Upcoming
Courses &
Events
Jan
13th, Feb 10th
Local
Lunch
§
Jan 13th & 27th
Knit &
Stitch
FREE!
§
Dec 26th - 31st
Winter Holiday
Family Week
with
Anita and
Dorothy
§
Jan 10th
Teachings of
the Medicine Wheel
with
Carolyn
Waterstone
§
Jan
17th - 23rd,
Mar 7th - 12th
Garden
Work Week
§
Jan
22nd, 6-11pm
Dinner &
Dancing
Come
on
down!
§
Jan
23rd - Feb 7th
Permaculture
Design
with Aranya &
Designed
Visions
§
Feb 12th - 14th
Biodynamic
Gardening
with Marina
O'Connell
§
Feb 14th - 19th
Love Nature
Family Week
with Jan Freeborn
§
Feb
26th - 28th
Introduction
to Permaculture
with George Sobol
§
Mar
5th - 7th
Felt-Making
Weekend
with Anita and
Kim
§
Mar
12th - 14th
Mixed Media
Art
with Julie
Oldfield
§
Mar
15th - 18th
Low-Impact Smallholdings
with
Simon Fairlie, Jyoti Fernandes
& Rebecca Laughton
§
Mar
21st - 26th
Being at
Monkton Wyld Week
with
the MWC
Community
§
See website
for
full listings,
course details and
booking information!
|
Coming
& Going
Special thanks and
best wishes go out this holiday
season to Caroline and Andrew on
the other side of Dorset, to George
and Patsy wintering closer by, and
to Sophie and Tom.
Indomitable ex-intern Bea is
just off on her search for
sustainable
Spain,
and we eagerly await her first
report.
New to the fray
from November is Jean
Pierre
'his
father's French' Le Bretton, who'll
be with us for the next few months
and, we very much hope, a good long
while after that.
And from January
we're expecting still more exciting
additions, so do look forward to
their self-intros next time!
|
Help Us Spread the
Word!
Does
your village's billboard
lack that special something?
Why not try a Monkton Wyld
Court upcoming events
poster?
Join distribution
volunteers around the local area in
sharing information about our
upcoming events (and enjoy the
perks).
For more information, email
or give
us a call!
|
The Wish
List
'because
it never hurts to
ask'
The following
are examples of items we'd be more
than happy to take off anybody's
hands, if they were, you know, in
good nick but taking up too much
space in the garden shed or what
have you.
small refrigerator,
oil heaters,
pillows,
mortar and pestle, catering fridge
(!),
mattresses, bed frames and duvets
(single and double),
couches, chairs,
glasses, small plates and
teaspoons,
handtowels,
woodburning stove, children's
games, decorating supplies,
polytunnel,
waterbutts,
a decent sound system, and so on.
Next
time, projects you might like to
take part
in!
|
Discovering
Monkton
After
spending a long time to find
a topic to write about, like:
Black Socks*, How to Live in
a Community without Dying in
the Trying, Put a Label in
your Life**, Pass One Day
Picking Flowers, Practical
Guide to Incorporating
Proverbs in your Life, 100
Ways of Eating Cheese... I
decided to write about MWC's
Kitchen, even if it's not an
easy feeling to express
properly with
just
words.
This room
is a beautiful place, full of
energy, warm magic and life. As
soon as you open the door you can
feel that special atmosphere
which makes of the kitchen the
heart of the house.
The
peaceful feeling in the morning
allows you to wake up slowly,
having a cup of tea or coffee
looking out the enormous windows
at the day's first visitors, or
at the birds and squirrels having
breakfast in the
woods.
When the
activity starts, the room comes
more alive and its walls have
been witness to so many chats,
laughs with different volunteers
from different countries with
different stories and different
ages... who might experience the
excitement of making their first
loaf of bread.***
During
the cooking, the kitchen is the
place that everyone enjoys
visiting, to have a break, chat
and get warm, or to bring some
fresh vegetables from the
garden.
When it
gets dark, it's nice to see from
outside the warmth of the pots in
the fogged up windows and yellow
light, and after dinner it's nice
to go and get warm and enjoy the
big wooden table.
