton of a fresh and sparkling spring morning lately, there's a definite sense of gratitude for the fantastic people around us, a sense of rightness to all of the good work to be done. And really, what better place to be doing it?

So with a heartfelt welcome to Sue and Jez and Tink and Wenna and Michael (and fingers crossed that Meghan will be visiting often!) AND a hearty thanks to all of our fantastic winter volunteers for their support (and for their photos), here's a little look at what all we're getting up to.

Just around the corner!

Email us or ring 01297 560342 for more details or to book on any of the following.

Practical Skills = Personal Growth

NEW!
20th - 22nd April, 25th - 27th May

Jurassic Coast Walking Weekends

Enjoy Birdsong & Bluebells in true AONB style with Martin Gershon of Marshwood Trails, share an organic spring picnic, and book a relaxing evening massage.

5th - 8th April

How to Set Up a Low-Impact Smallholding

The indomitable Jyoti Fernandes (Fivepenny Farm, PEPC) and Simon Fairlie (The Land magazine, Chapter 7) pull out the stops and call on the neighbours in what must be the best, most comprehensive survey of the subject. Your smallholding future starts here!

NEW!
starting 23rd - 27th April

Low Impact Dwelling Work Weeks

The upkeep that keeps the dream alive: projects ranging from cob repair to solar panel set-up and a sliding-scale tariff make these working holidays affordable and inspiring in equal measure. (The good company and fresh organic fare help too!)

NEW!
28th April

Raw Fermentation: A Master Class

Area Ooosha fans and raw food fans generally, ACT NOW! More bookings needed to bring this fantastic course to south west Dorset, so email your expressions of interest to Amy right away.

NEW!
29th April

Spring Foraging Day

Himalayan balsam fritters, anyone? Join Dave Hamilton (self sufficient 'ish') in a delicious day of discovery and reevaluate the plants around you. Spaces limited.

4th - 6th May

Dowsing: an Introduction & Overview

Area expert Alan Neal delves into the history and applications of this ancient skill, with plenty of opportunity to practice.

18th - 20th May, 29th - 31st May or 15th - 17th June

Introduction to Beekeeping

Glean from David Wiscombe's years of experience in this two day course covering all the essentials with ample classroom time and apiary visits.

14th - 17th June

A Hands-On Introduction to Masonry Stoves

James Curry shares the wonder of this efficient and attractive radiant space heating system enjoying a revival across Europe. Spaces very limited.

Education for Young People + Family Fun

Plant identification with Tasha & Patch from Tinkers Bubble

1st - 5th April

Green Building & Gardening Family Work Week

A very special four-day, half-price family project holiday affording you the chance to help us eco-build! Wyldwood Ways Days tariff included (see below).

2nd - 12th August

Spanish-English Teen Experience

A rural bilingual activity retreat for teens from Spain and the UK. Spaces very limited!

5th - 10th June

The Good Life Family Week

with Jyoti, Chloe & Anya from Fivepenny Farm

13th - 18th August

Theatre Family Week

with Jacqui Kirkland

19th - 24th August

Bushcraft Family Week

with Jonathon Huet of Walk with Trees

26th - 31st August

Wyld Science Family Week

with the MWC Community
Only a few spaces left!

More information on family weeks and booking forms are available from the website.

and introducing...

Wyldwood Ways

We're expanding our outdoor education programme this year, starting with spring taster days:

Three Days of Wyldwood Ways

A Three Day Course of Proper Outdoor Activities
Most Suitable for Ages 6 to 12

Each day from 10am – 4pm. £8 per child per day OR £20 for all 3.

Please book ahead and bring a packed lunch. Tariff plus packed lunch ingredients included with Green Building & Gardening Family Week bookings, 1-5 April.

'wee boy with wood'

Tuesday, 3rd April
Wyldwood Wisdom
Make a campfire, do some whittling, play a stalking game and try your hand at knot work, cordage and wild cooking.

Wednesday, 4th April
Wyldwood Art
Pictures, sculptures, weaving: all from natural materials whilst we spend time in the woods.

Thursday, 5th April
Wyldwood Sense
A chance to utilise our senses in the wild: explore, find out and understand how they work in science & nature.

and this autumn...

