More Bargains, hard work and international Rambles of a Busy Woman

Warm weather and excitement, but quickly remembered how things can change.
Lots to do with the environment this spring , to grow more food we need to be more aware of our open spaces, Calderdale Council has put a cleaner greener safer environment as a top priority for it communities.
We made international news with the Todmorden dog poo tree
Just to let people know how barking mad it is to pick up then chuck in a tree!

All this removed from one flower bed on the wharf – crazy.

On Sunday we had a clear up of the area known as Balti steps, a wonderful short cut from the town to the moors . The council provide two community wardens to help out and all the clean up gear, good job they did as we found a sharps box complete with sharps , someone had got the right idea..almost!

All my seeds are now in , several weeks late. It feels good to have them in before the forecast snow arrives.
This year I have tried again to mark them better and remember what where.
I was going to take my trees in dustbins out this year but have decided to continue with them and feed them chicken poo essence to see how they fare.

How proud I am of my grown from seed rhubarb they are doing really well.

I have indulged in some red wine enthused internet shopping, and usually I am filled with shame and remorse, not so this time.
I bought galvanised food and water containers for the birds, and Poultry keeping for the disabled, as well as some other hen beauty products. No body responded re the big man so my next solution was to swap my little hens with bigger ones , they don’t seem to mind the ardour and are good layers.
Each term a different school hatches out my hens eggs, for the first time I get to see the babies , I am having the chicks for a holiday on Thursday, I bought a pet carrier to put them in and am quite keen to see how easy they are or not. I will post pictures of Napoleon’s off spring next week.

Jam jars are us , every day brings a delivery , I love seeing what people eat.
Bought myself all the jam queen kit I could think off.

My roof top bags only lasted a season , but the corrugated soil warmers are still good this year.

I bought all these cups and plates to match for £6 ready for our incredible scone making activities, and fund-raisers.

We have had a hectic time with contacts and talks , interviews and queries form other groups.
Pam went to Derry and wowed them , some Derry men are coming over to see us very soon. Before she went she opened a local food event at Howarth, every body seems to understand the need to go local now , not just a bunch of old hippies, its survival for the future in our beautiful region.

I did an interview to Swiss guy, in USA, Jaan Orvet, the Swiss seem to like Tod?
We have had 3 queries in a week form NZ, to me NZ is the land of milk and honey, we are going to do a NZ radio programme.
Estelle is in contact with Native American Cheyenne River Sioux tribe who have been following our progress, if the Elders agree they will be starting their own scheme and sending us information and photos.
We were also invited to speak to a group at the science institute in Bangalore India, which we sadly had to decline.
Its amazing how many folk just call to say what they are doing and thanks for the inspiration.

The London conference plans are being managed by Susie Hay our woman in the big city .

We have teamed up with a young peoples art project, tonight I am making them bacon sandwiches from a Todmorden pig. Some might say there’s no art in that!

We have at long last appointed a web archivist, and one of the first jobs will be to track the projects and world contacts.

Previous ramblings here