Straw Baled House!

What a day! Barry and Leah have been helping out at Cuckoo Farm, and so I went along today to lend a hand. Unfortunately today was a messy day so there are no photos, you'll just have to use your imagination! I did get covered in lime plaster though!

Paul and Zoe have built themselves a beautiful farmhouse, using the traditional straw bale technique and today we were working on the end wall, which needed some TLC. Paul was a great teacher and very patient with my rather poor skills. First, we got a pair of gloves, (much needed ) and started by mixing up some hydraulic lime and straw for filling in bits of the wall. This appeared harder than it looked as it relied on getting the right ratio of water to lime....but I got to use the biiiig mixer! I did find that a lot of the skill was the same as baking...different ingredients, measuring, mixing, smoothing plaster on, just like making and icing a cake really! When the mixing had been done, I then was shown by Paul how to make some wooden pegs to help pin down the chicken wire over the bales. This just helps with the structure and application of the lime. 

Me and shaping wood....well, if there's a Vampire attack in the future I can kind of make sharp stakes, but don't hold your breath! Paul, having made probably thousands of wooden pegs, made it look terribly easy but by the end, mine weren't too bad! Paul is a very patient teacher and gave me lots of pointers on how to hold the knife for the best effect. We discussed how his generation all had pen knives growing up and I lamented my lack of skills! 

Having finished the pegs the next step was to apply a coat of lime plaster over the bales. This was one of the best bits, as the sensorial experience is very enjoyable. It called to mind an article I've recently read in the journal Resurgence, (an excellent magazine and available here). The article discusses the importance of re-engaging with raw materials, and how "the process of working with the hands allows us to tap into wisdom that transcends the constraints of time, place or language." I found it calming and satisfying to smooth on this "slop", (technical term!) and know I am helping towards a building that should hopefully be there for many years to come. 

All too soon it was time for lunch, and a simple but delicious meal it was too. Many slices of toast and soup later, it was time to get back to work. This meant for me to finish the top of the wall and the corner, which was rather tricky as you have to reach up under the thatch and hold the bucket of slop and hold the ladder and keep your balance. I managed though, you'll be pleased to hear!

After that it was on to plastering. I think I've found my new vocation! Plasterer Liz...what do you think?! I seemed to get the hang of it ok using my 'towel and hawk' so Barry and I got going on the end wall, just trying to smooth over all the dips and bumps so the finished result is pleasing to the eye. This actually is annoyingly tricky due to the unlevelled surface but we didn't do a bad job and then Paul came along and smoothed it over as it was drying quickly.

All too soon it was time to finish up and have a final cup of tea and a biscuit. Ever since I'd seen the Grand Designs episode with Ben Law, I have been interested in straw bales houses. I think they are beautiful, naturally regulate the temperature so they are cool in summer and warm in winter, and there's never any stale and stuffy air. I would love to build my own house and Paul suggested Canada was the way forwards as you get A LOT more land for your money. He also showed us this book, which is BEAUTIFUL and so inspiring. I'm tempted to head over to Canada now. 

I suppose I come from a 'wood' background, (my grandfather worked for the Forestry Commission for around 20 years,) and his philosophy was:

"My forestry philosophy has not altered in the 65 years that I have been in practice: it is that wood is a renewable resource, and woodlands and forests should be managed to produce the highest quality timber of which the site is capable; and that as a general rule when trees have reached their prime maturity, they should be felled to live on for many years in such form that their quality dictates; as oak beams supporting the roof of a cathedral; as fine craftsman-made furniture; as a framework for a house."(written in 1995)

Unfortunately, I am coming to my interest too late, as he died in 2001. I now deeply regret that I didn't have the chance to pick his brain in relation to so many things but I hope that now I can carry on the interest and passion on wood and general conservation. 

A Day Off means a trip to Cornwall

Well girls and boys, I am mighty tired today! This could be due to one of two things:

- watching The Road last night in the caravan followed by a strong wind making the caravan rock...this doesn't help you sleep, for future reference

OR

- so much fresh sea air, (and a bit of driving) today.

Or maybe it's just a mixture of both.