It's very interesting to see old
pictures of the kitchen and see
how many generations have got the
chance of enjoying this room as
we do, and when people return to
it they always agree that this
room still has the same feeling
for them, too.
Bea
*2009's
surprise
a capella hit
**Bea
tree label, pictured
***Bea herself discovered the joy
of bread in the Old Kitchen with
Sophie, and has left a legacy in
the form of an instructional
poster for future budding
bakers
|
Kitchen
Crockpot
South American super-root YACON
available now! Lauded natural
sweetener with other health
benefits, yacon has a mild
sweet flavour. Delicious grated
in salads, it keeps its
crunchy texture when boiled or
baked, ideal for stews
(if not jam-making).
Current
favourite:
yacon-applesauce date and
walnut slice!
|
|
|
Message
The more things
change,
etc.
Celebrating the stubborn,
hopeful resilience
pervasive in this
newsletter and thick in
the air around Monkton
these days, this message
draws from a variety of
voices from the past and
draws on the connections
between our brave efforts
now and the greater
historical work of which
we are a part.
(And it's fun to try to
guess who said
what.)
Friends and
family: Click on the
image to the left
for more group photo
fun (and find Akio
in Open Day
2009)!
Winter
is traditionally
repairs season
here at Monkton,
and so we go
dutifully from
room to room
listing up
everything
needing
attention. We'll
cross off as
much as
possible, we
hope, before the
new year's
programme takes
off with us
dutifully in
tow. In 2010 we
look
optimistically
to grant
applications,
generous support
[see
Friends
Scheme],
much saving of
pennies and good
healthy graft to
help us keep the
place in top
form. (1)
...It does
still surprise us
the time that
giving attention
to detail and
trying to do a
thorough job does
take. An
improvement in
one direction
(refacing the
stonework in the
entrance hall,
for example)
causes a whole
series of things
to suddenly jump
into focus as in
need of
upgrading.
(2)
Living and working at
Monkton Wyld is certainly
demanding both on the
level of relationships
and the sheer amount of
work that is to be done,
but we feel that things
are slowly but surely
falling into place and
that the new venture is
beginning to emerge on
firm foundations.
(3)
Most of
all, so long as we
try not to lose
sight of the
inspiration of our
shared purpose, the
beauty of our
natural
surroundings and
the rare value of
our situation, our
strongest feelings
remain those of
gratitude and
wonder at the
opportunities this
place affords us
all.
(4)
The
influx of people
here over the
past three months
has certainly
helped to sharpen
our awareness
both of our
shortcomings and
our emerging
identity as a
group and one
result of this is
a clear emphasis
on the fact that
for us being a
"community" is
strictly a means
to the
educational ends
we are proposing
and not an end in
itself.
(5)
We
see our life as a
community as important
in underpinning the
values we seek to
promote as an education
centre... In our
experience, willingness
to communicate, share
and resolve personal
conflicts with others
and the community as a
whole is vital to the
maintenance of harmony
and integrity...
(6)
It is thought more
realistic to compete
with one's neighbour
than to co-operate with
him. Yet how essential
co-operation is - in
the home, in industry
and in international
affairs.
(7)
Despite
the amount of work to
do "in situ" we've felt
it important not to
become inward-looking
and isolated and have,
therefore, put quite a
lot of energy into
developing contacts
with the outside and
particularly with local
people [see EVENTS
REPORT]...
(8)
...as well as all
those further afield. We're
especially grateful for
your invaluable support and
unflagging interest in the
oh-so-many lessons that we
learn along the way. Thanks
for being part of this
amazing
project.
(9)
From all of us here - have
a good Christmas and New
Year. We look forward to
keeping in touch in
1983.
