The summer months are a time for meeting up with friends for me.......winters here can make it very difficult to make and keep arrangements to see folk, while trying to juggle challenging weather, reduced energy levels due to the short days, farming and Elder care commitments. Our (now pretty reliable) internet connection means that I can keep in good contact with people all the year round, but leave actually seeing people who don't live locally to the lighter, better weather months..
Britt and Mart's allotment (Pic by Britt Swain) So, a couple of weekends ago I went to visit my lovely friend Britt in York, and she took me to see here newly aquired allotment...Britt and Mart are quite new to growing and producing their own food, but they are already achieving some amazing things. They've worked so hard over the last year to transform the neglected, overgrown plot they took on, into beautiful space where not only are they growing all kinds of fruit, veg and herbs, but they have created areas that they can relax and have picnics too.
Then yesterday, Alan, one of my permaculture friends and fellow Diploma apprentice, drove down from the depths of North Cumbria to hang out with e here at the farm...he hadn't been before so I loved showing him around and letting him experience for real aspects of the farm he'd only ever heard me talk about or take pictures of before.....Alan's just about, (in fact probably is doing, as i'm typing ), to create his own food growing area in the garden of the cottage he moved to earlier this year, which is just fab!
Over the next few weeks and months i'll be seeing other friends who are also producing their own food, fuel and fibre for themselves others too......for me being able to share our stories, highs, lows, ideas, dreams and visions about growing, gardening, and keeping animals ...and to actually be in the present in all our different growing and farming places is a really special part of my life. The reasons why we grow our own food are many and varied, but one of the common factors is the fact that it provides so much amazing nourishment and care for ourselves ...physically, emotionally, spirtially, socially.....
I feel really happy, motivated and energised following Alan's visit here yesterday, I felt the same as I left Britt's in York...and I know I will continue to do so as my summer meet ups keep happening x
Then yesterday, Alan, one of my permaculture friends and fellow Diploma apprentice, drove down from the depths of North Cumbria to hang out with e here at the farm...he hadn't been before so I loved showing him around and letting him experience for real aspects of the farm he'd only ever heard me talk about or take pictures of before.....Alan's just about, (in fact probably is doing, as i'm typing ), to create his own food growing area in the garden of the cottage he moved to earlier this year, which is just fab!
Over the next few weeks and months i'll be seeing other friends who are also producing their own food, fuel and fibre for themselves others too......for me being able to share our stories, highs, lows, ideas, dreams and visions about growing, gardening, and keeping animals ...and to actually be in the present in all our different growing and farming places is a really special part of my life. The reasons why we grow our own food are many and varied, but one of the common factors is the fact that it provides so much amazing nourishment and care for ourselves ...physically, emotionally, spirtially, socially.....
I feel really happy, motivated and energised following Alan's visit here yesterday, I felt the same as I left Britt's in York...and I know I will continue to do so as my summer meet ups keep happening x