Permaculture in Mid Wales newsletter

Roz Brown tony at cultureshop.org.uk
Wed Sep 7 22:16:22 BST 2011 

To view and save this newsletter as a Word document with active
weblinks, please open the attachment:


Mid Wales Permaculture Network
Newsletter September 2011

Cookouts, chemistry sets, and Cider Vinegar ­ not to mention FITS and
Killer Manure


Greetings all. This is a long overdue bumper update after a hectic
summer. The early onset of autumn gales has forced me indoors to some
actual work ­ as a change from all the frantic culinary preserving of
the seasonal fruit and veg glut. If, like me, you are awash with
nasturtiums, you may find the article on how to make Poor Man’s Capers
helpful:
click here



Educationists, including the Home Ed. Brigade, will want to get
heavily into seed collecting right now ­ like the rest of us. For
other curriculum ideas relating to seed saving and seeds in general,
see the hugely informative article in the Members section:
click here
(note: this link will only work if you have registered on the site:
solution=register now)


For those of you who do not already know - we are on Twitter, you may
like to follow HQs progress this season as we negotiate the
technicalities of lacto-fermentation (sauerkraut to you), and the
serendipity of kitchen discoveries that lead ever onward and end with
cheesecake. Regular snippets (tweets) on the doings in the Nannerth
garden and kitchen are there as a log that I actually DO something and
can reassure myself from time to time that I have achieved anything -
also as a pointer to potentially useful ideas for others.
click  here



This web update has some exciting contributions: Michele Fitzsimmons,
Permaculture goddess from Cardiff, shares her thoughts on creating a
perennially edible landscape to feed you eye and your family.
Michele’s inspirational activities currently include another pick,
cook and feast event to raise money for overseas Permaculture.  I see
that this year’s offering allows lucky participants to pick the last
knockings of seasonal abundance at the Edible Landscaping HQ and
prepare a three course feast to enjoy at the end of the day, washed
down with E Ls own wine. Last year we did a mini version of this at
Nannerth Ganol where a dozen of us picked, prepared and cooked a
stupendous lunch outside. A nice idea for something to do with a bunch
of friends in your own garden?  We used one of Trish MacCurrach’s
kotliches over an open fire, and a good time was had by all. To read
more:
click here


Julia Briscoe’s first complementary healthcare salvo on Molasses is
now on general release in the main Guest Writers section,
click here
and her second piece on the health benefits of Cider Vinegar is now
showing in Members Preview ­ not a registered member yet? Register now
and take a look at what Cider Vinegar can do for you.
click here

Dr Anthony Cheke, an old friend from Oxford, has written an insightful
review of a new book on invasive species. Anthony has done 30 years of
official monitoring work on Mauritiius and Reunion where introduced
species have caused a lot of problems for  indigenous species. His
observations make salutary reading for Permaculturists who are often
rather keen on selecting plants from other parts of the world to put
in their Forest Gardens. Think before you plant could be an important
motto for us all.
click here

Ken Moon, our Energy writer, takes a look at the complexities and
repercussions of FITs (Feed in Tarrifs) and how the system to date and
planned could mean that homes, communities and businesses lose out on
funding because of the quest for profit of large scale installations.
See:
click here

A really worrying account from Ann Owen on the dangers of Amnopyralid
in manure shows how careful we must be about sourcing farmyard manure
for our gardens.  This grass control herbicide is excreted by horses
in their dung and can wreck your vegetables when you ferttilise your
beds with it. Ann has done a lot of research along her own painful
journey after experiencing the problem, and the information is
important for anyone who thinks they have found a great source of free
manure.
click here


Thinking of doing a Permaculture Design Course in 2012? It is a big
investment - of time and often money, so the more information you have
about what to expect and potential benefits, the better. Here’s an
overview to help you decide:
click here


The Editorial this season is for ­ people who like economising without
sacrificing quality, people who love laundry, and people, like me, who
were denied a chemistry set as a kid: read more at:
click here