Well, anyway, John had kindly given me the day off and luckily, it turned out to be good weather. Yesterday was a rainy day so we did a mixture of inside jobs: bottle washing, to be used for apple juice, and stewing apples to be stored, ready for a nice winter dessert. Aside from that, there really wasn't much else required, so I took myself and Lola out for a walk to the beach and back. It took a little longer than anticipated but we arrived back just as the light was starting to fade.

As today was free, and since I've not been in this area before I thought I would take the opportunity to sniff out what Cornwall is like so set off this morning with excitement and the plan to visit Newquay. 

I chose Newquay because it has "world famous" beaches and also, and perhaps a more telling reason, it is where the Celtic Sheepskin company have their factory and also their shop. And I have been lusting after a pair of their boots for, well, too long. But more on that later!

I arrived at Newquay around noon and so parked up the car and followed my nose to the sea. The sun was shining which always helps and looking across Newquay Bay, it all seemed very nice. However, I didn't fall in love straight away. 

After having a quick look there I turned around and headed over to Fistral Beach, having quickly Googled Newquay on arrival. I took the path through the golf course, following behind a family of mum, son and daughter, all in wetsuits and flip flops. You can't ignore that surfing is a really big deal here!

I then arrived at the beach and made my way down the dunes, half wishing I had either kept my wellies on, (I'd changed into my "mud free trainers" by that point), or braved it with flip flops. However, once you get down there the sand is pretty firm. Looking around me there were families with wind barriers and beach tents set up, and children happily building sandcastles, (I presume half term holidays are still going here).

In front of me were loads of surfers, and occasionally you would hear some obscure instructions being shouted through a loud speaker. 

I turned left and set off walking, before settling for a while at the bottom of the dunes with my back against a post. Looking around, again, I wasn't particularly taken with Newquay...so far it was just a beach, like any I've seen up North. 

Having sat there for a while, I decided to explore more of the town and grab some lunch. And this is where I started to fall in love. I headed first down Fore Street which is a little sleepy and with some nice terraced houses. I then came to the larger built up area of Newquay and, I'll admit, it started to feel like a generic highstreet. I could see New Look, Dorothy Perkins, etc. But having spent some time just strolling along here, I began to get a feel for the place. Maybe it was the countless surfing shops selling everything you could possibly need, or maybe the pasty shops, each selling Cornwall's best pasty ever, but something about the people and the place got to me.

I wouldn't say that there is a Newquay "type" of people: sure, you get the surfer dudes, with bleached scuzzy hair and sunnies welded to their faces, but you also get the chavs and the mini- emo kids too, just like any large town or city. I think that it was a general feel of the place...there was no rush, and it busy but not stressful. No one pushed past me to get somewhere important and listening in to conversations was pleasant as they were all friendly to each other and didn't moan or groan. 

On my way back to the car, with my "genuine Cornish pasty", (well, when in Rome...), I popped into Cafe Irie for a take away tea and if you do visit Newquay, I'd go here for lunch or a drink. It reminded me of a cross between York's Evil Eye and Edinburgh's Forest Cafe, in that it was cozy and relaxed, but I'm sure you got some regulars there! 

I must admit, after just a few hours, I was reluctant to leave this charming place, but the call of potential new boots dragged me away. Just on the outskirts of Newquay is an industrial estate, and this held the treasure of Celtic. The shop staff were very friendly, and though I was expecting to umm and ahh about why type of boot to get, I quickly settled on this pair. I was surprised that it only took me half an hour to choose, but it really makes a difference trying them on. And oooo, they are soooo comfy and so worth it. (That's what I keep telling myself anyway!) I later worked out that cost per wear is about 14p, (based on wearing them around 4 times a week for 5 years), plus, the company offers a re-soling service, AND they are machine washable. So there!

Heading back to Orcheton, I took a different route that would take me past St Austell and around the Eden Project. It was a pleasant journey as I got to see more of the countryside though the narrow lanes as it got dark were not as nice!

Arrival back at Orcheton Quay was met with freshly prepared supper courtesy of John and having written this up I'm feeling pretty sleepy!

Time to head back to the caravan and maybe start to wear in my new boots?

