My Last Day at Orcheton

Today was my last day at Orcheton! I couldn't believe that the last two weeks had gone so quickly. Time really does fly when you're having fun. Since we had done some pretty heavy work yesterday, today had a more relaxed vibe, and we were all just pottering around. Barry and Leah were finishing off the door and extras for the compost toilet and Corina and myself decided to clear the covered area linking the house to the workshop. This was the usual dumping ground for everything, so it was incredibly satisfying for me to clear all the stuff away and sort all the remaining bits. (My cleaning obsession is still healthy then!)

After we worked away, we set off for the cinema, having decided a few days ago that it would be good to get away and have a change of scene. Sadly, we had to leave Lola the dog but we made sure we wouldn't be too long away.

When we got to Kingsbridge we all had a mooch around. Since starting my travelling, I've suddenly become far more appreciative of charity shops, (and trust me, I was already very appreciative of them before, living above one for two years at uni). When you are no longer earning any money and living in the countryside, it doesn't really matter what you look like and what you wear, so when I saw a nice (and useful) top for £1, I thought...now, that's pretty good. Leah found some trainers for under a fiver, and Barry grabbed some trousers for less than £3. So we all got what we needed for far less than brand new, with no cost to the environment, and giving to charity at the same time. My conclusion? Charity Shops: visit yours today!

After the cinema, we admittedly pigged out on take away pizzas, (shocking but you can't be good all the time) and then we headed back home. As it was the last night for Corina and me, we thought that it would be fun to make a fire outside and sit around, play some music and sing along. Barry kindly provided the live music and his own compositions, (which we all loved by the way) and it was great to sit outside and just be. That evening was exactly how I'd hoped my wwoofing time would be...fire, music, good people around me. Perfect and a great finish to the time at John's. 

The next morning was a flurry of exchanged emails and promises to stay in touch, before the long drive to Lewes for Bonfire Night. I was dropping off Corina at Brighton on the way, (save fuel: car share!) and the journey was long, complicated by someone rear ending me at a roundabout! No one was hurt, apart from my car...*sniff*

I finally arrived at Lewes after a sea mist filled journey, all ready for the Lewes Bonfire Spectacular....but that's another story...... :)

The Chainsaw (Bramble) Massacre

So I haven't blogged for a while, sorry about that guys, been waaaay to busy having fun! I'm going to break up the posts by event, or I'd be here typing for ages, and no one wants that!

So, in chronological order: Brambles, and the destruction of... 

Having finished up the apple pressing stuff for the year, it was time to start on the Forest Garden, (see here), which will be situated beyond the greenhouse and vegetable area. The fencing guy Steve had already started a cracking job putting up a new rabbit proof fence* and it was time to clear the fence down by the river ready for new fencing and planting. Unfortunately, there were A LOT of brambles and it was looking to be a big job.

John first showed me how to maintain a chain-saw, by using a hand file to sharpen the chain and how to remove, clean and replace the blade. After that, we set off across the fields, over the electric fence and over some barbed wire fence to the brambles, John with the chain-saw and me with the bramble hook. (I grew to love the bramble hook: it's got a sharp blade like a scythe and great for hacking down strands). John was formidable, (at the age of 80+) and though I found clearing away the cut brambles pretty darn tiring, I had a bet with myself that I couldn't stop until John stopped. Because, well, it's just embarrassing. We broke for lunch pretty early, and we both had a little snooze for recuperation. Then back to it. It's a pretty simple job, but physically demanding. As the light began to fade, we finished up and assessed the job. Tomorrow there's a large patch that have grown both sides so big mission to get cleared! 

When we got back, Corina, the previous Wwoofer, had called to say that she had managed to get a hitch to the local petrol station, so I went to collect her in my car, (it's times like this that I'm glad for the pootle machine to get around). After supper, John was out so us young 'uns had a movie night in front of the wood stove. Toasty! After a hard day's work and a few films, I definitely slept well that night.

The following day, it was Brambles: Round 2. This time, John had delegated Bramble attacking to Barry and myself, while Leah and Corina were on vegetable patch clearing. This time, we had not just a chain-saw, but a hedge trimmer as well. Oh yeah, these brambles were going down! And of course, safety googles, hard hats and gloves as well. We also took all the equipment we would need for the day, including petrol and oil for the machines, screw drivers and so on to take apart the chain-saw and the trusty bramble hook and the manure fork for lifting the brambles. A lot to drag over two fields, but hey, it's all about manual labour.

When it came to cutting down the brambles, we managed to do a pretty fine job. It's all about team work! I tried the hedge trimmer, but I was too weak and girly to lift it high enough to get the brambles! (oh the shame!!) But I did get pretty nifty with the chainsaw and had great fun hacking away at them all. Oh, did I mention that there were two sapling trees that had grown into the brambles as well. They were fun to cut down, and we made sure to keep the logs for firewood. Oh, and did I also mention the sloe trees? They are spiky! Not helpful when already dealing with prickly brambles. 

Oh, and did I also mention that though it was the beginning of November, clearing brambles is the sweatiest job EVER? By the end of the day, we were both lying back on the wet grass just to cool off. Maybe next time it would be an idea to bring drinks and snacks....

When we had finally finished we went to inspect the Saxon wall that Barry had been told about. It was old...and big...

There were well established trees growing through this wall and it's amazing to think how long some of these walls have been here and are still standing strong. How many of the walls we build today will still be standing in 100 years, let along longer? This is why I love traditional buildings, such as straw baled houses. Things that are built to last and far more satisfying. Having said that, temporary and transportable buildings, such as yurts are just as tempting!

Lunch time today was a delicious fresh salad accompanied by the freshest and tastiest herbal tea I've ever had. Corina and Leah had collected some fresh nettle and mint sprigs during their gardening and made a pot of tea. It was so nice to drink a real herbal tea and it resolved me to make sure that when I have a place to call my own, I shall have a working herb garden instead of herbal tea bags. (The taste just isn't the same). 

The end of the day was followed by another film night! Sometimes, it's nice to have a break from thinking as all the physical work also tires your brain as well. Though bramble clearing really is simple work, you find you are problem solving constantly, and using spacial awareness, logic, reasoning etc plus the physical side of things. That's why on evenings, it's nice to switch off a little!

***NOTE***

Rabbit proof fences: I was told by John, that, unlike previous thinking, it is not necessary to dig the fencing down deep but in fact curve the lower level away from the fence and bury it. THe rabbit will approach the fence, try digging and reach the wire far faster. It won't be able to get deep and give up.

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!