Recently I had an email asking what was happening about Permaculture
Cymru. What I can tell you is that the new management team (which
emerged at the Launch Convergenece in Llandrinio on 14th May) consists
of 11 members, including yours truly. There has so far been one
meeting of most of them, and a lot of cyber conferencing ­ necessary
as we live all over Wales. Small specialist interest Task groups have
been set up to progress issues. A logo has been designed, and internet
infrastructure set up for progressing work, using volunteer skills of
members of the committee. Chris Dixon, our tribal elder, has agreed to
chair the group, and it has been decided that the establishment of a
LAND project for Wales is paramount. Discussions are being held,
including with Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, who
have funds for Welsh projects and could support such a plan. (The LAND
project in England supports the establishment and function of projects
that allow access to people to see and learn about Permaculture).
More news when there is some!

How are you going to winterise your growing beds?  Supplies of small
straw bales are usually at a premium. There is a farmer at Walton who
has them, and some near Aberystwyth. Bike shops are a good source of
large sheets of cardboard. This year we have a huge bale of sheep’s
wool from our kindly farming neighbour. I want to know if bracken is
safe to cut now the reproductive cycle is over. Thoughts and
information on all this welcome on the website ­ please post on the
Forum. Also, if any of you have something to say about new things
you’ve tried growing, that would be helpful ­ both disasters and
successes welcome.
click here


Have a good harvest!

Best regards

Roz Brown
Coordinating Mid Wales Permaculture

To view and save this newsletter as a Word 
document with active weblinks, please open the attachment:


Mid Wales Permaculture Network
Newsletter September 2011

Cookouts, chemistry sets, and Cider Vinegar – not 
to mention FITS and Killer Manure


Greetings all. This is a long overdue bumper 
update after a hectic summer. The early onset of 
autumn gales has forced me indoors to some actual 
work – as a change from all the frantic culinary 
preserving of the seasonal fruit and veg glut. 
If, like me, you are awash with nasturtiums, you 
may find the article on how to make Poor Man’s Capers helpful:
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/guest-writers/308-plan-for-nasturiums-in-2011>click 
here



Educationists, including the Home Ed. Brigade, 
will want to get heavily into seed collecting 
right now – like the rest of us. For other 
curriculum ideas relating to seed saving and 
seeds in general, see the hugely informative article in the Members section:
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/previews>click here
(note: this link will only work if you have 
registered on the site: solution=register now)


For those of you who do not already know - we are 
on Twitter, you may like to follow HQs progress 
this season as we negotiate the technicalities of 
lacto-fermentation (sauerkraut to you), and the 
serendipity of kitchen discoveries that lead ever 
onward and end with cheesecake. Regular snippets 
(tweets) on the doings in the Nannerth garden and 
kitchen are there as a log that I actually DO 
something and can reassure myself from time to 
time that I have achieved anything - also as a 
pointer to potentially useful ideas for others.
<http://twitter.com/#!/nannerthganol>click  here



This web update has some exciting contributions: 
Michele Fitzsimmons, Permaculture goddess from 
Cardiff, shares her thoughts on creating a 
perennially edible landscape to feed you eye and 
your family. Michele’s inspirational activities 
currently include another pick, cook and feast 
event to raise money for overseas 
Permaculture.  I see that this year’s offering 
allows lucky participants to pick the last 
knockings of seasonal abundance at the Edible 
Landscaping HQ and prepare a three course feast 
to enjoy at the end of the day, washed down with 
E Ls own wine. Last year we did a mini version of 
this at Nannerth Ganol where a dozen of us 
picked, prepared and cooked a stupendous lunch 
outside. A nice idea for something to do with a 
bunch of friends in your own garden?  We used one 
of Trish MacCurrach’s kotliches over an open 
fire, and a good time was had by all. To read more:
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/guest-writers/371-the-edible-perenial-landscape>click 
here