Tomorrow holds the promise of stalk baled cottages so cannot wait. 

My First Apple Pressing

So today was the day I learnt the basics of apple pressing. And I shall kindly tell you, should you ever want to have a go!

First, you need some basics:

• apples, (well, duh!)
• a 'pulper' for mushing up the apples, (mushing is my 'technical' term for it)
• a press, with frame, fabric and dividers
• tubs for catching the juice
• bottles for keeping the juice, (and funnels and sieves)
• if you want to pasteurise the juice, a big hot tub of water

So, first we arrived at Riverford, at Wash Farm. John is Guy's father, and Guy started up Riverford by creating a box scheme locally. Over time it has grown and grown and now supplies around 47,000 boxes a week to homes around the UK from regional sister farms. Our pressing station has been set up outside the Field Kitchen,(winner of the Best Ethical Restuarant at the Observer Food Monthly Awards for the second year in a row!) and this meant we had a few interested observers throughout the day. 

As I was new to pressing, the other Wwoofers Leah and Barry showed me the ropes. First, set up, as the system flows naturally and it helps to be sorted! So we washed out the tubs and buckets and sorted everything out. 

Leah feeding the pulper the apples: occasionally they get stuck,
and this required the 'pokey stick' to encourage them

You need a big shallow tub filled with water for the apples to be poured into. This means they can have a final rinse and if any have gone bad, then they can go in the 'rejects' tub. The apples are fed through the machine and come out the other end into the bucket as pulp. As Leah is doing this, I'm setting up the press ready for the first tub. This involves placing the frame, (very important) in the centre of the press and laying out the fabric. I then pour the (cold!) pulp into the frame, spread it evenly, then fold the fabric over, (sides first, then back and front flaps). The frame is removed and a divider is placed on top. This is repeated 6 times so the piles is high enough to reach the top of the press. Don't forget at this point to have a second tub under the exit point on the press and this pulp is juicy people!! 

The press: the 4th layer being added and
the tub is already filling up!

Next the heavy top is placed over the stack of fabic wrapped pulp, and a plank slid between the frame to hold it all in place, (we don't want this being knocked over). A small block of wood is placed on top of this, and a hand jack is positioned between this and the frame. A few moments of elbow grease and the pump has pushed down the press. Remember! Keep an eye on your tub at this point! Then remove the pump and place a thicker block on top of the previous one. Then...get working with the elbow grease!

Soon you will have quite a few tubs of freshly pressed apple juice. However, there will still be bits of residue so onto the next stage....bottling.

Our 'system'

For bottling, you need bottles, a funnel, a sieve and a jug. From there, it's really quite simple. Scoop the jug into the juice, and pour it into the bottle via the sieve and funnel. We currently have some spare milk bottles, and so these were used for the fresh apple juice. We made sure we left a gap at the top, in case they will be frozen in the future. Some juice is also pasteurised for a longer life and these are stored in glass bottles. Today we had a variety of (mainly) wine bottles, but there were also some gin and vodka bottles. (You know who you are!) I like this, as I see no reason in recycling glass bottles to be made into....glass bottles. This cuts out the process and saves energy, (always good). The bottles used today have already been cleaned and soaked to remove the labels.

So...pasteurising! This involves filling up the bottles, (again, leave a gap at the top!) and sorting them into small crates, (these hold around 6/7 depending on the shape of the bottle). They then get fed into the big tub of water that's been slowing heating all morning. (Here the tub is resting on four washing machine drums that now contain wood fires). The aim is for the juice to reach a safe temperature of 83oC, killing off any nasties and this means it can be stored for 6 months with the lid unloosened. NOTE...don't cork them at this point, because the pressure of the water will have the corks flying off in all directions! (Also, be gentle, glass will crack if suddenly submerged!)

One of the helpers checks the temperature

When they have reached the correct temperature, they need to be removed and wearing rubber gloves, they all need a rinse and corking. A rinse because they do foam and bubble a bit and so they get dirty, and corking, well, that's obvious!