(10)
Laurie,
1 Dec 2009
(1, 4, 9),
the
MWC
Book of Common
Practice,
c1995 (6),
MWS founder Eleanor
Urban, c1950
(7)
and the MWC
Newsletter, 20
Dec 1982 (2, 3, 5, 8 &
10)
* All thoughts expressed in
this piece are those of
Laurie and of the sources
cited,
and do not necessarily
reflect those of everybody
at Monkton Wyld Court 100%
of the time.
|
We proudly
announce the launch of the
new and
improved
Friends
of Monkton Wyld
Court scheme in
support of the
Restoration Fund. This
is an ideal
opportunity to give
back and
receive: with your
annual subscription,
enjoy gifts including
a 2010 wall calendar,
Monkton garden seeds
variety pack, B&B
gift certificate,
special discounts on
courses and events
throughout the year
and more! Ideal for
Monktonites of all
ages. Website sign-up
coming soon. Leaflets
available by email,
post or
download.
|
Gardener's
Grove
Rachael
Moss
The
nights have crept in as daylight
has retreated, but winter has
been reluctant so far this year.
Some leaves are still clinging to
their branches, even with the
onslaught of lashing rain and
ferocious winds that have
recklessly torn limbs off the
trees in their wake. Other plants
are also confused: splashes of
yellow have appeared on the banks
as primroses have convinced
themselves that it's spring, a
purple-flowered crocus is bravely
standing up to the storms, and
the buds on our blackcurrant
bushes are ready to burst forth
fresh new growth. The occasional
bee and confused butterfly have
been seen on their search for
elusive flowers even as late as
mid-November, and our lesser
horseshoe bats have resisted
hibernation as they continue to
swoop over the heads of anyone
walking below their roost.
However, the perky robins dancing
about the garden assure us that
it is winter as they flit about
proudly pushing out their red
chests and treating us to
beautiful song before flying off
with helpless juicy earthworms
that have been lifted out of
their dark underground homes with
the clearing of vegetable
beds.
Also
hiding in the soil are rather
sleepy toads in holes, narrowly
avoiding being speared by a fork
prong. These have been gently
removed and carried to the
slightly more plush surroundings
of a small pond in the
polytunnel, complete with a ramp
and sheltered hiding-place where
there appear to be two happy
females with a harem of males,
enjoying the company of a young
frog. These seem to have had
little effect on our resident
slug population, however, happily
enjoying sharing the toads'
living space in-between nibbling
tender lettuce leaves and our
Basella (Malabar or Climbing
spinach). This is a tropical
perennial with edible thick
glossy green leaves that taste
like spinach, and can be grown as
climbing plants or as
bushes.
As the
harvest has wound down, lush
signs of life have diminished in
the walled garden as most annual
plants' lifecycles have come to
an end with the setting of seed,
and the energy of the perennial
plants has been drawn down to the
earth as the dying vegetation is
composted. The dahlias and yacon
(South American plant from the
dahlia family with large edible
tubers) have been covered with
hay and plastic to protect them
from the frost that should arrive
very soon in an icy bitterness;
and the wind-battered runner
beans and their almost horizontal
bamboo stick supports have been
dismantled. The generously
productive courgette plants have
added a good layer to the compost
heap, after having provided us
with courgette dishes and
chutneys galore, whilst a
colourful range of chillies are
hanging drying above the aga in
the kitchen. Apples are lying
stored in our straw bale house to
provide fruit throughout the
winter months. Squashes and
pumpkins of many different
colours, sizes and varieties are
waiting to become hearty soup,
having escaped being made into
Halloween lanterns.
The next
generation of our crops is
assured as we have been saving
seeds from many of our fruits,
vegetables, green manures and
companion plants during the
autumn. Many of these have been
dried whilst others are still
drying in every warm, dry space
available, ready to be sown this
spring or the next. Sorting
through all of these provides our
entertainment for the long winter
nights.
We still
have plenty of carrots, parsnips,
beetroot, celery, salsify,
brussel sprouts, rainbow chard
and kale left to harvest, and
over-wintering onion sets and
garlic have been planted. The
carrots, however, have caught the
attention of mice; these little
rodents haven't been able to
resist the mouth-watering
juiciness of our prime carrots,
and, when not feasting on the
acorns that lovingly lay sown in
the cold-frame, have nibbled away
to their hearts' content. Lifting
and storing the carrots, as we
have done with some of the
beetroot, should save them from
the small creatures'
appetites.
