Spuds we like

Once again Stroud Potato Day (organised by Transition Stroud and Down to Earth Co-op) proved an enormous success. We managed to get to Merrywalks (where it was held) around midday by which time we'd missed the 'Sarpo' potatoes, but there were still plenty of varieties to choose from. Most of the potatoes are supplied by Dundry Nurseries near Cheltenham. Now that the Nailsworth Ironmongers has closed I was in despair over where to go for my seed potatoes but Dundry carries over 150 varieties of tubers to choose from. I'm going to be spoilt for choice from now on!

A simple guide to planting

The soil temperature should be at least 6°C (43°F). A good indication of this is when grass and weeds begin to grow, usually in March/April.
Place the tubers rose end up in the bottom of holes or trenches that are 15cm deep. The shoots and leaves of potatoes are frost tender, so be prepared to protect them with cloches or fleece if frost is forecast.
Earlies: Plant mid-March to the end of May with tubers spaced at 30cm, in rows 50-60cm apart.
Second Earlies and Maincrop: Plant mid-March to the end of April with tubers spaced at 35cm, in rows 75cm apart.

Christmas is coming

It's that time of year again! Stay calm and shop local's what I say. Here's a couple of ideas for where to go for unique gifts, locally made....

TOP IMAGE: Mandy Evans (Buttons & Lavender, Louise Taylor-Bowen (Tiddly pom-pom) and Cathie Shannon (Mary's Orchard) are makers of handmade and unique Vintage Style Jewellery, Hair Accessories, Corsages, Necklaces, Bags, Lavender filled Birds, Hens, Hearts and Butterflies...buttons, materials, trims and many more decorative items available.
Vintage & Handmade, The Old Warehouse Studio (next to Mortimer Gardens) Nailsworth
Open Fri and Sat Dec 7th and 8th and Sat Dec 22nd Old Warehouse Studio

BOTTOM IMAGE: Modern Leisure makers market is a pop up event happening for the first time this winter, in Stroud. Join them and peruse a plethora of unique goods crafted by local artists and designers, whilst enjoying live music and a range of delicious locally prepared food and drink.
Modern Leisure pop-up event Badbrook Hall, Bath St. Stroud GL5 3BZ
Open Fri Nov 30th (6-10 pm), Sat & Sun 1st - 2nd Dec, Sat & Sun 8th-9th Dec Modern Leisure

....and don't forget Stroud Goodwill Evening on December 7th when you will be asked to DIG out your hippie flares and get down man as this year it has a late 1960s flower power theme. As usual traders will be joining in with 60s themed shop windows and there will be a treasure trail for the youngsters.

Use it or lose it!

It was a dispiriting trip into Nailsworth the other day. 

Opening its doors for the last time at the end of November is Nailsworth Ironmongers. Run by Gordon and Debbie, this wonderful emporium is a distillation of the seasons. In January it would be my first port of call for heritage varieties of seed potatoes and onion sets. By spring I’d be in to buy new buckets and lids for making elderflower champagne and cordial (the old ones having been commandeered by my other half for home brew projects of his own or as rhubarb forcers). It’s May and we’d need citronella tealights and mozzie repellant for long al fresco evenings (well - a few this year anyway). Autumn welcomed the jam and jelly makers and Gordon was there with maslin pans, kilner jars, thermometers and jelly bags. And in Winter we were back for a new galvanised dustbin incinerator along with our regular supply of bird seed to help our feathered friends, plus we’d brought our broken tools (a spade and fork with broken shafts) that we felt still had life in them to the ‘NI hospital’ for a little tlc from whence they’re returned as good as new.

Gordon prides himself on selling loose items rather than large packets. If he doesn’t have what you are looking for, he will know a man who does - and he’ll give you his name and number! And that’s what we’re really going to miss...the sort of service you simply don’t get any more in our bigger, more impersonal stores. It may be a cliché but, 'You don’t know what you have till it’s gone' is soon going to ring true to a lot of people.

Look what we made!