Julia Briscoe’s first complementary healthcare 
salvo on Molasses is now on general release in the main Guest Writers section,
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/guest-writers/338-complementary-health-molasses>click 
here
and her second piece on the health benefits of 
Cider Vinegar is now showing in Members Preview – 
not a registered member yet? Register now and 
take a look at what Cider Vinegar can do for you.
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/guest-writers/338-complementary-health-molasses>click 
here

Dr Anthony Cheke, an old friend from Oxford, has 
written an insightful review of a new book on 
invasive species. Anthony has done 30 years of 
official monitoring work on Mauritiius and 
Reunion where introduced species have caused a 
lot of problems for  indigenous species. His 
observations make salutary reading for 
Permaculturists who are often rather keen on 
selecting plants from other parts of the world to 
put in their Forest Gardens. Think before you 
plant could be an important motto for us all.
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/guest-writers/384-introduced-species-attitudes-and-management-book-review>click 
here

Ken Moon, our Energy writer, takes a look at the 
complexities and repercussions of FITs (Feed in 
Tarrifs) and how the system to date and planned 
could mean that homes, communities and businesses 
lose out on funding because of the quest for 
profit of large scale installations.  See:
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/guest-writers/341-getting-in-a-fit-over-the-big-society>click 
here

A really worrying account from Ann Owen on the 
dangers of Amnopyralid in manure shows how 
careful we must be about sourcing farmyard manure 
for our gardens.  This grass control herbicide is 
excreted by horses in their dung and can wreck 
your vegetables when you ferttilise your beds 
with it. Ann has done a lot of research along her 
own painful journey after experiencing the 
problem, and the information is important for 
anyone who thinks they have found a great source of free manure.
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/guest-writers/383-aminopyralid-a-time-bomb-hidden-in-manure>click 
here


Thinking of doing a Permaculture Design Course in 
2012? It is a big investment - of time and often 
money, so the more information you have about 
what to expect and potential benefits, the 
better. Here’s an overview to help you decide:
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/guest-writers/351-what-will-i-learn-on-a-permaculture-design-course>click 
here


The Editorial this season is for – people who 
like economising without sacrificing quality, 
people who love laundry, and people, like me, who 
were denied a chemistry set as a kid: read more at:
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/editorials>click here


Recently I had an email asking what was happening 
about Permaculture Cymru. What I can tell you is 
that the new management team (which emerged at 
the Launch Convergenece in Llandrinio on 14th 
May) consists of 11 members, including yours 
truly. There has so far been one meeting of most 
of them, and a lot of cyber conferencing – 
necessary as we live all over Wales. Small 
specialist interest Task groups have been set up 
to progress issues. A logo has been designed, and 
internet infrastructure set up for progressing 
work, using volunteer skills of members of the 
committee. Chris Dixon, our tribal elder, has 
agreed to chair the group, and it has been 
decided that the establishment of a LAND project 
for Wales is paramount. Discussions are being 
held, including with Federation of City Farms and 
Community Gardens, who have funds for Welsh 
projects and could support such a plan. (The LAND 
project in England supports the establishment and 
function of projects that allow access to people 
to see and learn about Permaculture).  More news when there is some!

How are you going to winterise your growing 
beds?  Supplies of small straw bales are usually 
at a premium. There is a farmer at Walton who has 
them, and some near Aberystwyth. Bike shops are a 
good source of large sheets of cardboard. This 
year we have a huge bale of sheep’s wool from our 
kindly farming neighbour. I want to know if 
bracken is safe to cut now the reproductive cycle 
is over. Thoughts and information on all this 
welcome on the website – please post on the 
Forum. Also, if any of you have something to say 
about new things you’ve tried growing, that would 
be helpful – both disasters and successes welcome.
<http://www.permaculture-wales.org.uk/index.php/chat-box-a-links>click here


Have a good harvest!

Best regards

Roz Brown
Coordinating Mid Wales Permaculture
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