The
harvesting of the tomato plants
has provided space for oriental
salad vegetables that will fill
the tunnels this winter with
leafy greens. Hanging above these
are our Kiwano (Jelly) melons
that have been clubbing us on the
head as we walk past. These are
dangerous-looking fruits with
large spikes, and, as their name
suggests, inside they have
jelly-like flesh. As they are
resistant to fusaruim wilt (a
fungus that attacks roots and
lasts for several years in the
soil; we have had it in both our
tunnels), we hope to be able
graft cucumbers on to these next
spring to prevent the cucumber
roots becoming infected. We also
have a few kohlrabi plants left
to harvest that are looking a
little on the skinny side (they
perhaps needed to be thinned-out
sooner), whilst the turnips are
looking fantastic a little on the
plump side.
Being on
the plump side shouldn't be a
problem for us gardeners this
winter; we have much work to get
on with. Our sweetcorn bed
appears to be a weed paradise;
couch grass and bindweed are
happily munching their way
through all the lovely leaf mould
and cow manure that we provided
earlier this year, which means
deep digging to extract the
deeprooted bindweed. New beds are
being dug, existing beds are
being prepared for the winter,
edges for raised beds need to be
made, an area for medicinal herbs
is being planned, trees need to
be planted, pruned, coppiced, and
felled, hedges need to be
laid, and bramble and
rhododendron need to be tackled.
With the shortening days it's a
battle against the encroaching
night, but a relief to be able to
stop for a cup of tea when the
sun sets at around half past
four, especially while we still
have some delicious blackcurrant
jam left from our bumper
blackcurrant harvest this summer,
a real treat with homemade bread
and a thick layer of
butter!
Our
compost also looks good enough
eat. We have started harvesting
our Indore compost heap. This
composting system consists of a
cubic heap (this particular one
was approximately 6ft sq) built
up in layers (weeds, manure,
seaweed, comfrey leaves and
liquid manure, ash, contents of
the chicken house, kitchen waste,
and a small amount of soil to
inoculate with local
micro-organisms). Because of the
size of the heap it can get to
quite a high temperature and
breaks down quite quickly. We
stopped adding to it in July and
covered it, and now it has
started to provide us with some
beautiful rich compost that is
full of life. We have another,
slightly larger, one on the go
that is building up rapidly. We
should hopefully have a well-fed,
happy crop next year.
The leaf
litter is also building up on the
sides of the road and on our
driveway; this will provide us
with some lovely potting compost
in two years' time when it has
broken down. I just hope that the
winds ease off to allow the
collection of this beautiful
organic matter; I don't wish to
add the chasing of wind-blown
leaves to my exercise
regime!
So let's
hope that the winds settle and
the winter creeps in allowing a
suitable temperature for plants
to continue their cycle properly
and for creatures to hibernate,
whilst we wait for a gentle
spring to encourage the first
bursts of fresh new growth and to
ease us into warmer days to
come.
|
The Drawing
Board
Your
sneak peek at upcoming
courses and
events!
The Low-Impact Compost
Loo:
from Start to
Finish
with Malcolm
Drew
In this wildly anticipated
two-weekend course next
Spring, Malcolm brings the
experience gained and lessons
learned in building the
Ourganics compost toilet to
the Court. With sections
devoted to theory and design,
practical carpentry, and
sourcing materials and tools,
this course will provide
participants with the
confidence and know-how to
make the best of one of our
most underrated (and
inevitable) waste
products!
Pine Hall Film Night
in association with
Axminster's Awareness
Centre
This
monthly event will introduce
a range of thought-provoking
films within a comfortable,
friendly space for
discussion. We expect the
group to develop organically
and will welcome film/topic
submissions and
requests.
One-Day Events
Calendar
Can't
make a residential course?
This multifaceted programme
of one-day events has
something for everyone. From
handicrafts workshops to
lectures, yoga and more, we'd
love to hear what you're
looking
for!