It was probably the last glorious sunny day of the year. You could definitely feel autumn in the air though when we set out. The mist was hanging in the valley, gossamer cobwebs dripped with dew and we prayed the weather would hold good for the next 8 hours. We arrived at Day's Cottage at about 9 o'clock. There were to be 5 of us on the dry stone walling course that day. Mark (our tutor) had spent the previous day making sure there was a gamut of tools and piles and piles of different sized and coloured stone. There were picks and shovels, buckets, hammers of every conceivable shape, tools for spitting stone, tools for dressing stone and a pair of shears (I quickly discovered what these were for upon bending over whilst laying foundation stones and getting rudely stung on the backside by nettles)

We began by marking out the wall, then started digging the foundations. Then it got interesting - laying our first stones. As each layer was laid down we slowly learnt the ancient art of dry stone walling. It was like doing a giant 3-D jigsaw. You had to complete each layer before moving onto the next which meant in-filling to lend support to the exterior structure. We learnt which stones complimented others, not to align the stones vertically, to make sure the structure always tapered towards the top and to ensure each stone placed didn't lean into the wall where water might drain inside rather than run off.

In no time at all we'd laid our base on a gentle curve about 20 foot long and it was lunch time. We ate in the beautiful 12-sided canvas roofed outdoor workshop nestled amongst old orchards, but we only stopped long enough to refuel - we were all too absorbed in the project to stop for long.

There was no way we were going to be able to complete the wall in a day but by jove we had a jolly good go! Just look at what we achieved! For more information on courses or dry stone walling contact Day's Cottage on 01452 813602 or call Mark Stevenson on 0799 094 7934

Outdoor pursuits

Learn a new skill!

Ever wondered how our beautiful dry stone walls are made to fit together so neatly like some neolithic jigsaw? Well, here's your chance to find out. Mark Stevenson is doing a one day course at Days Cottage Orchard Centre in Brookethorpe. Bring a packed lunch and sturdy boots. £30 per person. Be warned - book early as places are limited. Telephone: Mark Stevenson on 0799 0947934 

or email: jackdawwood@hotmail.com

Calling all HARVESTERS and FORAGERS

Down to Earth Co-operative is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join them in harvesting local fruit and nuts So if you enjoy fresh air and good company, why not join us out and about in our glorious countryside? Days will vary to suit the weather, transport can be provided.

For more information ring us on 01453 700011 or email info@downtoearth.coop

https://www.facebook.com/downtoearthstroud

My kingdom for a horse: Part Deux

As I continue on the sharp learning curve that is making rocking horses I'm in awe of everyone at Tetbury Rocking Horse Works. This is no production line - we all have to know the skills required for every step of the process.

Step 1: Multiple shoulders cut out with the bandsaw
Step 2: My 'bodies' (hollowed and made from 3 rectangular wood pieces with square 'ends' attached to the legs) have been glued together, the heads attached. Having successfully created the basic angular bodies for several 'steeds'we make sure the shoulders fit exactly - we don’t want to have to ‘fill’ and any pockets of air will weaken the horse. Shoulders are glued onto the body.
Step 3: A pile of rocking horses waiting for me to glue the shoulders in position.
Step 4: Shoulders clamped firmly in place. These will be left to ‘set’ overnight.
Step 5: I now start cutting out muscles with the jigsaw for forequarters and hindquarters which, with their overlap of the leg/body join, will help make the horses stronger.
Step 6  These are then carefully glued into place (making sure the right muscles are at the front and back!) and clamps applied to ensure there's no air left between joints and the pieces are in exactly the right positions.

My next lesson will be in 'turning' to make the beautiful carved posts that the safety rockers are supported on. Fingers crossed (if I still have them) that I don't muck it up! Watch this space....

Crown jools

If you've ever fancied making your own jewellery but didn't want to commit yourself to weeks of evening classes or long courses, here's your chance to learn new skills at Summer School classes and make your own pieces using a variety of techniques. There are just a few places left on the workshops including one where both adults and children can participate.  The tutor, Tamsin Leighton-Boyce is  an artist/maker who works with metals and recycled material. To see examples of her work check out her blog - http://tamsinleighton-boyce.blogspot.co.uk/p/trace.html