Today, we were lucky to have a team of helpers on a course learning about food from start to finish. This meant lots of delegation! Some learnt to overcome their fear of fire by topping up the wood for the pasteurising tub, others refined their pouring skills and some worked on sorting apples and working the press. They seemed to have a good time and enjoyed sampling the "fruits" of their labour and what was important was working as a team.

We also had some who had brought their own apples and used the press. One couple will be using their juice to make cider, (add yeast and a bag of sugar per 25l and give it 8 weeks). They needed to use some of our apples to make up the layers for the press and so were charged 50p per extra litre. Bargain! (All the proceeds from the sale of the juice go completely and directly to Oxfam). They also advised on using fresh picked apples, as even a few weeks of sitting around affects the taste and process. 

What I did notice today was the many connections to Montessori activities. For a start, pouring using a funnel and a sieve is straight from the Practical Life shelves! Sorting apples being another and generally, working in a clear and systematic fashion made me realise again the connections of "practical life" activities and real life ones! But this was one of Montessori's ideas: to equip children will skills that can be put to use. Unfortunately nowadays, we don't need these skills as we can wander down to the supermarket and grab a bottle from the shelf. Some even can get their bottles delivered to their door. I think Tobias Jones is right, as he recently wrote in the Observer magazine, "the reason there's an epidemic of depression in contemporary life is that we all find it far too easy to survive: it's such a doddle to find food, to warm ourselves, to clothe ourselves. We live surrounded in incredible comfort and yet are completely removed from our primitive instincts. That, presumably, is why survivalism and post-apocalyptic fiction and films are so incredibly popular, and why, I guess, there's an unprecedented craze for bushcraft: they all take us back to a simpler life that many of us secretly long for, a life in which we struggle for the basics and forget all the ephemera." (The Observer Magazine, 24.10.10, p.86).

Today I observed people literally getting their hands dirty, and you know what, they loved it. The satisfaction of getting to drink something you have made yourself, from scratch, and knowing exactly what ingredients have been used, is vast and far better that anything you can buy off the shelf. And I challenge you to find a taste that matched the juice we made today. It really is 100% apple juice and NOTHING ELSE! We also used many varieties and so the taste can change every time, which is great! 

Even better is that when the press is finished and the pulp is shaken out from the fabic, so they can be re-used, the pulp is then placed in the skip, ready for the cows to eat. So there is no waste. And you can't get much better than that now, can you.

A Sunny Day in Devon

Today was pretty much the ideal day that I'd imagined Wwoofing would be. Which made me very glad that I'd decided to do this! Having arranged the night before with Barley, one of the other Wwoofers, to go for a walk, we met at 9am for some porridge before we set off. Barley had seen that at 12:30pm that day, there would be a low tide at Erme Mouth, and so we could cross over and walk a circular route back.

Erme Mouth estuary

Though there was a slight frost that morning, the sun was shining with all its might and so we set off at a brisk pace towards the sea. Arriving at Erme Mouth was wonderful. The views were truly stunning and the atmosphere was great. Due to it being half term and a lunch time low tide, many families had come, bringing their dogs and there were a few horse riders too. Even someone with a kite! 

 When we first arrived, the water was still rushing out so we went for a wander up the river a little and couldn’t resist taking lots of pictures! There were dogs rushing in and out of the water and it was just so pleasant! We then headed back to the edge nearest the sea where there was a large stretch of sand and saw a few people on the other side of the rather deep water raking for something, cockles, perhaps?

We then decided to brave it and headed to the shallower part and wade through, sans boots and socks. GULP! Let’s just say my legs were PINK PINK PINK after the bracing (freezing) water! But you know what, I thought I was a bit chilly before then, but for the rest of the day I felt much warmer. I must be acclimatising! However, my trousers did get wet, even though I rolled them to the knee. I was pleased, (and rather smug) to notice that being 100% cotton they really dried out quickly and I’m tempted to buy another pair online as a back up. I can always get some thermals to pop under as they are quite thin.

After shoes and socks were returned gladly to the feet, we set off up the path on the other side, having been told by Leah, one of the other Wwoofers, that there was ice cream at the top. And we thought, if there’s ice cream, there’s bound to be tea. And lo and behold! A teahouse! 

