My time so far at Shillingford

Hi everyone! Finally have got around to sitting down for more than five minutes in order to write something. I've been making loads of notes, so I'm not forgetting anything!

First, a bit of background information about Shillingford Organics:

"Shillingford Organic Vegetable Boxes began life in 1990 when Tim Deane set up Northwood Boxes, credited as the first box scheme in the country, supplying locally grown organic vegetables to friends and neighbours in the village of Christow. In 2000, Tim joined forces with Martyn, Northwood Barton Boxes was born and the business expanded into Exeter.

In 2004 Tim took on a role as part-time technical advisor for the Soil Association thus had less time for growing. At this point the business rebranded as Shillingford Organics. Tim still supplies many crops to the box scheme and the ethics and ideals behind Shillingford Organics are still based on those developed by Tim more than 15 years ago.

Vegetable Boxes - A vegetable box creates a direct relationship between us as growers and you as customers and encompasses more than just the aspect of trade. It gives us a predictable income, but also allows us to grow and sell our produce in a way that does not compromise organic principles and gives us the satisfaction of a sense of community and knowing that the crops we have cared for are going to good homes.

For you it means good fresh produce of a flavour which has been proved to encourage even children to eat vegetables. It also allows you some sense of connection with the source of your food, and the knowledge that you are not underwriting a wasteful and destructive system of transportation.

Once a week we deliver boxes of organics vegetables to designated collection points points in Exeter and the Teign Valley. Each box contains a selection of fresh vegetables, many picked that same day and which vary according to the season. There are a few staple vegetables that appear on a regular basis throughout the year, like potatoes, carrots and onions, but otherwise we try to offer a range and variety of produce to make cooking and eating a pleasurable experience."

There are many benefits to eating organic, and if you go here you can read Martyn Bragg's philosophy on organics, health, ecology, soil, sustainability, and lots more. 

Shillingford have only had Wwoofers since April this year, but so far they seem pleased with how it is going. Before arriving here, Martyn emailed me pictures of the pod I would be staying in....so so nice!

Here is the view from my pod, (Cedar) from when I arrived on the Monday:

View from my pod

My little wood burner
keeps me cosy on a night!

Isn't it amazing?! There is a compost toilet and shower room just a few metres down from the pods and it's really nice. The shower is very hot and it's great to be outside yet sheltered! The pods inside are beautiful too, and I'm a little in love with my wood burner! Wolfie dropped off a massive crate of old scrap wood near the pods so I have a ready supply! 

The first day I was here I was taken right up to the top field with Martyn Godfrey to get some cauliflowers. It was about 7:30am, it was very frosty, and I was so glad to be there as the views were stunning. (See here for the rest of my Shillingford photos!)

The rest of the day was spent sorting onions and unloading a trailer full of crates of squashes and pumpkins...oh, how my back hurt the next day!

I was then put on the job of grading butternut squashes into mini, small, medium and large. They all came with a weight guideline, though the pros tend to do it purely by sight and feel. Some are too small and some too large, and these get put aside either for composting or the staff! We also are checking all the time for signs of rotting or softening...usually at the top of the squash the stalk will show signs of softness. Sometimes it will be marked as well from where it has been laid on the ground, but it's checking whether that will affect the flesh inside. A lot of judgement goes into grading I tell you!

Tea break is at 10am so we all headed to the staff room for tea and loads of toast and chocolate spread! Everyone was really friendly to me, asking me lots of questions and making me feel very much at home.

Tea break over, I then went up to the other field on the back of the tractor with Godfrey and Wolfie to get some swedes. This meant a sharp knife! Basically, the idea is to work down the rows and put out the ones that look good: lob off the bottom part of the root and then the top stalk. Place it down betwen the rows and when enough have been done, get sacks and each gather a particular size, os, mini, small, medium or large. Then it's back to loading up the tractor and heading back. (This was a muddy job and I was glad of my waterproofs!)

That was my first day as Wwoofers only work til 1pm, but I can tell you, I was pretty tired having been on the go since 7am. It's already really interesting being part of a team and a larger scale operation that has to work to deadlines, yet the atmosphere and pace is great. 

There's already so much more to tell you, but that's all for now!

Arrivals and Departures

Hi everyone! Though  I was sad to leave Orcheton Quay, (again) I was looking forward to moving on my journey to head to Exeter.I'm now here at Shillingford Organics. I arrived at lunchtime and have settled into my new accommodation and met some lovely people already, including Mel, the other Wwoofer here at the moment. I've already been shown the 5 polytunnels by Martyn and been told that it's possible I may become the new salad bag girl, (after Mel goes) which is interesting! I've also briefly discussed some Steiner with Iain, and bio-diversity, both of which I think are fascinating subjects. I've met Tilly the dog,  who is so adorable, and seen where the grading and sorting happens. 