Wyldwood Ways Home Educating Family Week

with the Hastings family and the rest of the MWC Community

Sunday, 21 October – Thursday, 25 October

A chance to spend time with other home educating families: to learn new skills, to share knowledge & experiences; time to talk, time to play, time to do, time to be.

With such a fantastic home educating family joining our community this year, we can’t help but feel it’s time to revitalise that network and develop our resources for education otherwise. The Wyldwood Ways Week this autumn is a real step toward that goal: a unique family week tailor-made for participating families with discussions, activities and family fun chosen by YOU.

In recognition of the special expenses and challenges faced by home educating families, we have tried to make this week more accessible by slightly shortening its length and considerably dropping its price. Contact us for more details or to hold your family's space!

Garden Notes

Jez Hastings

Winter took a tight grip on Monkton early February. It was a shock as the mild autumn and December lulled us with false pretences. The ten days of below zero were challenging: pipes froze and fires were kept in around the clock.The fuel we collected from Tempest Woods in October and November warmed us thrice, sawing and chopping, then wheeling to the house and finally burning. The seven cords slowly replaced the amount we were burning. There is a lot more to collect but we are still a year ahead of ourselves on the firewood front.

The Kitchen Garden has been producing some fine brassicas (brussels, cabbage and broccoli) as well as assorted salads from the tunnels. We are lucky. With the help of our fantastic volunteers the Crete hedge where the cows graze is coming along very nicely and by spring should be finished. The forest garden ground works have all but been finished and with the new fruiting hedge boundary going in shortly it will be a super permaculture producing area.

The first sowing has already taken place with aubergines and sugar snap peas being the first to hit the soil in the propagators and in hanging gutters (this keeps the hungry mice at bay!) in the polytunnel.

It feels, as the days draw out, that spring is around the corner... Roll it out!

The Chicken Report

Many of our visitors and community members have commented that the chickens are looking very healthy and happy. This may be due to the fact that they were given an early Christmas present in the shape of a beautiful golden Buff Orpington cockerel called Mr Pots. He was kindly given to us by a lady living near Lyme who needed to find a good home for him. Although he was very well loved he really needed some friendly female company as he was growing up fast. Mr Pots is a very handsome chap and he has settled in well. Even though he is quite a bit larger than the girls he seems fine and is very protective of them. Most importantly he has won their affections.

As the days lengthen egg production is increasing which we are pleased about. Most of the girls we have at the moment are ex-battery hens acquired last spring, Unfortunately they didn’t lay anywhere near enough eggs during the year to cover the cost of their organic food or to feed us and our visitors, so we are resolved to improve the situation this year. We plan to bring in some new younger chickens and maybe Mr Pots will be able to ensure the there are fertile eggs to hatch.

Noah presents the chickens as Mr_Pots looks on.

The chicken house is quite homely now because we decided to deep litter the girls (and Mr Pots). They have a thick layer of straw insulating the floor and the droppings boards are draped with straw too. It all looks very cosy and the chickens are making nests for egg laying in preference to using the nest boxes. We extended their run in December too so for a few weeks they had fresh grass to eat. Now we have to take greens into the run as the grass has all but disappeared. Occasionally they escape and it is lovely to see them free ranging again. Our plans for this year include incorporating the chicken run into a rotation system for vegetable production but we are still undecided on that one. Maybe we should ask Mr Pots!

Catherine Siddle

Go Team! This winter marked the launch of a fantastic work-for-wood arrangement with nearby Tempest Farm.

Afterword

Some recent conversation pieces to look out for on your next visit:

beautifully polished floors in the kindy, house and Pine Hall,
a new kp stoves wood burner in the office (at last!),
a redecorated shower and cleaned up Yellow Room,
a new bicycle shed to encourage bike rental and maintenance workshops like our Dr Bike workshop in February,
the rhubarb patch, sure forerunner of the oft-discussed community allotment scheme,
re-roofed (and -ceilinged!) north west corner of Beech Bottom...

We hope you'll come out soon and see what other improvements you can find-- or join in on. The list certainly does keep on growing!

Wyld Life