A straw owl sits next to
the right chimney

Reaching it, we both decided that hot chocolate was in order and so that was bought, along with a hot pasty for me...just what I needed! As we finished, Leah, Barry,  (and Lola the dog) joined us, so more tea was bought. Barley and I then set off on our circular walk to head back to Orcheton Quay. But first, having purchased postcards and stamps, we wandered into Mothecombe to post said cards. This was a very pretty little place, and Barley drew my attention to the habit of making straw birds as part of the thatch. Having found the post box, we then set off on our circular walk. It was great: beautiful weather, stunning views and a good walking companion to chatter to. We managed a good route avoiding all main roads until the very end and so were back just in time for a cup of tea. 

acres of blue sky....bliss!

I did notice that my hips were so achy and it’s clear that I’ve been sitting in a chair in front of a laptop far far too much! It was nice to get out and make something worthwhile out of the day though and a great way to be introduced to the area. And here is the route we took!

*Note* More photos will be uploaded to the album soon!

Starting my Life as a Land Girl

Well, I got here! 

As some of you know, I had planned to arrive here a few days ago, Monday 18th to be precise, but on the Friday, my car decided to leak fuel. So obviously I had to get that sorted. Now, part of me thought that this was a sign to be fully independent and set off with my rucsack and nothing else, but the realistic part of me, (the part that's never been camping, barely gardened and had generally no idea about rougher living), thought that was a little foolish and that a car would really be quite useful. So, I waited...and waited. Finally the part arrived, the car was fixed and I set off on the Saturday, packed and raring to go.

View of the M5 when stuck in the traffic

Well, that's not entirely true....I will admit that nerves did start to get the better of me....did I have the right clothes, what will it be like, will I enjoy it, what on earth was I thinking doing this, I should be getting a job, not galavanting off!

But the day dawned and as I packed up my car and made a thermos for my tea, I felt pretty good. Tearful farewells done, I headed down far too many motorways.

Approximately 350 miles later, 4 tea stops, one lunchtime snooze in a car park, a few traffic jams and lots of rain later and I was there. 

When I arrived everyone else was out so I did a quick circuit of the property and found the caravan I was staying in. More importantly, I found a mug and a kettle and sat down to read my book and wait with my tea.

Snug in my caravan!

Everyone else arrived shortly after and after introductions were made, and more tea was consumed, I headed to the caravan to settle in. 

A simple but tasty supper later and I headed to bed early, absolutely wiped out from driving all day. 

Preparations

So I figured that I should try and sort myself out and get some useful things. Having done far too much research I have acquired the following:

• A Vango Supernova 5000 sleeping bag, (bought online rather cheaply at www.simplyhike.co.uk; great service that let you purchase without registering and you could track your delivery, a site I'd recommend a look at)
• A Vango Fitzroy 70 +10 rucsack, (bought at a great bargain from Blacks: half price in the sale, and then with a voucher that my work had given to me as a leaving present, it cost me the grand total of £9.99. Not bad at all)
• a super absorbent microfibre towel, (again in the sale at Blacks)
• hand washing flakes
• LED torches, (including a head torch for reading)
• baby wipes (always useful)
• a travel hairdryer, (perhaps a luxury but a cold head usually means a cold for me)
• clothes: long sleeves, t-shirts, thermal top, jeans, cotton trousers, good top/jacket, and waterproofs
• far too much other stuff!

I already had some good walking boots and wellies so it was bits and bobs that I needed to sort. Time will tell what I need and what was stupid to get so I'm sure this post will end up with plenty of edit notes!

One thing that has already proved a good purchase, (Day 1) are my last minute buy of cotton trousers from Gap. I happened into the store on the off-chance that there might be something useful in the sale and I found these: tuxedo khaki pants. Now, these just seemed to me to be made for gardening: 100% cotton and roomy enough to stretch and bend. Perfect! Today they were tested as I waded across a low tide estuary with these rolled up. They did get wet, but dried in under 20 minutes in the sun so I'm feeling pretty smug! And instead of £35, they cost me a mere £6.99. Wish I'd got two pairs now!

That's all for now, I shall come back and write a full list of things one should take at a later date when I've tried and tested my stuff, but for now, there you go!