I have both signal for my phone and wifi in the staff room so I'm all set to be updating my blog far more regularly for the rest of this month!

The hours here are 7am- 1pm, (gulp!) but it means I'll have plenty of free time to a) write the blog and b) go and do things and explore the area so I can have things to write about in said blog!

I'd love to write more now, but the potatoes are on the boil, the organic sausages need to be cooked and more chatting with Mel needs to be had so you'll have to wait til later for more info I'm afraid!

(Oh and by the way, my accommodation is TO DIE FOR! I've already got my little wood burner on the go, it is toasty warmies!- photos to follow!)

I shall be backtracking in the next few blogs so I include the last week of activities, which include polytunnels, forest gardens and I also want to write up on some articles I've been reading. Hope this sounds appealing! 

Oh, one more thing, please feel free to comment on each post, as I'd love to know what you all think of my escapades!

Halloween and Stinging Nettles

So the last few days have be rather varied...Friday was spent doing bits and bobs, sorting out the fermenting bins ready to be filled on Saturday with fresh apple juice, and then made into cider. (I got to use a pressure washer for the first time: yay!)

Saturday was the final Apple pressing of the year, and it was very busy with all the locals bringing their own apples to press and help out. The first group to arrive were three generations, some visiting from London, some from Bristol, and young children too. They all helped out together and it was so lovely to see. After lunch time, it got busy, and I often found myself with little to do! Everyone pitched in and had a go which was so nice.

One thing I have noticed so far is just how friendly everyone is here. People are interested in what you are doing, quick to offer help and advice and when doing a job, such as apple picking, eager to pitch in, do a good job and work together as a team. It's these qualities that I love and I'm glad to be working in such a healthy environment. 

Sunday was our day off and we had planned to go up to Glastonbury as another Wwoofer had said she would be there. And we managed to randomly meet her in the street at Glastonbury! We arrived around 11:30am and sat down to have tea/hot chocolate and for me to write some postcards. We then went to check out the town, and it really is a beautiful old place. We then thought we'd see the Fayre that was on, though it was smaller than we'd anticipated. There were a few people dressed up and some faerie ears around, but not on a large scale. Lunch was at the Blue Note Cafe, where a yummy Schnitzel burger and a halloumi special burger were consumed with chips. We were also treated to some lovely live music, courtesy of some of the customers, one, dressed in a beautiful blue cloak who played a lute and a guy sporting a great pair of horns played the flute! 

Lola leads the way

After lunch, we decided that while it was still good light, we'd climb the Tor and have a look around. 

We finally made it to the top! (and I realised how UNFIT I am!)  The views were absolutely stunning and it was worth the effort.

Lola, Leah, Barry and Corina seen through St. Michael's Tower

We then found a good pub where there was some live jazz, (always good!) and carved ourselves a mini pumpkin:

We had considered going to a ceremony, but the main one was a bit pricey and you needed to pre-order tickets. When we arrived, it was strictly no dogs and to be honest, the attitude was not friendly. I was rather surprised at this as I had assumed the pagan/witch/alternative scene would be welcoming and all about positive energy, but to be honest, don't go to Glastonbury if you want that. It just seemed to be a load of people who identified themselves strongly in a group and if you wanted in, you had to be like them. (Sorry if this offends anyone from Glastonbury and I'd love to hear your comments about the town).

We finished back near the pub with the good live jazz and observed the youth of the town gathering around the monument. Some were dressed up, some were skateboarding, but they were all having a good time, by the looks of things!

The drive home seemed less longer that I'd thought, and lots of loud singing to classic 'choons' helped! Back by midnight and I'm glad I can tick Glastonbury off my list. However, next year demands a proper Halloween fancy dress effort. Hold me to it people!

Today was a relaxed day. John and I headed over to Riverford to collect some extra pasteurised bottles from Saturday and check the clean up was going well, (thank you Tim!). We then pootled about, dropping things off, picking other things up and finished with some delicious pasties from the Riverford Farm Shop. The afternoon was spent weeding, and getting stung by nettles, (I don't wear gloves). I figure that this will be good for me as it helps with arthritis, and my joints have been complaining recently! I also rubbed the traditional dock leaf on it and that seemed to help for a while. I then helped Barry with the compost toilet by "planting" some willow stalks around the sides to decorate....I'm interested to see if they will grow!

Supper tonight was interesting, as we realised the gas that had been supplying the cooker has run out. Solution: throw a load of wood into the wood stove and cook on that. I was so happy, because in my opinion, things like that just make sense!  And for the first time in my life, I have genuinely slaved at a hot stove! Brilliant!