Evenings of Food and
Culture
Combining
our beautiful venue space and
delicious meals and inviting
friends from far and near was
obvious, once someone
suggested it. On January
22nd, Dinner
and Dancing launches
this fresh new range of
evening entertainments for
discerning people of various
tastes. Ideas and audition
tapes welcome. One-man ballet
performance likely later in
the
year.
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The
Kindy
Corner
Children from Treewise
and our Parent and Child
Group joined us for an
evening celebration of
Martinmas on
11 November. We ate
together first- after
hearing the story of St
Martin. We then lit our
lanterns and processed
along the lawn whilst
singing lantern songs. We
all gathered round the fire
and had an enjoyable
evening despite the rain!
The kindergarten parents
ensured that the
kindergarten had some
fundraising activities of
their own during Monkton's
Winter Fayre, including
storytime with the Snow
Queen (pictured above),
making Advent wreaths, a
spinning demonstration, a
mince pie stand and mining
for crystals, not to
mention our candlelit
walnut
boats.
Dear
Parents,
From
January, Monkton Wyld
Kindergarten
will be open three
mornings a week:
Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday from 10.00 -
1.00.
Charlotte
Plummer, our new
kindergarten teacher,
will be assisted by
Caroline
Harris.
Free places
are still available for
children aged 3 - 5,
so please get in touch if
you would like to know
more.
Monkton
Wyld Kindergarten
welcomes children
up to 6 years of
age.
|
Events Report 
|
Since
September's successful Open Day,
our socialcalendar's been
pleasantly full and focused
on the festive. A flawless
tree from Penn Farm was up
and the halls all decked by
mid-November for a
well-received parish
pre-Christmas dinner. Next
was Winter Fair, a triumph
of cooperative effort by
Kindy, Kitchen, Garden and
House. Thanks again to all
the visitors, vendors,
carolers, kids and
volunteers for coming!
Local
theatrical troupe St Gabriels
Strolling Players treated us to a
Pine Hall performance of A West
Country Christmas early this
month, and we look forward to
hosting them again (summer
terrace theatre, anyone?).
Numbers are steady for our
Wednesday Local Lunches (second
Wednesdays of almost every
month-- phone to book!) and Knit
& Stitch (second and fourth).
While the 2010 calendar launch
event at Ida's in Charmouth was
rained out (but we enjoyed it!
Thanks, Val!), Mary's sheer
determination and the kindness of
neighbours brought the calendar
and other Monkton goodies to the
Bridport late night Christmas
shopping do and elsewhere abroad.
And just last week the house was
teeming with merry visions of
Monkton's past when the Court
hosted a dance party reunion for
Monkton Wyld Community members!
Happy
new year, and we look forward to
seeing you here again
soon! |
from
Caroline Walker,
November
2009
It's
time for me to say
goodbye to Monkton
Wyld Court after
nearly two years of
working here. It
has been a fascinating
time getting to grips
with the complexities
of an old established
yet ever changing
organisation, a very
old rambling house,
and a wonderful patch
of land.
Discovering this quiet
corner of West Dorset,
so close to the main
road yet so hidden,
has been a delight;
the walks in the
woods, on paths full
of orchids in the
summer; the seafront
at Lyme, especially
out of season; the
spectacular view over
the Marshwood Vale
from the top of
Pilsdon Pen, which
must be one of the
English countryside's
best: all these have
added to the pleasure
of being here.
Equally rewarding has
been the welcome from
the people who live in
this tiny parish, glad
to see the 'Old Court'
open its doors to them
and offer resources to
the local community.
I've been particularly
proud of the fact that
this year's Harvest
Supper and last year's
and this year's
Christmas Dinner have
been held here.
During the past two
years a steady stream
of international
volunteers of all ages
has come through the
doors wanting to learn
from and offer
something to this
place. It's been great
to get their different
perspectives on the
importance of organic
gardening, the joys
and pains of community
life and exploring
alternative ways of
working and living.
The resident team now
in place have shown
that they are up for
the challenge of
keeping the vision
alive.
I'm sure the Monkton
community will, as it
grows and develops,
continue to evolve and
to explore innovative
ways of living and
learning. It may be
that we will find, in
the very near future,
that it's the only
sustainable option
humanity
has.
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